Roof is the most important part of any house because it protects the interiors of the home, family members from the weather conditions as well as property in the home. So, before construction or whenever there is a need to replace the roofs, you need to choose the roof tiles which should be best suitable for your home.
However there are a number of roofing materials available in market with different shapes, styles and designs in different colors to enhance your home but many people are confused about what to choose, and apply to their home. Choosing the correct roof tiles will not only make your home look great but will also keep it warm, dry, and energy efficient.
It is instructive to keep in mind certain points while choosing the roof tiles for your home: 1) Climatic conditions where you live, 2) How long the roofing material will last, 3) Will the roofing material you selected fit the codes of building or won’t? 4) Roofing materials should meet your budget as well as water and weatherproof, 5) Does the roof match with the style of your house, 6) Weight of tiles should match with the strength of the roof.
Following are some common roof materials:
- Asphalt shingles are common, least expensive and lighter weight of all the roof materials. It will last up to 15 – 20 years with minimal maintenance.
- Wooden shingles and shakes are the best tiles in terms of looks, but it grays overtime. They provide insulation to home but are expensive to use and maintain because it requires re-oiling, regular washing, flame retardation etc. Wooden roofs last up to 15-25 years.
- Slate roofs are long lasting roofs and they last for over 100 years but they are expensive.
- Metal roofs are cheap and can resemble almost any kind of other material. It lasts up to 30-50 years under any climatic conditions.
- Ceramic tile roofs are suitable in any climatic conditions. These roofs typically last up to 60 – 80 years. The cost of these tiles are three times more than the other roofing materials.
While there are other roofing materials such as plastic, rubber, or cement that need typically low maintenance and lasts more than 50 years.