There are 3 main roof types American homeowners choose from when it’s time to replace their roof. Today we look at the pros and cons of each material to hopefully make the decision a little easier when it’s time to make your decision!
Asphalt Shingles
The most common residential roof type by far, asphalt shingles have many advantages that justify their top spot.
Pros:
- The most affordable of all the roof types, they start cheap with 3-tab shingles and go all the way up to pricier designer shingles that replicate the more expensive roof types like cedar shakes.
- Looks great on most any home.
- Relatively easy to repair and maintain (if inspected regularly)
- Easy to install with most installations taking just a couple of days.
- Plenty of variety, even the pickiest of homeowners can find something they like.
- Lightweight and durable
Cons:
- Especially susceptible to wind and hail damage
- Moss & mildew grow easily on asphalt shingles
- Compared to other roof types, has a relatively short lifespan, requiring replacement every 10 to 20 years (though some well maintained, higher-end shingles can last up to 30 years!).
Cedar Shakes/Cedar Shingles
Pros:
- Extremely durable. highly resistant to wind and rain
- Properly maintained, cedar shakes/shingles can last several decades or more.
- Looks great to many homeowners (beauty is in the eye of the beholder of course)
- Ages like fine wine, looking better as the years roll on.
Cons:
- Material is more expensive as is labor as each shake must be installed individually.
- Also susceptible to moss, mold, and mildew, homeowners must strictly adhere to a regular maintenance schedule. Individual shakes should be replaced by a roof contractor as soon as they need to.
- Ugly to some people, cedar shakes look better on some homes than others
Metal Roofs
Pros:
- Can last as long as the house or building itself, even outlast it!
- Shrugs off wind and rain like it never happened, especially durable
- Mildew, mold, rot, even fire doesn’t phase a metal roof, it’s resistance to these is legendary.
Cons:
- The most expensive of the 3 common roof types both in terms of materials and labor
- Hail damage may not affect the integrity of a metal roof but large enough stones can leave ugly dents.
- Cheaper options, like uncoated metal, can be loud when it rains, although roof contractors can mitigate this with various methods to dampen any noise considerably. If you’re going for metal, spend the money now to get the higher quality materials that make this a non-issue.
- Repairs can be expensive. Although metal roofs are extremely durable, if a repair needs to be performed it can be quite expensive compared to it’s asphalt shingle cousins.
For more information or questions on roof types available to you or to get an estimate on your next residential or commercial roof project in Metro Atlanta call Atlanta Roofing Specialists at 770-419-2222 today!
