Regardless, if you are building a new home from scratch or replacing an existing roof, you are going to have to choose what materials you want to use. You have probably already discovered from a roofer in Bronx NY there are a wide variety of materials readily available including asphalt, slate, composite shingles, clay, concrete, and even wood. While the style is a very important consideration, it is not the only one that you have to make. You also have to consider the installation requirements, cost, product cost, and the weight of the material.
Yes, the whole process probably already seems daunting, but don’t fret, because below you will find a guide that will help you through all of these considerations.
Considering The Cost
For most homeowners the starting point of a new roof is the cost of the materials. However, if you are replacing an existing roof there are other cost considerations that must be made. It might be possible that the structure needs to be replaced, as well. Of course, this is going to cost you more money, but it something that cannot be half done or overlooked if you want to ensure the integrity of your home. This might play an important factor in what type of materials you use. Maybe you had clay tiles set in mind, but now that you found out you are going to have to spend thousands more to replace the structure, you might want to go with a cheaper material like shingles.
The shape of the roof is also something else that you have to factor into the price. If you have a simple roof with one chimney this can make for an easy job for any roofer in Bronx NY. However, if your roof is more complex with several chimneys, rooflines, and skylights this can affect the cost.
Understanding The Materials
Another important factor that you need to be aware of is, not every type of roofing material can be used on every roof. For instance, a flat roof with a small slope might require a different material that a roof with a steeper pitch. Some roofing materials like slate and tile can carry quite the load, so your roof might not even be able to adequately support the weight of these materials.
- Asphalt Shingles– throughout the roofing world the most common material you will find are the asphalt shingles. This is probably due to their inexpensive price and lack of skills to install. These shingles are made of fiberglass and imbued with asphalt to give them a sand-like surface.
- Wood– wood is another popular choice that has been around since the dawn of time and it is still widely used today. However, in some areas fire code might prevent you from installing wood shingles on your roof. While wood has the same lifespan as asphalt shingles, they cost as twice as much and are usually made of redwood, cedar, or southern pine.
Shingles are going to be your cheapest option, but they can still offer a service life between 15 to 30 years.