With more choices of materials, styles, and colors than ever before, here at Mario’s Quality Roofing we understand that getting started with choosing a new roof can be a very intimidating process for homeowners or business owners ready to make roofing improvements. A new roof is a big investment but a smart one, too, so it is important to make the right choice based on your particular situation. So today, we would like to help you build a foundation for your roofing knowledge by outlining some the major pros and cons between some of the different types of roofing choices, allowing you to choose the right roof based on your roofing needs for your family or business. With your new knowledge, you can maximize the return on your roofing investment and feel confident that you are getting amazing value for your new roof from the work we provide at Mario’s Quality Roofing.
Many homeowners and business owners make their choice of roof based on a variety of different factors. Evaluate your own needs carefully, considering the durability, insulation properties and energy efficiency, weather resistance, fire resistance, and overall cost of each roofing material. Today, we are going to talk about some of the top choices for roofing materials: Asphalt, Rubber, Metal, and Slate.
Asphalt Roofs
Asphalt composite shingles are one of the most popular and economical choices for a new roof, and they are generally considered the standard cost-effective choice for residential homes with steep sloped roofs. Compared to other types of roofs, asphalt shingles has very good energy-efficient insulation properties relative to their lower upfront cost. They can be installed with impact-resistant backing and can be a very strong choice for enduring the snow, hail, and other challenges of some of the harsher New England winters. Many insurance companies will even provide discounts for homes and businesses with impact-resistant asphalt shingle roofs. However, asphalt shingles are typically heavy and thus are preferred primarily for roofs with steeper slopes. The main downsides to asphalt roofs are that they can be at risk of cracking when exposed to severe temperature fluctuations, and cheaper asphalt roofs not made from premium materials generally have a lower expected lifetime than some of the other more expensive choices like slate or metal.
Rubber Roofs
Rubber roofs, also known as EPDM single-ply roofs, are one of the up-and-coming technological advances for roofing materials. They are one of the most popular choices for flat roofs in the New England area due to their light weight, durability, and seamless construction compared to traditional shingles. Rubber roofs are waterproof, fire resistant, and energy efficient, serving as an insulator during the winter and reflecting heat during the summer. Rubber is extremely low maintenance compared to other types of roofs, and repairs to rubber roofs are much lower cost than other types of materials. The main drawback to rubber roofs is the fact that many homeowners and business owners consider rubber roofs to be less attractive in aesthetic appearance compared to other choices like slate or asphalt shingles.
Metal Roofs
Metal roofs can be configured as panels or shingles and are an extremely durable and weather-resistant choice for roofs. They are lightweight, fire-resistant, and their low coefficient of friction allow higher sloped roofs to shed snow quickly during the wintertime. While their initial installation cost can be higher than some of the other more economical choices like asphalt or rubber, the extremely high durability and lifetime of metal roofs still allow for metal roofs to be a very cost effective choice for homeowners or business owners. The main drawback of metal roofs is that high level of noise generated during inclement weather like rain or hailstorms.
Slate Roofs
Slate shingles are generally the most durable, high quality, and expensive choice for new roofs. Slate roofs last indefinitely and their classic stone appearance is considered the most aesthetically attractive choice for roofs. Slate shingles come in a variety of sizes and colors, including grey, green, purple, black, and red. Once installed, slate shingles are low maintenance, completely fireproof, and expected to last over five times longer than roofs made from other materials. The main drawback of slate, besides the high price, is that slate shingles are very heavy and may require reinforcement to the underlying structure of your roof.
We hope that this information on some of the pros and cons of different types of roofs will give you a good idea about some of the major advantages and drawbacks to each kind of roof, so you can make the best-informed decision for yourself, your family, and your business when it comes to which roof you should choose. At Mario’s Quality Roofing, our experienced and qualified roofers are ready to take on any roofing project you may and complete it to your exact specifications. If you are interested in talking to us about your roofing project, please give us a call at 781-344- 2420 or fill out an online contact form today.