Money & Finance
Important things to know about roofing services
Roofing your house doesn’t seem to be an attractive task but it becomes necessary when your roof starts to leak. It is then that the prospect of a dry and new roof becomes important. Not only this but a new roof can enhance the look of your house and make it more appealing.
There are a lot of types of roofing, material choices and different costs for each type of roofing. So choosing the right type is vital and this article will surely help you a lot in this choice.
Here are some types of roofing materials and their costs:
Rolled Roofing
The mainstay of out-buildings and low-slope residential roofs is the rolled roofing material. This consists of longs rolls (about 100 square feet in length and 3 feet in width) made of asphalt-impregnated or mineral-impregnated material which contains mineral granules.
The advantages of this kind of roofing is that it’s faster, inexpensive and also convenient to cover a sloped roof, especially for those buildings in which appearance is not much of a concern such as workshops.
Rolled roofing can be applied by either roofing nails or torch-down method. It can last about 10 years on average.
Cost:
As already said, rolled roofing is comparatively inexpensive. It costs about $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot, installed.
Built-up roofing (BUR)
It is one of the oldest options for the roofing of flat roofs or low pitch roofs. Built up roofing systems are made by applying several layers of hot asphalt impregnated roofing felt. This is applied in to form a barrier that’s two to four layers thick. These overlapping layers are topped with hot tar containing finely crushed stones.
BUR provides the benefits of being very durable and impenetrable. These roofs can last on average about 20 to 30 years if properly installed.
Cost:
BUR roofs typically cost $2.50 to $5 per square foot, installed.
Membrane Roofing
Membrane roofing is another option for flat or very low-pitch roofs. There are several types materials that can be used in membrane roofing. These include:
- EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer)
- Polymer-modified bitumens
- Neoprene (polychloroprene)
- PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
Out of these five materials, EPDM has been proved to be the best synthetic roofing material. It is also referred to as ‘Rubber Roofing’.
The typical lifespan of membrane roofs, if properly maintained, is 20 to 35 years.
Cost:
Costs for a membrane roof range from $3 to $4 per square foot, installed.
Asphalt composite shingles
This is the most popular type of roofing material in North America nowadays. This kind of roofing is made of fiberglass base with mineral and asphalt granules. These shingles adapt to the roofs movements due to expansion and contraction.
The advantage of these roofs is that if damaged, individual shingles can be replaced easily. Almost all roofing companies are familiar with the installation of these shingles. The asphalt composite shingles typically come with a warranty of 20 to 30 years warranty.
The lifespan of these roofs on can range from 12 to 30 years on average.
Cost:
The cost of these roofs range from $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot, installed.
Standing Seam Metal Roofing
As the name depicts, these roofs consists of aluminum or steel panels in raised seams that interlock to keep moisture out. This is the most common type of metal roof. These are more popular in areas with heavy snowfall or areas having a risk of wild fires as they are fully fireproof.
Metal roofs provide the pros of being very long-lived and fully recyclable. But the cons are that the installation requires special skills and only some companies install them.
The lifespan of metal roofs is about 30 to 50 years, but some can even last for 75 years.
Cost:
Costs typically run from $6 to $12 per square foot, installed.
Metal Shingles/Shakes
An alternative of a standing seam metal roof is the steel or aluminum shingles or shakes. These are made from stamped metal and finished with baked-on coating or mineral granules. The metal shingles or shakes are an excellent choice where appearance is a critical concern.
They can last 30 to 50 years.
Cost:
Metal shingle roofs typically cost $7 to $10 per square foot, installed.
Wood Shingle or Shakes
Although wood roofs are very appealing but they are very expensive, not long-lived and a poor choice for those living in areas of heavy snowfall and risk of wildfires. These roofs are usually made of cedar or redwood.
Lifespan of these roofs usually depend on circumstances and maintenance. In dry climates they can last up to 60 years but in damp conditions they may only last about 20 years.
Cost:
The cost of wooden shingles and shakes are different. Shingles usually cost between $5 to $9 per square foot, installed while shakes cost more.
Clay Tile
Clay tiles are also a good roofing material made up of earthen clays which are molded and fired to make them hard. These are either glazed or unglazed. These are good for warmer regions or where there is some sort of presence of salt in the air. Clay tile roofs are very durable and last very long and can last for decades to come.
Cost:
The costs of clay tile roofs can range from $10 to $18 per square foot, installed.
Concrete tile
It is a good substitute to clay tile with similar advantages. These are molded from standard sand-mix concrete. These concrete tiles are also available with a decorative coating. This roofing material is a good choice for high-wind regions.
Lifespan of concrete tiles can be expected to be 50 years or longer.
Cost:
Cost of these tiles vary from $8 to $12 per sq. foot and have the tendency to last for up to 5 decades.
Ecofriendly Green Roof
Green roofs are ecofriendly and hold much promise. These roofs provide the benefits of thermal insulation, absorb rainwater, and even allow you to grow plants.
These ecofriendly roofs will require regular maintenance to keep them lasting a long time.
Cost:
The costs of a green roof vary widely, but this is definitely a roof for those willing to spend money to make an environmental statement.
References
https://medium.com/justez/top-5-roofing-companies-in-the-usa-dc7336d34a5e
