When you own a house, one of the major renovations you have to think about at some point is getting a new roof. Maybe your old one is wearing out, or maybe you want to get a new look for your home.

In either case, you’ll be facing a lot of options in terms of materials.

When you’re trying to pick the best residential roofing, it can be easy to assume that your only options are shingles or metal. But there are a ton of other options, including tile, stone, and even grass.

Read on to learn more about the options available to you for residential roofing materials.

SHINGLES

Shingles are some of the cheapest options for residential roofing and so are one of the most popular choices. They consist of asphalt on long rectangular sheets that you lay one over another on the roof.

You can get shingles in a variety of colors to create your ideal look.

There have been some wonderful advances in shingle technology lately that allow you to create all manner of looks.

You can use architectural shingles to create an amazing 3D effect. And new solar panel technology allows you to use solar panels that mimic the look of a shingle roof, making this eco-friendly option much more attractive.

METAL

There are few things more romantic than the sound of metal on a tin roof. And that’s not the only advantage of this type of residential roofing. For one thing, it’s cheap and easy to install, requiring just screws in large sheets of metal.

Metal is a durable option, with an estimated life span of 50 years or more.

Modern roofs are coated with chemicals that can prevent corrosion and help reduce your energy bills. Metal also comes in a variety of colors, so you can pick just about any look you want for your home.

WOOD

If you’re wanting the more rustic cabin look, wood can be a great option for residential roofing. This style uses small tiles that are overlaid to create a roof that will allow rainwater to drain off with little trouble.

Cedar is the most common wood choice for roofing and can create a beautiful look that will last for years if it’s maintained the right way.

It is important to note that wood roofs will require more maintenance than other types of roofing. If you want a unique curved look to the tiles, steam can be used to bend the individual shingles. Or you can go for the more traditional flat wood roof for a quaint cabin sort of vibe.

TILE

If you like the aesthetic of Mediterranean houses along sparkling coastlines, you may want to go for a tile roof. Concrete and clay tile are popular in the Southwest and offer a great look.

Combined with whitewashed stucco, these red tile roofs create an attractive picture of life in the sun.

You can also get the tile in other colors if you want to move away from the Southwestern look.

Tile is remarkably durable and weather resistant and can work as well in cold climates as in warm. You can also get barrel tiles for a popular curved look.

SLATE

If you like the idea of tile but it sounds a little colorful for your taste, you may appreciate slate tile. This stone is gray and provides a fabulous classy look to your home.

If you’re going for a modern, minimalistic look, it’s hard to beat this residential roofing material.

It is important to note that because slate is a mined material rather than a created one, this is the most expensive roofing material in the world.

But it’s also the longest-lasting; there are slate roofs in the United States that are centuries old. Slate is also very heavy, so if you plan to install a slate roof, be sure you talk to your contractor about accounting for the extra weight.

MEMBRANE

If you have a flat or very low-pitch roof, you may want to go for a membrane roof.

This style uses a kind of plastic sheeting to protect and waterproof your roof. There are a variety of materials that can be used, including neoprene, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), PVC, chlorinated polyethylene, or polymer-modified bitumens.

EPDM is one of the best membrane roofing materials, often referred to as “rubber roofing.” It’s applied in large sheets that minimize the number of seams and thus the number of entry points for water.

Costs for membrane roofs range around $3 to $4 a square foot and can last up to 35 years when maintained properly.

GREEN

Depending on your house setup, you may be able to set up a green roof. Green roofs lay dirt and sod over your roof to create a lawn that serves as your roof.

This unique option can come with a number of benefits, not the least of which is its tremendous insulating properties.

You have to make sure that you have a house that can support this variety of roof, so talk to a contractor before you install one. It will also need maintenance just like a regular lawn, though mowing it is obviously not a necessity.

Not only will you be able to take advantage of the tremendous insulating power of dirt with this roof, but you’ll also be reducing urban heat pollution and putting clean air back into the atmosphere.

 

FIND THE BEST RESIDENTIAL ROOFING FOR YOU

Picking the best residential roofing for you is a matter of knowing what style you want for your house.

From plain Jane shingles to colorful metal to natural wood, slate, and even grass, there’s a roof out there for everyone. Talk to your contractor about the limitations your house has and start picking the perfect roof today.

If you’d like to get started on your perfect roof, check out the rest of our site at Signature Roofing.

We can help you get the perfect roof put on your house for the right price. Contact us today and start improving your home for the next several decades.