Homeowners that find they are in need of a new roof should consider the options of available materials. The historical weather conditions where the home resides can often play a key factor in selecting the best types of materials for the house. A house must withstand the force of nature and deal with all types of weather including rain, snow, wind, sleet, hail, and hurricanes. It is usually best to make the effort to have a consultation with a local licensed roofing professional before determining the type of roof that is ideal for the home.
Metal Roofing
Weather conditions across the nation vary greatly, and there are specialty roofing products that can tackle extreme changes in climate from very cold or hot, dry or wet. Some manufacturers claim that metal roofing is the industry’s most durable material for roofing available. It is true that it is highly impact resistant and rated to hold up well against exterior fires that might threaten the roof of the home. Floating burning embers from burning trees and wildfire do little if any damage to a metal roof.
Many metal roofing materials are designed to hold up well against flying debris in the sustained high winds of hurricanes. With the inability of water to penetrate metal roofing, the material holds up well against the freeze and thaw cycles that are so common in cold climates. Properly installed, it is one of the lightest roofing materials available. For extremely humid climates, metal roofing is highly resistant to mold, algae and mildew, and because it is so easy to clean it can be made to look like new for decades.
Manufacturers of roofing materials are always striving to improve their products, and have been able to increase the longevity of asphalt roofing shingles. Through better products and design, asphalt shingles hold up well against hail and high winds. They come in a variety of styles and shapes, with a huge selection of color choices.
Synthetic Roofing
Manufacturers now produce synthetic rubber roofing products that imitate traditional styles of tile, shakes, slate and others. These rubber synthetics hold up extremely well in impact resistance tests and have extremely high resistance to fire, sustained winds, freeze/thaw cycles and the ability to resist algae, mold and mildew.
Traditional Clay Tile Roofing
Some traditional materials are still in high demand, such as tiled clay roofs. They hold up well against hail damage and have the ability to resist uplift in sustaining winds. Manufacturers also use concrete materials to mimic the look of a traditional clay tile roof.
Using the help of a licensed professional roofing company can make it easy to determine exactly which materials will perform best in protecting the home. Sometimes, the choices are limited due to the pitch of the roof of the house, or how steep the angle is from the roof line to the eaves. Steep slopes are ideal against hurricane conditions, and heavy snowfall. Selecting the best roofing material and having it properly installed can provide the home decades of protection.