You and Your Roof Have Options When Its Time Has Come

When it comes to replacing your roof, whether you are in need of residential roofing repair or commercial roofing replacement, there are many more options to choose from than there used to be. Commercial roof types can range from metal roofing to flat roof materials and they all boast a healthy lifespan.

Right now, there are roughly 50,000 establishments that specialize roofing repair and roofing replacement. As these companies go about their businesses every day, they have found that the number one concern for consumers with regard to new roofing materials is durability. In fact, 88% of customers who participated in a recent survey about the matter said that durability was the most important concern, followed by the number two concern which was longevity.

The three most popular materials for roofing, whether commercial roof types or residential, are asphalt shingles, metal roofing, or flat roof material.

Asphalt shingles:

These shingles are both durable and less expensive than some other types of shingles on the market. They can come in a variety of colors and styles, they are very easy and quick to install, they hold up very well under a wide variety of temperature conditions and provide very reliable waterproofing protection.

Of the residential and commercial roof types, asphalt shingles will give you a rather lengthy life. Depending on where you live and what the basic weather conditions are, you can expect them to last around 20 years. Sometimes that number is great, sometimes it is less. It all depends on the type of damage the weather consistently inflicts on them. One of the disadvantages you could run into with asphalt shingles is that if they are walked on much, they will become brittle, flaking off in places. Also, the darker shingles have a tendency to fade over time.

Metal Roofs:

The metal roof is becoming much more popular around the country when comparing both residential and commercial roof types. The metal shingles are lightweight, very environmentally friendly, and are very low maintenance. This is a big plus for homeowners, 75% of whom want roofing materials that require very little or no maintenance, according to a recent survey.

If you go the metal roofing route, make sure you hire a professional roofer with experience in the installation of metal roofs. Metal roofs will have a longer life than an asphalt roof, although the metal roof may lose its shine over time. The good news is, even though the shine can dissipate over time, you can repaint the metal roof. As long as the structural integrity of the roof is still intact, a paint job might not be a bad idea just to change the look of things ever once in a while. It won’t hurt the roof one bit.

If you are looking to replace your roof, whether residential or commercial, take the time to check out what roofing types would be best for your home or business.