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The most important things to consider when selecting a new roof system include cost and durability, as well as aesthetics and architectural style. By balancing these four considerations, you will be able to create the proper roof system using the following roof basics. The majority of the United States residential roofing market is possessed by asphalt shingles, which can be enforced with either organic or fiberglass materials. Organic felts were once used to reinforce shingles, but these days fiberglass products now dominate the market. Organic shingles are made with a wood base that is saturate with asphalt and coated with colored mineral granules. You can get these with special algicide granules to help fight the growth of fungus in warmer, wetter climates. Fiberglass shingles are made with a fiberglass mat, along with a layer of asphalt on the top and bottom, and mineral granules. Fiberglass mat offers greater durability and is categorized as being fire resistant. Take note of the manufacturer, as some make their shingles more fire resistant than others. All shingles generally look the same no matter what kind of reinforcement they come with. You can purchase both organic and fiberglass products with additional laminated grades that offer a textured appearance. Some are available with zinc or copper-coated ceramic granules to protect the shingles from algae. Both types of shingles are available in a variety of colors. Cedar, redwood and southern pine are the most popular woods for crafting shingles and shakes. While shingles are machine-sawn, shakes are hand-hewn and have a rougher, more natural look that is quite popular in California and the Northwest. Concrete or clay tiles are durable, but tends to be more expensive. Florida and other places in the Southwest like to use “Spanish” round-topped tiles, which are also available to create French and English styles. You can purchase tiles in a variety of styles and colors. However, tile is heavy. Before replacing another type of roof system with tile, make sure the structure is strong enough to support the extra weight. Places like New York and Canada prefer slate, which comes in different colors and grades. Slate is virtually indestructible, but it’s a lot more expensive that other roofing materials. Installing slate also requires an experienced roofer. Metal shingles can be used to imitate all the other kinds of materials, such as wood. This is an attractive alternative to actually using wood because metal lasts longer, is more durable, relatively lightweight with great fire resistance, and it has a greater resistance to adverse weather. All Utah roofers should do their research before coming to a decision on which type of roofing materials to purchase.
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