Trends in Residential Roofing

Residential Roofing MaterialsSavvy sun worshippers know that sometimes no good comes from the sun beating down… it causes skin damage and there are not many benefits to the damage from the sun’s rays as they infiltrate your windows and fade furnishings, draperies and floor treatments.  But, did you know that your roof is just as susceptible to the sun’s rays?  Think about it.  The sun beats down mercilessly day after day.  Not only does it eventually do damage to your shingles, but, unless you have the a roof that will repel the sun and act like a brimmed hat to shield the sun from your home, you are suffering with increased heat and higher A/C bills for every day the sun shines.

You can remedy this problem of the roof attracting the sun’s rays by consulting with a roofing contractor in Irvine, California.  This person will instruct you on the best types of roof for your home, and which, going forward, should combat some of the heat radiation issues from the sun’s rays on your roof.

Choices for roofs

The majority of homes across the United States have a roof that is in a steep slope style and contains asphalt shingles.  This type of roof is popular due to its moderate price tag, and relative durability (up to twenty years before a re-roof will be needed).  It is easy to maintain, only replacing shingles when they blow off or become damaged.  But, think about the color of an asphalt roof.  They are often in dark colors, like black.  Black attracts the heat.  Your black asphalt shingles are like a magnet for the sun’s rays.

There are alternative choices, all in a range of styles, colors and prices – one which is sure to be perfect for your needs.

Slate

You cannot beat durability and beauty if you have a slate roof.  If installed correctly, a slate roof will probably outlast your life expectancy– they can last as long as 100 years.  It can take as long as three months to install a slate roof due to the excess weight, which is also a downside since it cannot be used on all homes to the extreme weight.  Slate is available in dark and light tones, but, since you are aiming to have a color that will not attract the sun, your best bet is to choose a light-colored slate.

Concrete tile 

Concrete tiles are similar to terra cotta in that they are an excellent option for hot-weather states and are prized for their durability as well.  Because the concrete tiles are heavy, they take a long time to heat up during the day as the sun bakes down on them.  Thus, your home stays cooler.  Like terra cotta tiles, concrete tiles may be dyed different colors if you are aiming for a more-aesthetic look.

Terra cotta or clay

This type of roofing medium is often used in warm-weather states or countries.  It is popular for Mission-inspired architecture and is popular in Mexico and Spain or the Southwest portion of the United States.  Because terra cotta roofs are light-colored and don’t attract the sun, there is no sun baking down on your home day after day.  While it is best to opt for the lighter-colored terra cotta tiles, you can choose your tiles to be painted in darker colors and even to recreate a slate-look.  This faux slate roof will be less heavy and less costly but will give you the same look you covet from slate.

Metal

Metal roofs are a Godsend in the cold-weather states where they get lots of snow.  The snow just slides right off the roof into neat little piles on the ground.  That’s a bonus when many people need to be scrambling for roof rakes or professional roofing contractors to offload the snow that accumulates on their roof during the Winter season.  There are even heated metal roofs now available.  But, in California, worries about melting snow are far from the minds of its residents.  Choosing a metal roof in a light shade, especially in cream or white hues, will aid in removing some 60% of the sun’s heat away from a roof.  The roof is kept from heating up quickly during the day and does not heat up substantially after the sun goes down at the end of day.  You will reap big energy savings with a metal roof.

Green roofs

If you want to be really cool as a cucumber hearken back to Mother Earth.  Although green roofs, a/k/a living roofs, are a fairly new and unique concept here in the United States, they have been used in Europe for many years.  Green roofs are actually green plants which grow in soil through a waterproof membrane which is placed on the rooftop.  The green plants keep the environment up top a cool and even temperature.  At this point in time, the price for a living roof is still a little steep, but as the idea catches on, it is expected to eventually become more widespread.

At the present time, however, why not consult with a contractor whose expertise is in roofing and find out the best recommendation for your home?

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