Contemporary Roofing Materials – Beauty Meets Durability
Your roof is an essential design feature of your home, reflecting its architectural style and contributing to how people perceive it. However, it also serves as protection from weather elements.
Roof materials that achieve this balance offer aesthetic beauty with durability, while being low maintenance and energy efficient to fulfill your green dreams.
Clay or concrete tiles
Clay or concrete tiles offer a timeless aesthetic and can add beauty to any home’s architectural design. Their durability makes them cost-effective solutions; plus they add insulation which helps regulate temperatures all year round while saving energy costs and cooling bills.
Asphalt roofs can be ideal in hot climates as they’re fireproof and feature low moisture content levels to resist plant growth, moss growth and other forms of fungal growth. Unfortunately, they’re susceptible to cracking and fracture in cold weather so proper roof reinforcement is crucial.
Concrete tiles offer an exciting range of possibilities when it comes to roofing options, allowing them to be stained or textured to achieve a distinctive aesthetic. Available both flat and curved options – some even mimicking slate – concrete tiles may require heavier roof structures due to their increased weight compared to clay tiles; regular maintenance should be performed to protect them.
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained metamorphic rock which easily divides along planes of cleavage into thin slabs with high tensile strength and durability, as well as being an excellent electrical insulator. Slate has long been utilized as a building material, with much coming from Wales in the United States, Vermont in America, Portugal Brazil Spain for example – mined worldwide as roofing material but also flooring material, tombstones blackboards billiard table tops decorative aggregates etc.
Contrary to other roofing materials, slate is resistant to heat, making it an ideal choice for warmer climates. Unfortunately, however, its weight requires additional framing support; installation costs can also be higher; special care must be taken against moisture intrusion and pest infestation; concrete tiles can be custom designed to match your home’s color or design and can offer alternative roofing options that offer greater control.
Wood shakes
Wood shake roofs stand out for their classic beauty and rustic elegance, enhancing any home’s exterior while adding value. Hand-crafted cedar shingles provide an eco-friendly option that add charm and value.
Natural roof products boast a distinguished past in historic structures and are now growing increasingly popular on modern homes. Not only are these gorgeous products visually stunning but also boast inherently energy efficient properties and come equipped with high fire ratings – two qualities which only add to their attractiveness!
Shakes are comprised of split log lengths which have been hand or machine cut to create wedge-shaped shingles that can then be adhered to a roof deck. Their thick butt end gives shakes an eye-catching tailored appearance which often more desirable than uniform appearance of shingle wood. As with shingles, however, shakes may become affected by weather or insect infestation so upkeep should remain consistent in order to preserve them for an attractive roof deck appearance.
Synthetic materials
Roofs provide more than a necessary protection from the elements; they’re an integral architectural feature, adding visual interest and value. Unfortunately, traditional materials like clay and slate tiles present their own set of problems; their heavyweight can put strain on a building’s structure, necessitating additional support and increasing construction costs.
Slate roofs boast exquisite beauty that many homeowners appreciate. Installation requires special skills; however, due to its longevity and durability it makes an appealing option for high-end homes or heritage buildings.