Factors that affect your roofing choice

With all the roofing materials, styles, textures, and colours to choose from, it can be difficult to select the roof that best suits your home. Because of its role in protecting you and your home against the elements, your roofing choice is very important. Here are some information to help you with your roofing decision.

Materials

• Terracotta – Terracotta tiles are heavy and expensive, but they remain as one of the top roofing choices because of their classy appearance. Although they can last for several years in good weather conditions, they are prone to cracking or breaking upon impact.
• Concrete – For those who want to achieve the gorgeous look of terracotta roofing on a tight budget, concrete is a good option. With proper maintenance, concrete tiled roofs are very durable. Just like terracotta, though, concrete tiled roofs are pretty heavy, so they need stronger support.
• Slate – If durability is your main concern, slate is the roofing material for you. Slate is a low-maintenance roofing material that can look great, withstand breakage, and can last for hundreds of years. It is also the most expensive roofing option though, so be prepared to shell out a big chunk of money if you opt for a slate roof.
• Asphalt – Cheap and easy to install, asphalt roofing is gaining ground as a popular roofing material. It’s pretty durable, too, lasting for up to 25 or 30 years with proper maintenance. However, extreme temperatures can cause asphalt roofs to curl or crack.
• Timber – Properly treated timber shingles can last as long as asphalt roofs, but they are a lot more expensive. Timber roofing is chosen mostly for its aesthetic appeal, but it can be a fire hazard and is not very weather-friendly.
• Steel – Steel roofing, or what most Australians refer to as Colorbond roofing, is an inexpensive and long-lasting roofing choice. They also come in all sorts of colours and styles, so it’s easy to find one that will suit your home.

Purpose

Your choice of roofing is also determined by whether you’re remodelling an old roof or building a new home. If you’re replacing your old roof, your material options will already be limited by the shape of your existing roof and the structure of your house due to the specific requirements of each material. Keep in mind that certain materials work great with a flat roof while others may need roofs with a steeper pitch.

On the other hand, choosing a roof for a new home will give you a lot more to think about. Since your roof’s main purpose is to protect you and your home from the elements, climate should be your main concern. You want your roofing to be strong enough to withstand the most extreme weather conditions that your home will be subject to. If you’re leaning towards a terracotta, concrete, or slate roof, you also have to make sure that your home is strong enough to support the weight of your roof.

Cost

As with most of your other building choices, cost also plays a vital part in your roofing choice. To determine how much you will have to spend, get an accurate measurement of your roofing area first. Roofers usually measure this area in “squares,” but you can also give them a square metre measurement, and they’ll handle the conversions for you. Aside from the size of the roofing area and the cost of materials, certain design choices can also affect your total roofing cost. For instance, a simple flat or single-gable roof would cost less to install compared to a roof with complex shapes or breaks in its planes, such as vents and skylights.

Whether you’re remodelling or building a new home, you can get tons of help and information from an expert roofer. Get free quotes from our professional roofers now.