What Is The Right Type Of Roofing For Your Home?

When it comes to home styles, it seems the variety is almost endless. Homes can be Cape Cod, Art Deco, Bungalow, Craftsman, Contemporary, Colonial, Dutch Colonial, Georgian Colonial, Federal Colonial, French Provincial, Greek Revival, Italianate, Mediterranean and the list goes on.

It is no wonder with all of these different types of home styles, there would be a wide variety of roofing styles as well. The basic roofing material types are asphalt shingles, composite shingles, wood shingles, slate and metal. So what do you choose for your home?

Style is one factor to consider, but not the only one. Yes, you want your roof to look nice and suit the style of your home, but, factors such as product cost, material weight, installation requirements and lifespan of the product are also important to consider.

Here is what you need to know to make the right decision:

Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingles -  The most commonly used of all roof materials, probably because they are the least costly and easier to install. Asphalt shingles are made from a fiberglass medium that has been blended with asphalt and given a cover of sand-like granules. They come in multiple thicknesses with the thicker being covered in a laminated product. In today’s market, companies like Certainteed (http://www.certainteed.com/residential-roofing/types-asphalt-roofing-shingles/) offer a variety of asphalt shingles that meet most desired looks. They offer Strip Shingles which are the most basic type of shingle for single layer roofing, Dimensional Shingles which offer a multi-layered richer appearance and possible impact resistance.  The Premium Shingle which offer designs that mimic “old-world” roofing shingles like natural slate or natural shake roofing shingles.  Because of the varieties available, you would need to consult your roofing installer as to the lifespan of these products.

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