When choosing the types of roofing materials to use, you might consider each of the following types of roofing materials and their properties to determine how long your roof will last. The types of roofing material used will depend on a number of different factors, including which roof type is preferred, which materials are best suited for your roof style, low slope or steep slope, the climate where the home is located and of course cost.

Common Types of Roofing Material

Composition Roof Material-asphalt or fiberglass composition roofs are readily available in many different styles and colors. They require very little maintenance and can be purchased with a warranty from 20 to 50 years. These roofs are generally the most common found in neighborhoods throughout the United States. The most common styles are 3-Tab and Dimensional.

Clay Tile-is available in several different styles and colors. They require little maintenance but do require caution for who walks on the roof because of it being breakable. These roofs are usually fire rated so are very desirable for fire danger areas. Tile roofs may require additional structural support when installed on a home that was not originally tile. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s installation requirements. Clay tile will generally last 50 years or more often depending on the life of underlayment and the amount of foot traffic.

Concrete Tile-comes in many colors and styles and can be designed to imitate clay tile. This style roof is also often fire rated making it ideal for fire danger areas which can help with homeowner’s insurance rates. These tiles can be light weight (more fragile) or standard concrete that may require additional structural reinforcement. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s installation requirements.

Metal Roofing Material – These types of roofing material are a good choice for people looking for long lasting materials that can last for nearly 50 years. Metal roofing comes in many different colors, finishes, and styles, including designs that resemble other types of roofing material such as tiles or shingles. Low slope roofs are covered with sheets of metal to create a watertight installation. Sheet metal roofs are installed with many different types of seams, including soldered and folded and crimped. A popular style is called a Standing Seam Metal Roof. These products are resistant to bad weather and can be installed over certain materials that may already be installed on the home.

Wood Shakes– Wood Shakes have been a popular roof throughout the United States for generations because of it’s aesthetic value as well as durability. Shakes are thicker than shingles and are hand or machine split. These roofing materials can last up to 20 or 30 years or longer, depending upon quality, sun exposure, shade and moisture and steepness of roof pitch. The biggest benefits to using these materials are that they are natural products that help the home blend into the environment and are very simple to replace if damaged.

Wood Shingles-shingles have also been popular for decades because of beauty and durability. Shingles are thinner than shakes and are machine cut. These roofing materials can last up to 20 or 30 years again depending upon quality, sun exposure, shade and moisture and steepness of roof pitch. Both wood shakes and shingles are being phased out in many parts of the United States because of cost and lack of fire resistance.

Slate Roofing Material – These types of roofing material are fireproof and require very little maintenance, but can break if too much weight is placed on them. Some people choose slate roofing materials because they are some of the longest lasting products on the market, often lasting between 50 and 75 years. There is a church in England that has a 1,200 year old slate roof. The quality of the slate has everything to do with longevity and lack of color fading. Slate is available in different colors and designs. Slate is also fire resistant which may help with your cost of Homeowner’s insurance.

In recent years, many people have discovered the benefits of installing roofing materials themselves. Many of these materials are created using some of the highest standards in the industry and are highly prized by people that know a great deal about roofing products. Roofing material can be found in a wide variety of different styles and can be purchased to match the appearance of your home.

Many individuals that would like to purchase roofing materials for their home are often unaware of the places where they could easily acquire roofing materials. Knowing where to look can make your search for the materials significantly easier while still allowing you to shop for what suits your needs. There are a couple different places available to look at the different types of roofing materials and purchase the one that you like the most.

Roofing Supply Companies

Roofing supply companies normally carry a very large supply of the most popular roofing materials on the market. The homeowner can go direct and choose from their vast selection of products and either have them shipped to their home or inform their roofing contractor of their selection and have them place the order and delivery time to coincide with their schedule.

Home Improvement Stores

There are a number of different home improvement stores that carry a selection of roofing materials for the customers that come into their store to review. Some home improvement stores will only have a limited selection of the items, but some stores that focus exclusively on roofing products will often have a more extensive selection for their customers to choose from. For most home improvement stores, you can pick out and purchase the materials that you like and take it home with you right away.

Internet Websites

There are a number of different internet websites where a person can find roofing materials for sale. Some of these websites focus on roofing items only while other websites sell a little bit of everything and will have numerous different items for sale, including home improvement products in a section of their virtual store. It is not uncommon for a website to have a very limited selection of roofing material available, although some online retailers will have a surprising number of these products displayed on their website.

Shopping for roofing material on the internet might be the preferred method of shopping for some people because it allows them to view a large number of products in a short amount of time from the comfort of their home. The roofing materials that are found on the internet are typically purchased from the website and shipped directly to the home.

