Roofing Materials Pros & Cons

Have you ever wonder how many different types of roofing material are there? Knowing the type of roofing material you have in your home is very important especially when it comes down to choosing and maintaining your roof. 

To get familiar with the types of roofing materials there is, here’s a list of the most common roofing material along with their Pros and Cons.

Asphalt shingles are also known as and composition shingles (or composite shingles). These are general terms for the same thing. The term “composition” is used because the shingles are a composite product made from either a fiberglass or cellulose mat, asphalt, and mineral granules. This differs from wood shake shingles or clay tiles which are made from a single material.

Wood shingles are thin, tapered pieces of wood primarily used to cover roofs and walls of buildings to protect them from the weather. Historically shingles were split from straight grained, knot free bolts of wood. Today shingles are mostly made by being cut which distinguishes them from shakes which are made by being split out of a bolt.

Metal roofing is available in several materials including steel, aluminum and copper. It also comes in several forms: sheeting (which includes the predominant type known as “standing seam” roofing) and tiles. If you don’t like the smooth look you can buy stone coated steel roofing which has the texture of asphalt roofing.

Standing seam metal roofs are made from panels with a small vertical flange at the joint where the panels meet similar to what’s shown in the photo above. Metal roof tiles are installed in a similar fashion to other roofing tiles and shingles. Metal makes for a durable roof but requires careful consideration from a style perspective, particularly the standing seam variety. You’ll need to consider how it will look relative to your home’s design and the architectural style of the homes in your neighborhood.

Tile roofs not made from metal or a composite material are typically clay-based or made from concrete. Tile roofs are another durable and long-lasting roof but they are heavy and your underlying roof structure needs to be designed to take the load. Clay or concrete tiles are available in a variety of styles. Some products are even made to mimic other types of roofing like wood shake. In those cases, you get the textured wood-look with a durable and fireproof roof covering. Tile roofs can be expensive however with clay-based tiles usually costing more than concrete tiles.

Slate is real stone and is one of the most durable and long-lasting types of roofing material you can choose. Slate roofs can be beautiful and there are several shades of slate you can choose from. A slate roof is also heavy however and your roof framing needs to be engineered to support this style of roofing. Along with the beauty and durability however comes a fairly high price tag — slate is one of the most expensive roofs you can choose.