Since architecture has been around, roofing has been a vital component of designing and constructing buildings. This is because it’s rare for a building to be habitable for long without some form of roofing structure protecting it from the intensive temperatures and elements. We may forget this from time to time, but roofing also provides an essential security function we all seem to take for granted, too.
But while our roofing systems are rarely crafted for defending us from roaming predators and aggressive wildlife, they need to service protective functionalities through and through, before design is even taken into consideration. But thankfully, many roofing materials are sturdy enough to the point where the design of your home’s topping is now negotiable depending on the functionalities and aesthetic you’re looking for.
But what materials can be used for roofing? Let’s consider that below. But remember, roofing materials are only as good as the roofing company tasked with installing it.:
- Eco-Friendly Roofing
Pursuant to more eco-friendly methods of designing roofing systems, eco-friendly roofing, involving living plant materials placed on a rooftop (think Hobbiton) can add thermal insulation, absorb rainwater, and release oxygen into the environment. Sure it’s niche, but in the right circumstances, very cool too.
- Slate Tyle (Synthetic Rubber)
Synthetic rubber slate tyle is an alternative to natural slate, developed via engineered polymers and recycled materials. This provides a lightweight roofing system that is no less secure than its counterparts, though it’s not as durable as pure stone options. Thankfully, it can last up to half a century if well installed.
- Slate Shingles
You may be familiar with slate roofs, as their aesthetic design is often noticeable even for those who have little idea of roofing installations. Slate is sheets of stone placed carefully ot provide something of a uniform aesthetic, although it can be hard to install and will cost more. Thankfully, the durability this provides will more than outweigh the cost.
- Clay Tile
Molded earthen clay tiles can provide an incredibly beautiful material perfect for hotter climates, especially when unglazed. This is because they ventilate heat appropriately. They can last over a hundred years.
- Concrete Tile
Concrete tile is a fairly standardized roofing material, with a low visual impact and a uniform design. They are relatively cheap compared to clay tile, and can be expected to last around fifty years.
- Wood Shingles
Wood shingles look great, but they usually last only around twenty years. They are popular for luxury homes and can provide a beautiful, natural style. They can come in shingles or shakes.
- Metal Shingles
Metal roofs are considered beneficial thanks to how durable and secure they are, but metal shingles allow a metal roof to look more like other roofing systems rather than standing out as a building that looks too industrial. They’re relatively cheap, and can last thirty to fifty years.
- Standing Seam Metal
Standing seam metal roofing is by far one of the most common types of roofing system out tehre. This is especially true in areas prone to heavy and harsh weather, thanks to how durable they are and easy to clean they can be. Furthermore, they are fully fire-resistant.
- Asphalt Composite
Asphalt composite comes with a thirty-year warranty and are considered to be modular, which means that individual shingle replacement can be done quickly and easy. Unlike a metal roof, this means that patchwork repairs can be applied for a while. They’re also one of the cheapest roofing materials you can use.
- Membrane
Membrane roofing involves materials like PVC and Neoprene, which are synthetic roofing materials similar to rolled asphalt. This allows for a modular installation in the form of large sheets that are rolled over your roofing installation and prevent leaks from gettnig through.
- Rolled
Rolled roofing is not only popular for homes and industrial buildings, but smaller constructions like sheds and utilitarian structures. Mineral and asphalt impregnated material is infused with mineral granules and developed into strips of thin roofing material. This can help you cover a roofing system almost immediately, and cheaply, lasting around a decade.
- Built-Up
Built-up roofing is often seen in industrial buildings, where tar and asphalt are applied hot to the roof in order to provide layers of protection. A built-up roof can last around thirty years.