Originally homeowners only had a handful of roofing material options they could choose from which were shingles, clay or concrete. With the advent of advanced modern roofing technology, homeowners now have dozens of options available. Each roofing material has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. If you asked yourself “what are the best types of roofing  available”, this article is for you. A professional roofing company should have access to and experience with all of these different materials.

Metal Roofing

Metal roofing is highly durable and last over five decades. It is ideal for homes that experience heavy snow and rain as the way they are designed allows water and snow to slide off quite easily. It is also highly durable to heavy winds and is fire resistant. Modern metal roofs are lightweight, typically made of aluminium and can be placed over an existing roof.

Slate

Slate roofing is the most durable type of roof you can install. Most slate roofs last for as along as 100 years and are waterproof, fire resistant and resists fungus and mold growth. Slate roofing is ideal for people who live in wet climates, but it is one of the most expensive kind of roofing material one can purchase. Another thing that’s worth noting is that even though it can last for several decades, it can be broken by stepping on it.

EPDM Rubber Roofing

EPDM or Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer, is a synthetic rubber that is typically used on flat commercial roofs. EPDM can be cut with a knife and as such, is ideal for intricate homes, which have an abundance of corners such as a Victorian home. EPDM roofs can last for over 30 years and is highly durable to hail, rain and wind. However, this type of roofing option is not fire resistant and can easily melt if the home sustains a fire.

Concrete and Clay Tiles

Concrete and Clay roofing tiles have the ability to withstand hurricanes, wind speeds of up to 120 mph, tornadoes and earthquakes. They are ideal for dry and warm climates that experience hurricanes or high speed winds. However, they typically need additional support to bear the weight.

Asphalt Shingles

The most common type of home based roofing material is asphalt. There are three primary types of asphalt roofing options and those are luxury shingles, 3-tab shingles and dimensional shingles.

1. 3 tab shingles: 3 tab shingles are the most affordable of the three and can last for several years. However, they offer fewer aesthetic options and a shorter lifespan. They can be typically found in new economy buildings and older homes.
2. Dimensional shingles: As it name suggests, these types of shingles offer a multi-dimensional appearance and texture. They are very durable and last for as long as 30 years. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association released roofing installation statistics, which demonstrated that these are the most popular type of shingles that are used in American homes today.
3. Luxury Asphalt Shingles: They feature a multidimensional appearance, offer the best durability of the three and is the most expensive type of shingle roofing option. Luxury shingles replicate the aesthetics of slate and cedar roofs for a fraction of the cost. Since they have extra layers, they weigh twice as much as basic 3-tab shingles and  can last up to twice as long.