There are many things to consider when choosing the best roofing type for your home. Before even selecting a roof type, there are many other factors to consider: durability, longevity, weight, design, and cost. By comparison, the best roofing type for your home can be selected by knowing the pros and cons of each roofing type. Whether you’re replacing a roof in Los Angeles or anywhere else in the U.S., the pros and cons below are still applicable.
Asphalt Composition Shingles
The most common roofing type for homes is asphalt composition shingles. These roof type makes up eighty percent of the residential roofing market. Asphalt shingles are made of either organic paper fiber, which is good for houses in cold, windy weather, or fiberglass, which is more fire and moisture resistant. Either of these materials is then infused with asphalt and coated with mineral granules. The typical appearance of this roofing system is in either traditional 3-tab shingles or thickly laminated shingles.
The durability of asphalt shingles is weak as it is prone to algae staining, although there are some algae resistant shingles built for houses for humid climates. The weight of the shingles is moderate, and it can be used on fairly low to steeply sloped roofs. Asphalt shingles have good fire resistance and wind resistance. And lastly, the cost for shingle roofs in Los Angeles is relatively reasonable.
Metal Roof
Another good roofing option is a metal roof. Metal roofs may be more expensive than the common asphalt composition shingles, but its longevity and wind resistance are greater. The materials that the metal roof is made of is an alloy of steel, aluminum, copper, or zinc with zinc coating or painted finish. Copper roofs, on the other hand, are not painted with the finish but left to gain a protective green patina. The appearance of the metal roof is diverse as it is available in sheets or shingles. The product is also fairly durable, depending on the composition of the metal roof. It is light in weight and very flexible as it can be used for low or steep sloped roofs. It has good resistance to both fire and wind, but the cost is moderate to expensive.
Slate Roofing
Slate roofing is one of the oldest known roofing materials, and it is made from natural slate rock. This roofing system has a dark gray appearance. It’s quite durable, as it is made of rock. But one of the downsides is that it is heavy, and therefore requires the house to have a reinforced roofing structure to support the additional weight. Slate roofs can only be installed on steeply sloped roofs.
Another positive is that it has good fire and wind resistance. The cost, however, is very expensive as it requires trained workers to install it.
Plastic Polymer
Plastic polymer is another roofing option for for people who want affordable roofing shingles that has the appearance of slate roofing. The plastic polymer roof is made out of molded high-tech plastic polymer. It has the appearance of a slate of wood shake shingles. The durability of this roof is quite long, and it requires low maintenance. The weight of the roofing shingles is light to moderate depending on the thickness. It can be used to cover moderate to steep sloped roofs. The plastic polymer roofing also has good fire and wind resistance, and the cost is moderate.
Clay Tile Roofing
Clay tiles are a very popular option in southern California. Clay tiles are an excellent roofing option for those who want their house to have a traditional Italian or Spanish look. The materials of the clay tile roofing are natural clay fired in a kiln. It has a long lifespan, but it is brittle and breakable. The clay tiles are heavy, so it requires extra support from the roof framing. The clay tiles can be used to decorate moderate to steep sloped roofs only. And it has excellent fire resistance but low wind resistance. The cost of clay tiles is expensive, so keep that in mind if you decide to go with this option.
Concrete Tiles
Lastly, we have the option of concrete tiles. Concrete tiles are less expensive than clay tiles, but share the longevity of clay tiles. Concrete tiles are made of Portland cement and sand, and can be molded in such a way that it can resemble clay tiles or slate roofing. It is long lasting and low maintenance, but heavy, which requires additional support from the roof framing. It has excellent fire resistance and low wind resistance, and the cost is moderate.
Conclusion
It might seem like a lot of options, but that’s the benefit of hiring a professional roofing contractor in Los Angeles, like Roof Repair Specialist. During your appointment, your consultant will show you all the possible roofing options and go over the pros and cons of each of them, in order to help you choose the best option for your home. So if you’re looking for a roofer in Los Angeles to upgrade your roof today, then contact Roof Repair Specialist!
