Types of Roofs

Choosing The Right Roofing Material For Your Home

One of the most imperative steps when replacing or building a new roof is choosing the right roofing material for your house. The decision you will make depends largely on the design of the building, the local climate and the availability of the desired roofing materials.

Roof shingles are one of the most common roofing materials that homeowners use today. A shingle is a series of individual overlapping elements, typically flat rectangles that are laid in rows from the bottom edge of the roof all the way up to the top. Shingles can be made from various materials, including asphalt, ceramic, membrane, metal and slate.

Types of Shingles:

•  Asphalt – Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roofing material and are usually the least expensive. There are two types of asphalt shingles: organic and fiberglass.
• Organic– Organic asphalt shingles consist of asphalt felt paper at the core of the shingle, which is then saturated with asphalt to make it waterproof. Typically, they are heavier and thicker than fiberglass and are therefore used mostly in the Northeast.
• Fiberglass – Fiberglass asphalt shingles use fiberglass as the core and due to the strength of the material, are coated in less asphalt than organic shingles, which make them lighter and thinner.
•  Ceramic – Ceramic tile shingles interlock and create a stunning roof that has a durable life of 100 years or more. However, due to the weight of the tiles, the material requires a strong support structure.
•  Clay – Clay tiles are made by molding clay and baking it into the desired design. Because of this, there are a wide variety of styles, finishes and colors that can be made for a roof. Clay tiles are highly resistant to extreme temperatures, winds and fire, with the ability to last up to 100 years.
• Membrane – Membrane roofs are continuous sheets that are used on flat or slightly sloped roofs in order to avoid water from pooling on the roof and to prevent leaks.
•  Metal – Metal roofs are available in steel, aluminum copper and alloy strip materials, which are all fully recyclable. They generally are more durable than other resources, with a life of 50-75 years, and can resemble Victorian or slate tiling.
•  Slate – Slate roofs are of the highest quality, making for a great appearance, and have an exceptionally long life span of 60-200 years, but are more expensive than most roofing materials.
•  Wood – Wood shingles are usually made from cedar or pine and while they are generally more expensive, can last up to 50 years.

Advanced Window Systems is proud to offer Timberline Shingles the #1 selling brand of shingles in North America and #1 in shingle quality. Timberline boasts six different shingle designs, which offer advanced protection and are environmentally friendly. Whether you are replacing your roof or building a new one, call on Advanced Window Systems to guide you through the process and help you make the best decisions for you and your home. Give us a call today at 860-829-8044!