There are many factors to take into consideration when choosing a new roof. How do you want the roof to look? How long do you want it to last? Are you willing to put time and money into maintenance? Are you willing to spend more now to save more later?
If you are considering a new roof for your home, you are likely considering one of the top 3 most popular roof types. A good place to start is learning the pros and cons of each!
Asphalt Shingles
The most common residential roof type by far, asphalt shingles has many advantages that justify it’s top spot.
Pros:
- The most affordable of all the roof types, they start cheap with 3-tab shingles and go all the way to designer shingles that replicate more expensive roof types like cedar shakes.
- Looks great on most any home.
- Relatively easy to repair and maintain (if inspected regularly)
- East to install with most installations taking just a couple of days.
- Plenty of variety, even the pickiest of homeowners can find something they like.
- Lightweight and durable
Cons:
- Especially susceptible to wind and hail damage
- Moss & mildew grow easily on asphalt shingles
- Compared to other roof types has a short lifespan, requiring replacement every 15- 30 years.
Cedar Shakes/Cedar Shingles
Pros:
- Extremely durable. highly resistant to wind and rain
- Properly maintained, cedar shakes/shingles can last several decades or more.
- Looks great to many (beauty is in the eye of the beholder of course)
- Actually looks better (again subjective) as it ages
Cons:
- Material is more expensive as is labor as each shake must be installed individually.
- Also susceptible to moss, mold, and mildew, homeowners must strictly adhere to a regular maintenance schedule. Individual shakes should be replaced by a roof contractor as soon as they need to.
Metal Roofs
Pros:
- Can last as long as the house or building itself
- Shrugs off wind and rain like it never happened, especially durable
- Mildew, mold, rot, even fire doesn’t phase a metal roof, it’s resistance to these is legendary.
Cons;
- The most expensive of the 3 common roof types both in terms of materials and labor
- Hail damage may not affect the integrity of a metal roof, it can leave ugly dents.
- Can be loud during rains although roof contractors can mitigate this with various methods to dampen the noise.
- Repairs can be expensive. Although metal roofs are extremely durable, if a repair needs to be performed it can be quite expensive compared to it’s asphalt shingle cousins.
For more information on roof types or to obtain a free estimate on your roof project in Metro Atlanta call Atlanta Roofing Specialists at 770-419-2222 today!