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Here
comes the fun part...
...choosing
your surface roof! Once you do this the exterior of your home is
all decided!
There
are a ga-zillion different choices that you have to pick
from, unless the area in which you are building governs a
specific type of roof to be put on your home. For those of you
who are free to make your choice—let's get started.
Now,
before you get overwhelmed let's break this down into three easy
steps:
Now,
doesn't that sound much easier than to just start looking
through a ga-zillion different roofing materials. Okay, let's
begin with...
Step
#1: Choose the Design
There
are many different designs in roof products and each design can
dramatically change the look of your home. If you are wanting to
stick within the standards of your home's style, then this
choice is very easy.
For
example: If you are building a Spanish-style home then you will
probably want to stick with a Spanish Tile. But, that doesn't
mean that you have to use clay—as you will see later on in
step #2.
Following
are three basic roofing product categories. Most have several
different styles, colors and textures to choose from.
Shake/Shingle—Originally,
the difference is that the shake is actually split from the
side of a piece of wood, where the shingle is sawn.
Shakes are generally thicker than shingles and more rustic in
appearance, whereas the shingle is thinner and smoother.
Tile—come
in numerous shapes, sizes, and thickness. They can be flat, or
arched; squared off, or rounded.
Vertical
Panel—popular in colder regions because of it
ability to slough off snow thereby preventing damage to the
roof, it is also stylish with all the colors that are available
to the homeowner.
Rolled
Roofing—Usually only used in flat, or near
flat roofs then sealed. Because there is less runoff from a
flat roof, this type of system needs to be installed very well
to keep the moisture out.
Any
of the above designs can be comprised of a number of different
materials which can either cause the design effect to look
totally different, or...
fool
you into thinking that it is the real thing!
Step
#2: Choose the Material
The
design you choose for your roof does not necessarily limit the
type of material that you choose. There are several different
types of material used for roofing:
Wood—used
in making Shakes and Shingles are an old tradition for a roof.
Kinda costly and you want to make sure that it is fire
retardant to keep your Insurance Company happy, but it makes a
beautiful roof.
Metal—used
in Tiles and Vertical Panels—if you love the sound of
rain this roof is wonderful. For those not thrilled with the
sound, use heavier insulation and you'll never know you have a
metal roof.
Asphault—comes
in rolls, or tabbed shingles—of which is the commonly
used type of shingle. This material also comes in several
styles, textures, and colors to resemble the look of a shake
roof.
Concrete—you
have to check out products made of this material that is
combined with fibers—they can can be made into several
different styles of tile that can fool your eye! However, you
want to make sure that you are getting a product that will be
durable—so do your research well.
Clay—Spanish,
French, or Italian tiles—it's beautiful, but more costly.
Slate—most
expensive, but very beautiful. This type of roof is commonly
used in the south—check out New Orleans. However, this
material is hard to come by, hence the expense.
Recycled
Plastics/Rubber—recycled from tires are said
to last longer than the life of your home. This is a must to
check out. Some of the products are made to look like slate and
are really beautiful!
Glass—yes,
for those of you who love the "greenhouse" effect.
First
and foremost, the slope, also known as the "pitch" of
your roof is a big factor in determining which type of product
you can and cannot use on your roof.
Steeper
pitched roofs are perfect for shingles whereas the lowest pitch
should have a solid membrane applied over the entire roof to
prevent water seepage.
Materials
can take several forms and can be very deceiving to the eye.
Take concrete and recycled rubber, for example.
Concrete
can be mixed with fibers to resemble shakes and clay tiles.
Recycled
rubber can be formed with plastic to resemble slate.
The
material you decide to use...
...can
not only determine the life of your roof, but it can also
determine the cost to build and insure your home as well.
Manufacturers
frequently offer the same material in different thickness', or
densities, thereby warranting one to last longer than the other.
Therefore, it is "WISE" to not only choose your
material, but to also choose its durability.
There
are several different manufacturer's that make basically the
same type of product. How do you know which one is the better?
They all claim to have the superior product, but who is right?
Well,
this is going to take some research on your part. The time that
you spend researching will only benefit you and your family in
the long run if you do it thoroughly.
Consider
the following:
How
long has the manufacturer been in business? It is
"WISE" to find a manufacturer that has been,
and will likely be in business for the duration of the
products warranty.
What
experience does your builder have with this type of material?
Does he or she have good or bad comments? Your best bet is to
listen to professionals that have been in business and know
what works best for the area.
Ask
your Insurance company if they have recommend one type over
the other and if certain discounts could apply.
Insurance companies deal with roof losses all the time—who
better to know which one could stand up better than another?
What
type of warranty comes with the product? Make sure
that you read and understand it well. Warranties may offer
coverage for 25, 30, 40, or even a 50 years, but if you read
the fine lines there could extreme limitations as to what is
covered.
In
addition, the warranty could pro-rate you right out of having
to pay for a big chunk of the cost of replacing the roof if
you aren't careful.
Don't
just rely on a salesperson to tell you which one is better
than the other. It's their job to sell you their
product, and some will, and do tell you anything to get you to
swallow their bait. This is why there are so many unhappy
consumers that get stuck with an inferior product.
Step
#3: Choose the Color
If
you know the color of the exterior wall surface of your home it
is easier to find a coordinating color for your roof, and visa
versa if you are choosing your wall surface.
Your
roof and your walls should compliment the other—not look
as if they belong on two different homes.
Another
thing to keep in mind when choosing your roof color is how it's
affected by the outdoor temperature.
Darker
colors have been found to absorb and retain heat more than
lighter colors. If you are concerned about conserving energy,
then this topic is something that you may want to check out.
The
following websites will give information on roofing materials.
Go
to: http://www.fpl.com/news/2001/contents/01015.shtml
http://www.gaf.com/General/GafMain.asp?Silo=RES1&WS=GAF
http://www.epa.gov/hhiptool/PDF/guide.pdf
http://www.arcbac.org/materials.htm
http://www.buildinggreen.com/products/shingles.html
http://www.crbt.org/
http://www.statefarm.com/consumer/roofinfo/okkslist.pdf
http://64.226.143.2/ibhs2/html/roof_coverings/roof-coverings-by-product.pdf
http://www.flexshake.com/
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/exteriors/article/0,13422,203173,00.html
http://www.metalroofing.com/variety.cfm
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Step
#1: 
