PLANO TYPE OF ROOFING MATERIALS

Type of roofing materials

It’s essential to keep your home protected from the forces of nature. Rain, hail, heat, sleet, snow… all kind of inclement weather can negatively affect your living space. Therefore, having a well-built, sturdy roof is essential. Every home has a roof, but what kinds are available to you and which will best protect your home?

Wood Shingles

A wood shingle roof can look really nice on a house. It adds a certain charm to a home that a more common asphalt shingle roof doesn’t. Your wood shingle roof will definitely stand out in the midst of neighboring asphalt roofs.

However, the problem with wood shingles is their vulnerability to moisture absorption and, by extention, mold and mildew growth. Wood is a natural material, so it’ll decay and lead to mold growth if not properly dried and maintained. These problems come about during a rainy North Texas spring.

Out of all of the type of roofing materials, wood shingles require the most attention, especially after a long period of rain and severe storms. The areas of your roof that are constantly in the shade are most susceptible to rotting. Routinely treating your wood should guarantee strong roofing for at least the next 30 years.

How is a wood shake roof different?

Wood shakes are formed by splitting instead of sawing. Splitting allows each shake to follow the natural grain and maintains a certain thickness similar to a wood plank that wood shingles don’t have. The patterns and thickness work together to better protect against rotting caused by moisture absorptions.

With regards to appearance, wood shakes have a bolder look than wood shingles because of their thickness. So if you want a bolder look, go for wood shakes; if you want a more sleek wood look, go for wood shingles.

Regardless of the type of wood, your top choices are cedar, redwood and cypress. Cedar is strongest against wear and tear, while redwood is considered on of the most visually appealing type. Because redwood is more common on the Pacific coast, there is a smaller supply in Texas; so, expect the price of redwood to be more.

No matter what type of wood you choose, you must keep an eye on and maintain your roof. If you do, its lifetime can range from 30 to 40 years.

Metal

Metal roofing can be found in both panel and shingle forms. both have the same qualities, but you can find them shaped differently for appearance preferences. Metal roofing in shingle form will give your Plano, TX home a more traditional look, but if you want a more modern look, you should opt for panel form.

Metal roofing will last a long time, in best case scenario, up to 75 years. At the least, metal roofing will last around 40 years. It’ll definitely cost a bit more, but when compared to asphalt and wood shingles, you’re basically paying for the lifetime of two roofs.

The disadvantages of metal roofing are noise and dents. Metal is a naturally loud material, so heavy rain can result in an annoying, constant noise throughout your home. You’ll probably get used to it, but it’s something you should at least be aware of. Fortunately, added sheathing and soundproof insulation are good options for getting rid of the noise.

Metal is also prone to denting. Texas is known for hail storms, so be prepared to have to repair a shingle or panel if a major hail storm comes through your area. Your metal roofing should be able to withstand most hail storms. While dents may occur, you won’t have to replace your entire roof like you would an asphalt roof that has been damaged by hail. The reason for this is that metal is extremely hard to break through.

Slate

Slate is the cream of the crop when it comes to the type of roofing materials. It makes for a long-lasting, visually appealing roof. Due to its many advantageous characteristics, slate is the most expensive roofing material. You’ll have to pay quite a bit for both the slate roofing itself, as well as for the installation. Expect about $600 per square foot!

But, if you can afford slate roofing, you’ll have yourself a roof that’ll last for the next 100 years. You probably won’t be living in the same home for that long of time, but the good news is that slate roofing will significantly increase your home’s resale value in the case that you do sell it.

Slate isn’t prone to mold and mildew. Heat isn’t a threat to it either, nor is hail. To some extent, you could say that slate is the perfect roofing material, in terms of both functionality and appearance.

The most popular shades of slate roofing are gray, green, red and purple. Every color has a subtle fade that makes it look earthy and inviting. As long as you hire a professional contractor to install the slate, you’ll benefit from slate’s amazing functionality and looks.

Roofing manufacturing technology is so advanced these days that you can even find materials that are made to look like slate. It might sound like a knock off (as it’s meant to be), but the appeal stays the same, and the functionality only differs. As you’d expect, the point of attraction to slate impersonators is the price.

Asphalt

Asphalt shingles remain the most widely used roofing material. The reason for this is that they’re inexpensive, versatile and reliable. An asphalt roof’s lifespan is between 20 and 25 years, but it requires pretty much zero maintenance and can withstand the combination of heavy winds, rain and hail just as well as most other type of roofing materials.

Asphalt shingles also come in a variety of colors, like black, gray, blue, brown, and red. You can easily find an asphalt shingle that will suit the exterior of your house.

With regards to quality, asphalt shingles are pretty much made for Texas weather. That’s why the majority of Plano, TX homes have asphalt roofing installed.

Asphalt’s combination of affordability, quality and appearance tend to make them the default roofing option for most Texas homeowners. While asphalt shingles aren’t extraordinary in any category, their reliability makes them a worthy buy.

To Summarize

• Slate is the most expensive of the different roofing materials. It also lasts the longest and, according to most people, looks the best.
• Metal roofs are next on the list with regards to durability. Metal is quite difficult to damage; it is however an acquired taste for most homeowners.
• Wood Shake roofs will last 30-40 years. They may have a slightly longer lifetime than a wood shingle roof due to their composition.
• Wood shingles gives a natural charm to a home. They add character and are a great choice as long as you take measures to prevent mold and algae growth.
• Asphalt is the most common choice. It’s affordable, durable (about 20-30 years), and versatile.

There is one more material left for us to discuss:

There is one more roofing material to discuss, but it’s not found too often on North Texas homes.

Clay or Concrete tiles can last from 50 to 100 years. It’s quite important, though, that you hire a qualified and licensed roofing contractor to install your clay roofing. It should go without saying for any installation project, but clay is categorized with slate in terms of the difficulty of installation.

Clay tiles are quite heavy and delicate. To make sure that they stay in place and carry out proper installation, a licensed, professional roofing company needs to be the on working on it. The pros will determine whether or not your roof can handle the weight of clay tiles. Clay roofing should not to be placed over the old roofing material; the old roofing material needs to be removed completely and the clay roofing installed from scratch.

They have such a long lifetime because they’re fireproof, resistant to precipitation, and adaptive to the varying temperatures of North Texas. Honestly, the only thing that can significantly damage clay/concrete roofing is a really heavy impact, like a falling tree. It’s strong enough to resist hail; but, if hail is big and fast enough, it can lead to some tile cracking, and a clay tile is not as simple to repair as other those of other roofing materials, such as asphalt and wood.

You’ll find clay roofing to be very versatile. It’s also a roofing material that adds a ton of charm and character to a home. Your clay/concrete roof will definitely stand out for years to come!

Summit Roof Service Inc.

For any of the type of roofing materials mentioned above, Summit Roof Service Inc. is the place to go. Our contractos are prepared and experienced to install any type of roofing, whether it be a brand-new roof or a roof replacement. We’re also experts in roof repair. Contact Summit Roof today at (972) 715-1655! We want to give your home the roof it needs.

To learn more about the products and services we offer, please visit summitroof.com. You can also check out our blog for all kinds of useful roofing tips.