How to decide what kind of roof is right for your home

People often underestimate the importance of picking the right roof for their home. After all, among all the things that you have to consider when building or renovating one, the roof is often the last thing you worry about. Well, as it turns out, the roof you pick will play a major role in your house’s structural integrity. If you choose a suitable one, you will not have to worry about it for years to come. But, if you chose an improper one, you can be looking at major roof renovations within a couple of years. So, how are you to decide what kind of roof is right for your home?

How to figure out what kind of roof do you need

In order to figure out what kind of roof is right for your house, there are a couple of factors that you need to take into consideration. You can always go for the top quality slate roofing, but this can often be overkill. And, once you consider the cost of installing it, you will soon realize that figuring out what type of roof you need is well worth your time. So, here is what to consider before you start checking out different kinds of roofs.

Consider your local area

The biggest issue with your roof will be your local climate. After all, the whole point of having a roof is for it to protect you from unfavorable weather. And in order for it to do so properly, you need to consider the climate you are in. If you install a roof that is unsuited for your climate, you put yourself in considerable risk. Plus, by doing so, you can increase the rate of your home insurance.

If you are not sure what kind of roof is right for your house, try to see what your neighbors are using.

Alt: An aerial view of a neighborhood where all homes have the same roof, showing you a way to determine what kind of roof is right for your house.

One of the best things to do is to see what roof people usually have in your neighborhood. You can either talk with your neighbors and hear their experiences or find a local roofing company and see what they have to say. All in all, with their help, you will probably boil down your choices to two or three types of roof, max.

Mind your budget

The second thing you will have to consider is your budget. As we said, you can install slate roofing on pretty much any house and not worry about it for decades. But, a slate roof is quite expensive. So, what you’ll need to do is to figure out the budget you have for your roof. This is best done by consulting with a roofing company. With their help, you’ll be able to properly weigh out the costs and the benefits and see what roofing solution suits you best.

Just remember to spend enough time looking for the right roofing company. Especially when it comes to installing a brand new roof on your house. No matter how good your roof is, it needs to be properly installed in order to function properly. An improperly installed roof can easily start deteriorating within the first couple of weeks. And fixing such a roof will cost you a surprising amount of money, especially if you have to reinstall the whole thing. So, do yourself a favor and find a reliable, trustworthy roofing company to both consult and work with.

What kinds of roofs are out there

An experienced roofing company will help you consider your situation and figure out what kind of roof is right for your house. But, it doesn’t hurt for you to educate yourself a bit on the different types of roofs that are out there. By doing so, you will make negotiating easier with the roofing company. And, you might even mention certain roof types that slipped the roofers’ mind. With that in mind, here are some of the most common roof types used in the U.S.

Asphalt shingles

Asphalt shingles are easily one of the most common types of roofing in the U.S. They are sturdy, inexpensive and easy to install, which is why they are in such high demand. So, are asphalt shingles ideal for any house? Well, it depends. The main downside to them is that they don’t have much longevity. A well-installed roof will last you about 15-20 years, without needing major repairs. Now, this may sound long, but consider the fact that slate roofing can easily last 100 years without needing repair.

Ceramic roof tiles

Ceramic roof tiles are often considered as one of the most beautiful types of roofing. They always seem to bring character to a home and help it look that much more scenic. Plus, once you install them, they will not fade or get damaged by fire. And, quality ones should last you for about 50-70 years. But, they are not suited for every climate. Ceramic roof tiles are suited for a climate with a steady, warm temperature where there is no heavy rain. Furthermore, while ceramic tiles are durable, they are also fragile. Strong winds can easily cause damage that will need repair.

Slate roof shingles

If you are considering what kind of roof is right for your home, and you have no budget constraints, slate roofing is the way to go. Although it is more difficult to install, once you do, you will be pretty much set for your entire life. It is invulnerable to rot, easy to maintain and has tremendous fire resistance. The only downsides to it are that it can be a bit heavy. So, you need to have a properly structured house in order to support it. Plus, roof and gutter cleaning can be a bit difficult, since slate roofing can break underfoot. Now, there are certain smart gadgets that can make this a bit easier, but it is still going to be fairly difficult to do. All in all, if you own a structurally sound home and you are careful during cleaning, slate roofing is the way to go.