The Pros and Cons of Different Roofing Materials
The roof of your home is not only absolutely crucial when it comes to protecting you from the elements — it also makes one of the most significant contributions to whether or not the building looks attractive from the outside. For both of these purposes, the choice of roofing materials is the most significant decision to make.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, though. There are many different roofing materials, and your decision is likely to depend on the type of building, the climate, the budget you’re working to, and your personal tastes. So what are the pros and cons of the main roofing materials?
Clay Tiles
There’s a good reason why clay tiles are the most popular and iconic roofing materials in the UK. They’re extremely durable, lasting up to 100 years and sometimes longer. They stand up well to the harshest of weather, although they can crack under a heavy blow, such as a falling branch.
Clay tiles come in a wide variety of styles and colours, so there’ll be something to suit your home and your tastes. Though cheaper than some options, however, they’re relatively expensive.
Slate
Slate is possibly the most aesthetically pleasing of roofing materials, especially for a traditional look. It’s even more durable than clay tiles and, as an entirely natural material, it has a very low environmental cost.
The two main downsides of slate are its weight and its cost. As an extremely heavy material, your roof may need additional structural support. Financially, it’s one of the most expensive materials, although there are lower-cost options.
Concrete Tiles
The big advantage of concrete tiles, compared with slate or clay tiles, is their lower cost. This comes with reduced durability, but they’re still likely to last 50-60 years, with considerable resistance to the weather. They can also be made to look like either clay tiles or slate.
Like slate, however, concrete tiles are very heavy, with implications for the amount of structural support your roof may need — and therefore the overall cost. Also, as a manufactured material, concrete has a high carbon footprint.
Metal
Steel, aluminium or zinc can all be used as roofing materials. They have the advantage of being lighter than tiles, but still reasonably durable. The metal is likely to be recyclable, and homes with metal roofs are easier to keep cool in summer.
Metal can be expensive, though, and it’s also liable to rust or corrosion. A metal roof can also be noisy when it rains unless you have good insulation.
Felt
Roofing felt is the material of choice for flat roofs, although not restricted to that use. It has a shorter lifespan than other materials, but since it’s cheap both to buy and install, that can balance out the cost.
Besides its shorter lifespan, the biggest problem with felt roofs is that they’re far less resistant to weather and can easily develop leaks.
Liquid Rubber
One of the newest roofing materials, liquid rubber is both cheap and easy to install. It can be applied over the existing roofing materials, on both flat and pitched roofs, and creates a tough but flexible covering that lasts well and is very resistant to weather.
Apart from perhaps not looking quite as stunning as slate or clay tiles, liquid rubber roofing really has no downsides. To top everything, it’s easily recyclable.
UPVC
While not normally used for roof covering, UPVC is the material of choice for elements like fascias, soffits and gutters. A light but tough material, it doesn’t corrode like metal or rot like wood.
So Which Roofing Material Is Best?
Which material to choose depends on the type of property you have, the kind of climate it’s exposed to, your own aesthetic tastes, and your budget. You’re very welcome to discuss your options with Empire. Give us a call to talk about which roofing material would be best for your home.
