Protect Your Home: A Guide to the Best Roofing Material

There are many options for roofing material on the market. How can you decide which is right for your home? Check out this guide to the best roofing material.

Most residential roofs will thrive for between 20 and 40 years. Once they reach this age, they typically begin to deteriorate, resulting in reduced coverage and decreased functionality. 

Has your roof reached this point? Are you in need of a roofing replacement? If so, you have a variety of roofing materials to choose from. 

Curious as to what these roofing materials are? Read on to find the best roofing material for you! 

Modern Roofing Materials for Homes
These days, there are quite a few roofing materials for residences. All of these materials have their benefits. However, they all have their downsides just the same. 

Below, we're going to discuss the pros and cons of the most common residential roofing materials on the market today. Let's get started. 

Asphalt Shingles
The most common residential roofing material around, asphalt shingles can be found on all types of homes, from small ranch houses to large luxury homes and everything in between. Available in a wide variety of colors and shapes, asphalt shingles can suit homes of any style and color. 

Functionally speaking, asphalt shingles are average. They provide middle of the road durability, insulation, and weather resistance. Generally, they thrive for around 20 years of use. 

One of the big problems with asphalt shingles is that they're comparatively weak. Strong wind and rain storms can rip them directly off of roofs, necessitating replacements more regularly than other roofing materials. 

Composite Shingles
Aesthetically speaking, composite shingles are identical to asphalt shingles. They're available not only in a number of colors, but in a number of styles as well. This means that they can be used on homes of all kinds. 

However, in terms of durability and weather resistance, composite shingles excel over asphalt shingles. Made out of a combination of fiberglass, asphalt, and paper fibers, they do a terrific job of resisting moisture. Generally, composite shingles will last for 25 to 30 years. 

While they're still vulnerable to being ripped off by wind and rain storms, they're not as vulnerable as are asphalt shingles. In the event that they do get ripped off, they can be easily replaced. 

Wood Shakes 
If you're looking for a unique roofing material, you might consider going with wood shakes. Aesthetically gorgeous, wood shakes are most typically found on high-end luxury homes.

This is usually due to their price. They are much more expensive than asphalt shingles and composite shingles. 

In terms of functionality, wood shakes excel on all fronts. Not only are they extremely durable, but they also offer extraordinary insulation.

Because they're made of wood, you might think that they're prone to water damage. However, the fact of the matter is that, as long as they're properly maintained, they thrive against moisture.

Generally, you can expect wood shakes to last for around 50 years. So, while they may be a little expensive initially, they will pay for themselves over the years. 

Metal Panels 
Another roofing option is metal. Most metal roofs come in prefabricated panels, allowing them to be installed with absolute ease. Available in a number of colors, they look terrific on all styles of houses. 

Apart from its high cost, metal roofing has no disadvantages. It's extremely durable, typically thriving for between 50 and 100 years of use. This makes it a terrific roofing solution for those who expect to own their homes for the long-haul. 

It's resistant to all types of weather, including sunlight, moisture, and wind. It doesn't matter what you throw at it, metal roofing will thrive. It's even resistant to fire. 

While many roofing materials are susceptible to mold and mildew, metal roofing is not. In fact, it's entirely protected against such entities. 

All in all, if you have the money, and you like the look of metal, it's one of the best materials you can choose. It will last for a very long time, and it will perform terrifically while doing so. 

Clay Tiles 
If you're looking to add a unique aesthetic to your home, you might consider utilizing clay tiles. Most popular in the southern United States, clay tiles possess an aesthetic that can't be mistaken. These tiles sport a dark orange color and are typically staggered on top of each other when installed. 

While you might think otherwise, the truth of the matter is that clay tiles are functionally superb. Durable, weather resistant, and insulative, they have been known to thrive for over 100 years.

There are two primary downsides involved with clay tiles: They require a great deal of maintenance, and they're extremely expensive initially.

However, if you have the money to spend, there's no reason not to install them on your roof. You can simply hire a roofing company to help maintain them over the years. 

Slate 
In many respects, slate is the king of all residential roofing materials. This is a stone material that's capable of thriving for well over 100 years. In fact, there are slate roofs that have existed for several centuries. 

Slate thrives in just about every respect. In addition to its absurd durability, it's also highly resistant to moisture, wind, sunlight, and fire. There's essentially nothing that can cause it to deteriorate. 

Aesthetically speaking, slate is about as unique as roofing materials come. However, it's not for everyone. Putting this material on your roof is a bit of a bold statement. 

Not to mention, it's a lot more expensive than most roofing materials. Of course, this is a small price to pay for a roofing material that's low-maintenance, and which will last for the remainder of your life and then some. 

What's the Best Roofing Material for You? While all of the above-reviewed roofing materials have their upsides, they all have their downsides as well. Have you decided which is the best roofing material for you? If so, and if you're ready to have your chosen roofing material installed, Crowley Roofers can help. 

Ours is the premier roofing company in Crowley, Texas, having roofed a bevy of houses throughout the area. Whichever roofing material you choose, we can install it for you in a quick and professional manner. 
​
Contact us now for a free quote!