Replacing your roof can be a daunting task, but it can also be fun. Looking through the possible materials for your roof is an opportunity to completely change up the appearance of your house if you so wish, which can be very exciting. Like we said in our last blog, it is important to consider your current roof and use it as a reference. If you are going to completely change your roof up, talk to a professional roofing contractor like Planet Roofing first.
Here are the five main materials that are used for roofs:
- Asphalt shingle
- This material is the cheapest and easiest to install, which makes it very popular. It consists of fiberglass material filled with asphalt and covered in sandy granules. Prices for this material begin at about $50 a square, and they last about 25 years.
- Metal
- If you want a metal roof, you can choose from aluminum, copper, steel, copper-and-asphalt, and lead. They are tough, but you will pay for their durability. depending on which metal, you will have either shingles or seamed lengths soldered together. Commonly, lead and copper/asphalt are installed in shingles, and the other three are soldered together. $250 per square is the beginning point for these roofs, but you’ll commonly pay two to three times that.
- Slate
- This is one of the most durable roofing materials there is. It will outlast the materials that fasten it in place. However, it starts at $800 a square, and it is very heavy and can only be used on houses constructed to bear its weight.
- Wood
- Even though some fire codes prohibit this material, it has been the choice for shingles for centuries. Cedar, redwood, or southern pine are usually the woods used. They last for about 25 years and cost twice as much as asphalt shingles.
- Tile and cement
- Spanish Colonial and Mission style houses often use these half cylinders of roofing tile. Sometimes cement roofs mimic the tile’s wavy effect. All of these roofs are very tough and heavy.
At Planet Roofing, we are ready to consult with you in this exciting process of replacing your roof. Call Denver’s best roofing contractor today!