When you build a home, you want everything to be perfect. You want everything to last for as long as possible. This is especially true for the literal roof over your head. The roof is what protects us from the elements and you have to pick the right kind of roof for the job. The material you choose for your roof is almost as important as the type of roof, so let’s look at the best materials you can use to get more mileage out of your roof.
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Shingle Wood Roof
This is a material that is sawn out of logs of woods as thin and flat sheets. Since it is wood, it is prone to decay and deterioration over time so to extend its lifetime of over 25 years, you must immediately replace any broken or decayed shingles as soon as you find them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbm_7ObQPq4
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Shake Shingle Wood Roof
Though similar to Shingle Wood Roofs, they are not quite the same. They are also sawn from logs of wood but are much thicker than the run-of-the-mill shingles. This means that they are better at protecting you from weather and lost almost twice as long with an expected lifespan averaging around 40 years. But this kind of material requires regular maintenance as it is still wood. It is important to remove debris (if any) and prevent moss growth to extend its life further. Also remember to replace decayed and split shakes as soon as possible.
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Standing Seam Metal Roof
This roofing material as the name suggests is made from metals like zinc, steel or copper. They are quite durable with an expected lifespan of about 40-50 years. But specialized roofing companies are usually needed to install it thereby making it pretty expensive. You can increase the life of the roof with regular checkups to see for leaks and failure of sealants. Also look for warped or bent panels and fix them.
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Spanish Tile Roof
This material is made out of clay and is extremely distinctive in its appearance. It adds a European or Spanish flair to your home and hence the name. With its style, it is also extremely durable usually lasting upwards of a century. The main problem with this material is breakage so replace broken tiles as quickly as possible to extend the roof’s lifespan.
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Slate Roof
The absolute best material for roofing in terms of longevity is slate. It’s extremely durable with buildings made of slate roofing lasting hundreds of years. Slate is real stone and hence it is very heavy and requires a very sturdy frame to hold it. Again, the best way to increase the life of your slate roof is to replace the broken slate tiles. The flashing or material used over joints over the tiles must be replaced occasionally as it tends to get water damage.