Here are 12 types of roofing materials to consider when it comes time to replace your roof.
How Much Does Replacing a Roof Cost?
The cost of a roof replacement can vary widely. The three main factors it depends on are the type of roofing material you choose, the price of labor, and the size and shape of your roof. The average cost of a roof replacement nationwide is $8,314. The typical cost range is between roughly $5,500 and $11,000. Rolled roofing is one of the cheapest roofing materials, but it doesn’t offer much aesthetic value. The large, thin strips offer a fast and convenient way to cover a sloped-roof building like a workshop where appearances aren’t important. It can be applied either with the torch-down method or with roofing nails. On average, rolled roofing lasts about 5 to 8 years before it needs to be replaced. The felt is applied in overlapping layers to form a barrier two to four layers thick. Then, a layer of finely crushed stone is embedded in hot tar over the top to create a very durable and impenetrable roof. A properly installed BUR roof can last 20 to 30 years.
Neoprene (polychloroprene)EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer)PVC (polyvinyl chloride)Chlorinated polyethylene and chlorosulfonated polyethylene sheetsPolymer-modified bitumens
One of the best membranes is EPDM. EPDM is a synthetic roofing material often referred to as “rubber roofing.” It is similar to rolled asphalt roofing in that it is applied in large sheets that limit the number of seams where water can infiltrate. The lifespan is typically 20 to 35 years or more when the roof is properly maintained. They typically come with a 20- to 30-year warranty, and replacing individual shingles that are damaged is a fairly easy job. Plus, virtually every roofing company is familiar with installing these singles. Depending on the quality of the shingles and the conditions, the lifespan of the roof can range from 12 to 30 years. Metal is also a long-lasting type of roof, and it’s recyclable when it finally does wear out. But installation requires special skills, and not every roofing company is prepared to install a standing seam metal roof. Metal roofs commonly last 30 to 50 years, but some have been known to last 75 years. Made from stamped metal and finished with either a high-quality baked-on coating or mineral granules, metal shingles can be fabricated to look very much like traditional asphalt shingles, wooden shakes, or even slate or clay tiles. They are an excellent choice where appearance is a critical concern but you still want a durable and long-lasting roofing material. Metal shingles and shakes can last 30 to 50 years. Although both are made from natural wood, usually cedar (typically found on Cape Cod-style homes) or redwood, there is a difference between wood shakes and shingles. Shingles are typically thin, wedge-shaped slabs of wood that are produced by precise sawing. Shakes are produced by splitting wood, and they are thicker wedges with a rougher texture. Longevity depends on circumstances and maintenance. In relatively dry climates, a wood shingle or shake roof can last 60 years; in damp conditions, you might only get 20 to 30 years from the roof. Clay tile is a good roofing material for hot climates or where salt air is present. This is why these roofs are often seen in Southern coastal regions or desert regions. Clay is one type of roof that lasts the longest, thanks to it being one of the most durable roofing materials. You can get more than a century from a clay tile roof. Concrete tiles are molded from standard sand-mix concrete colored to whatever hues are desired. A variety of profiles are available, some that resemble rolled clay tiles and others that are low-profile resembling wood shakes. Concrete tile is sometimes finished with a decorative coating. It is a very heavy and durable roofing material, making it a good choice in high-wind regions. Life expectancy is 50 years or longer. True slate roofing is just as it sounds: authentic, thin sheets of real stone. Because slate has a tendency to cleave off in thin sheets, it is easy to quarry, making it ideal for roofing. But installing slate is a highly specialized skill, and qualified installers can be hard to find. If you opt for a slate roof, it will likely be the last roof replacement you’ll ever need to do. A slate tile roof often lasts 75 to 150 years or more. From the ground, it can be virtually impossible to distinguish this engineered roofing from natural slate. But the lighter synthetic material is a viable option for houses that cannot support the heavy weight of natural slate. Although not as durable as true stone, synthetic slate usually comes with a very good warranty—up to 50 years. A truly unorthodox type of roofing material, a green or living roof nevertheless holds much promise. It can remove pollutants from the air, provide thermal insulation to your house, absorb rainwater, and even allow you to grow plants. To create a green roof, you first install a layer of waterproof membrane and provide adequate drainage. A green roof can be “intensive,” meaning capable of supporting large plants and people, or “extensive,” meaning it is thin and intended only for lightweight growth such as moss. Either way, living roofs will require regular maintenance to keep them lasting for a long time.
