If you are searching for the right roof for your new home, looks are important, but you also need to consider the weight, cost of materials, and installation requirements. Once you begin shopping, you will discover that there is a wide range of materials available including wood, asphalt, slate, and clay tiles. This is what you need to know in order to make a well informed decision.
Terminology
If this is your first time selecting a roof, you will find that roofers use some unfamiliar terminology. “The square” will be the first that you encounter. Roofers won’t measure in square feet. They will refer to squares instead. This is their basic unit of measurement. A square equals 100 square feet or a 10 foot by 10 foot area. For example, a typical 1,500 square foot roofing area will be referred to as 15 squares.
Cost
Several factors will affect the cost of your new roof. The material used and the shape of the roof will greatly influence the final cost as well as how many additional features are found on the roof. A simple gabled roof with very few breaks will cost much less than a roof with several added features. The following items, and how many of each, will increase the price.
- Chimneys
- Vent Pipes
- Intersecting Rooflines
- Skylights
- Turrets
Materials
Different roofs require different types of material. A flat roof will need something different than a pitched roof. Structure plays a role in your decision as well. It must be adequate enough to handle heavier materials such as slate or tile. Consider the following choices carefully.
1- Asphalt
This is the most commonly used roofing material. It is inexpensive and easy to install. It is created with a fiberglass medium impregnated with asphalt. The surface is made up of sand-like granules. It comes in two configurations: Single thickness and the thicker laminated version. Single thickness is cheaper, but laminated shingles last longer.
2- Wood
Wood used to be the main choice for centuries, but some areas now have fire codes forbidding it. Wood is still an excellent choice. It comes in options such as redwood, cedar, or southern pine. These shingles are split or sawn. They last approximately 25 years like asphalt shingles, but they are double the price.
3- Metal
Steel, aluminum, and copper are all durable roofing surfaces, but they are expensive. Copper varieties are installed as shingles while other types of metal are installed as seamed roofs made up of long vertical pieces. Prices vary according to the metal.
4- Tile and Cement
Tile and cement come in half cylinder shapes. They are commonly found on Mission style and Spanish Colonial homes. You can find metal roofs made to look like tile with its wavy effect. Tile and cement options are durable, heavy, and expensive.
5- Slate
Slate is one of the most durable roofing materials available. The best slate will outlast the fasteners used to hold it. Slate that is one hundred years old can be reinstalled with the ability to last another one hundred years. It is very heavy, and it is one of the most expensive materials used.
Final Selection
“When selecting the right roof for your new home, the house itself will help you decide which material to use,” said Millard Roofing & Gutter. In addition to picking a material and deciding on a budget for cost, you need to think about color, weight, texture, and durability. You can narrow down your options by researching what types of roofs are traditionally used on your style of house.
Installation Materials
In addition to a roofing material you will need flashing. Flashing is critical. It is made of either a plastic or metal, and it is applied as strips to any place where two different materials meet such as around the chimney. Good flashing will prevent leaks. You also need tar paper to be rolled on before the shingles are applied. Cedar shingles will require furring strips to allow the roof to breath, and a snow and ice shield may be required in certain areas.
