Roofing Options

Determining the best roof for your home.

When purchasing a home, the roof is often a secondary consideration, usually measured in the number of years it will last until a replacement is required. However, once a replacement is needed or when you are designing your custom home, there are a number of options available and several factors to consider before making your selection. Here we will give a brief overview of the options on today’s market.

Asphalt shingles are by far the most common roofing choice for homeowners and for good reason. They meet the basic needs of insulation, water prevention, and wind resistance while staying within the most affordable price point. There are three main grades of asphalt shingles: standard building grade or three tab, architectural, and designer.

Standard building grade or three tab shingles are most commonly used in homes built by large developers and production companies. These are the cheapest option and the lowest quality. For durability reasons, they are not recommended for use in homes along the water.

Architectural series shingles are now preferred by 80% of homeowners. All around they offer the best value. Though your initial expense will be higher than the three tab option, your return on investment will be much higher, not to mention the added curb appeal for your home.

Designer series shingles are the highest quality among the asphalt options. They provide a higher impact resistance, a higher wind resistance and come with unique styles that can mimic the look of a cedar shake or slate tile. With all of these extra perks, comes an increase in price as is to be expected.

Outside of the world of asphalt roofs there are a myriad of alternative options. Natural cedar roofs, slate roofs, tile roofs, and metal roofs are the most common selections among homeowners who opt to skip the asphalt route.

Natural cedar roofs can be expected to last twenty-five to thirty years, depending on installation method. They are a common choice for waterfront properties.

Slate roofs will last up to a century with the proper installation. This option is among the most expensive on the market. They offer a high wind resistance due to the sheer weight of the product. Each tile can weigh up to eight pounds! Nowadays not many tradesmen are trained to work with slate roofs. At Sage it is one of our specialties. If selecting a slate roof, be sure copper is used in place of aluminum during installation or the roof will outlast the metal. For proper heating and cooling, be sure the contractor maintains the right amount of fifty-fifty net free space.

Clay tile roofs offer a solid wind rating, and are most commonly used along the coast and in tropical climates. The tiles do not heat up like asphalt and metal, and the airspace in between each tile allows a steady airflow. This cools the tiles making it ideal for warmer environments. These roofs can be expected to last between thirty and forty years depending on the specific tile used.

Metal roofing should only be your choice if this if this is going to be your forever home. While metal roofs are able to withstand winds up to a category two hurricane and will easily last fifty years with proper maintenance, they are one of the most expensive products on the market. You can only expect a mere 62.9% return on investment, which means you will be footing the bill for the next homeowner should you ever decide to relocate.

Now that you have a general understanding of the products available for your home, you can begin the process of narrowing in on the type of roof you would like to purchase or further research.

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