Roofing is an essential part of the house but when looking to buy one there are so many different options at many different price points. This guide should help you do understand a bit more about three common roofing types, metal, asphalt and slate.
Metal Roofing
Metal roofing is made up of pieces or titles of various metals that have excellent longevity and resistance to harsh weather. Metal roofs can be made out of many different types of metal, these are amongst the most popular:
- Steel
- Copper
- Aluminium
- Lead
- Zinc
- Titanium
Durability
Metal roofs are designed with durability in mind. They are able to withstand extreme weather conditions meaning they can last for a long time. Aluminium roofs can last for around 100 years and even the likes of steel will still last around 40 or more.
Price
The cost of metal roofs differs greatly depending on what kind you are looking for. For example, if you want Steel that is a much cheaper option than the likes of Copper.
Maintenance & Care
Metal roofs generally don’t require lots of costly maintenance that other types of roofs do. However, they should still get regular maintenance checks to ensure that there is no damage or any faults that could develop into something in the future.
Environmentally Friendly
Metal roofing is arguably one of the most eco-friendly roofing solutions. A lot of metal roofs contain recycled materials and the roof itself is 100% recyclable when you don’t want it anymore.
Asphalt Shingles
These are roof shingles that are made out of asphalt and glass fibre for waterproofing. This is quite a common roofing material due to its inexpensive cost.
Durability
These shingles will last for around 15-30 years. However, this material isn’t as durable as metal so it is important when purchasing them, not to get the cheapest ones available because you get what you pay for and they won’t last as long.
Price
Asphalt shingles are generally a lot less expensive than metal, not only because of the material itself but because of the installation process being less expensive too. However, metal roofs will usually come with a lot longer warranty and generally last longer so, in the long run, they don’t seem so expensive.
Maintenance & Care
Asphalt shingles, like metal roofs, should have an annual maintenance check, this ensures that there are no underlying problems that are going unnoticed, only to cause bigger issues down the line. However, as well as this, it is a good idea to check it yourself regularly and remove any debris or vegetation that is growing.
Environmentally Friendly
Asphalt shingles are very environmentally friendly since most of them are made from 100% recycled materials so they can continuously be used.
Slate Roof
Slate is a natural material that comes from slate rocks. This rock is composed of clay or volcanic ash through metamorphism and it is a very beautiful material to use on roofs.
Durability
This is one of the strongest materials available for roofing, resisting anything from harsh weather to fires. Hard slate roofs can last anywhere from 75 to 200 years, soft slate doesn’t last as long as this but overall it is a very sturdy material.
Price
Due to its extremely long lifespan and wonderful aesthetic properties, this material doesn’t come cheap. However, since it lasts for a lot longer than other materials, it will work out cheaper in the long run.
Maintenance & Care
Generally slate requires little to no maintenance since stone does not rust, warp or attract any mould which other materials like metal and asphalt do. This material is extremely sturdy and the only time they will really break is if you stand on them.
Environmentally Friendly
Since no artificial materials or chemicals are needed to produce this roof, slate is extremely sustainable. This material is 100% natural, therefore it has a very low environmental impact. If the price is not an issue this is a great option.
Contact Us
If you are interested in getting a new roof and you can’t decide which one is right for you, then feel free to contact our team of experts here at Abbey Roofing who are ready to help. Call us on 01865 580 067 or fill out our online contact form.