Built-Up Roofing-old and worn is of course the easiest defect to identify. Life span can vary greatly depending on number of layers of roofing material, type of material used, sun exposure and foot traffic. This type of roof might last from 15-30 years depending on conditions just mentioned. Mechanical damage can be common especially when HVAC equipment is located on the roof. No protective coating such as gravel or UV coating will shorten the life span. Blisters or bubbles are defects that can lead to roof leaks if punctured. Alligatoring caused by overheated tar can lead to shortened life span. Gravel erosion over exposes roofing material to harmful UV rays. Splitting of roof membrane should be addressed as soon as possible. Ponding is a defect that if severe enough can lead to structural failure because of the extra weight added to the roof framing. Ponding prevents complete roof drainage which perpetuates the problem as the roof structure continues to sag. Any exposed felt is a defect that should be addressed sooner rather than later. Debris or storage on the roof can cause multiple problems and should be corrected.

Having your roof inspected and Certified with a Two Year LeakFREE Warranty is your best bet for Peace of Mind against aggravating and costly roof leaks.

Clay Tile-is a very popular roofing material in many parts of the United States. It is aesthetically pleasing and long lasting if properly maintained. Cracked and broken tiles are the most common defects found in this type of roof. These conditions are not always easy to see since walking on a clay tile roof is not recommended, making second story roofs even more difficult to identify problems. Inspecting the attics and ceilings for water stains is very important when trying to identify defects with clay tile roofs. We recommend that you only allow persons on the roof that have expertise with these particular roofs. Missing tiles can be another defect often found at the ridge or along rakes caused by wind uplift, lack of proper fasteners and ice dams. Displaced or loose tiles are also commonly found as a result of a lack of or improperly installed fasteners. Asphalt-based underlayment can last up to 40 years, but if exposed to the weather this time can be shortened by many years.

We recommend that you have your clay tile roof inspected annually by an NRCIA Certified Roof Inspector to insure the long life of your roof.

We can be reached at:

www.NRCIA.org

888-687-7663

Concrete Tile-is seen in many of the same shapes as clay tile and are normally found in flat or curved categories. Most manufacturers offer a 50 year warranty for their products. Concrete tiles are often brittle so we recommend only authorized personnel be allowed to walk on your roof. Like most tile roofs cracked or broken tiles are a commonly found defect. You may also discover missing tiles usually caused by missing or improperly installed fasteners. As in the case of all roofs, improperly installed flashings can be a problem especially at roof to wall or any other intersections with other materials, changes of direction, and roof penetrations. Underlayment of asphalt based material or modified bitumen will often last 40 years if properly protected by the tiles from the weather. However, broken, displaced or missing tiles can accelerate the deterioration process drastically.

We recommend annual inspections by an NRCIA Certified Roof Inspector to (ASSURE-Nah, nah nah , nah, nah, nah) you receive the maximum life out of your concrete tile roof.

They can be reached at:

www.NRCIA.org

888-687-7663

Metal Shingles-are typically made from steel or aluminum with anti-corrosive coatings. Rust can occur when the coatings are damaged & can lead to complete failure of the roof protection. As with any roof fastener failure is a problem and can lead to roof leaks. Damaged and dented shingles can create unwanted openings and often happen because of excessive foot traffic by personnel not qualified to be on the roof. Loose or missing shingles can expose underlayment to the weather which will accelerate deterioration and lead to eventual roof leaks. Debris accumulating on the roof, especially in the valleys can allow water to back up under the shingles and end up causing leaks.

We recommend an annual inspection by an NRCIA Certified Roof Inspector to assure a long life of your metal shingle roof.

They can be located at:

www.NRCIA.org

888-687-7663

Wood Shakes-rot might be found in this material especially if it is exposed to prolonged periods of moisture. Cupping can occur, where both sides of the material lift. Cracking or splitting is a defect that can create openings in unwanted locations. You may find curling where the bottom of the shake lifts up. Burn-through is most often found near the center of the exposed area of the shake and can expose the felt underlayment to harmful ultraviolet rays which accelerates
deterioration and can eliminate your secondary line of defense against roof leaks. Any areas that have exposed felt underlayment is an area of concern and might indicate an improperly installed roof. Missing or damaged hip or ridge shakes are commonly found defects and will leave those areas open to the weather. Exposed fasteners found anywhere in the roof surface are leaving unprotected openings in the roof and indicates improper installation practices. We suggest an absolute minimum amount of foot traffic, only when absolutely necessary and only by people knowledgeable about how to walk on these types of roofs.

To gain absolute Peace of Mind about the condition of your roof, we highly recommend an
inspection performed by an NRCIA Certified Inspector who will determine if the roof on your
home will remain leak-free for the desired certification period.