The most common type of roofing material is roof shingles which are normally made of asphalt. For residential roofing, this is the least expensive roofing material, although for flat roofed homes, there is also tar and gravel, modified bitumen, and roll roofing material that is a little less expensive but does not last as long. The most expensive roofing material cost is for slate roofing material, but it also lasts the longest.

From Least to Greatest

The least expensive roofing material cost is for roll roofing, which is applied in one layer and is made of asphalt shingle. This type of roofing material cannot be used on pitched roofs, only flat roofs which have a three inch rise to a twelve inch run. It also cannot be used in high rain or snow climates and only has a life expectancy of ten years, the shortest of all roofing material.

Built up roofing materials are the next expensive, but they also can only be used on flat roofs. There is tar and asphalt roofing material which has three to five layers of saturated felt layered with tar and asphalt, with the top layer having rock and minerals. Modified bitumen uses the same idea but uses polyester or fiberglass layers with bitumen in between. Both of these are low cost and last longer than roll roofing but also cannot be used in high rain or snow climates.

Shingle roofing material costs are next in line, with asphalt shingles costing between sixty to one hundred dollars per square. Shingle roofing usually lasts twenty years, depending on the type, and is used on pitched roofs. Dimensional shingles are the strongest, but also cost a little more, and last about forty years. These roofs have a need for venting and can have problems with moss build up, but are overall a solid choice in roofing material.

Metal roofing material cost is a little more than shingles but is a reasonable choice in roofing material. Metal roofing gives a lot of flexibility in styles since it can mimic tile, shingle and slate roofing material, yet still maintains the light weight and strong durability metal roofs are known for. It can also be used on pitched and flat roofs, so it also gives additional flexibility.

Tile and slate roofing material cost is most expensive of all roofing material. The installation of these types of roofing materials is also more expensive since the roofers must be specialized in their installation. Although they are more expensive, they also last the longest, often from fifty to one hundred years with little maintenance.

Many people, when thinking about roofing material, think about traditional asphalt shingles or slate roofing material. These two roofing materials are really at two ends of a spectrum of roofing material choices that are on the market today, depending on the type of roof that is being redone.

For pitched roofs, there are cedar shakes, compositional shingles (asphalt), dimensional shingles, tile, metal, slate and synthetic. These are usually residential roofs or businesses in a high rain or snow climate. For flat roofs, those that are under three inches rise to twelve inches run, there are other materials that are used, with a few overlaps. Flat roofing material is usually tar and gravel, modified bitumen, roll, metal, and also EPDM rubber and PVC mempane roofing materials.

Strength and Value

EPDM or ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber roofing material costs more than asphalt roofing materials, but is an average price for the market. This type of roofing material is applied to the flat roof in a single layer, rather than the multiple messy layers required for the more standard built-up roofs of tar and asphalt or modified bitumen. In addition, the EPDM rubber roofing material lasts longer than those other roofing materials, usually five to ten years longer due to the durability of the rubber.

It is important to find a roofing contractor that is familiar with roofing with EPDM rubber roofing materials since it requires that a more rigid insulation is used in comparison to other types of roofs, such as metal, where the insulation is often included in the metal panels. EPDM rubber roofing material is UV resistant, so it helps in hotter climates by deflecting some of the sun’s rays. It is also more wind and hail resistant than the tar and asphalt and modified bitumen roofs, so it lasts longer without repairs in that way as well.

PVC mempane rubber roofing material, or polyvinyl chloride, is another heat deflecting roofing material. It costs about the same as the EPDM rubber roofing material and helps to save cost on air conditioning bills. PVC mempane is also heated so that the seams are eliminated, thus making the material more weather resistant, adding to the life of the roofing material. These roofs usually last up to twenty-five to thirty years, depending on the installation. Both of these types of rubber roofing material are sturdier and cleaner than the other types of flat roof materials, which is a benefit to construction teams, making it easier to install and clean up after it is finished.

There are two types of roofs that commercial and residential buildings use: pitched roofs and flat roofs. Each of these types of roofs needs specific types of roofing material with very few overlaps. Pitched roofs are normally used on residential housing and on commercial buildings when built in a very rainy or snowy climate so that the precipitation flows off of the roof rather than sitting and forming puddles that can cause damage like on flat roofs. The main overlaps in roofing material for these two styles of roofs are metal and rubber roofing material.

Types of Materials

There are several different types of flat roofing materials available on the market today. The first type is tar and gravel styles of roofs. These can be used on roofs that are considered flat, which means there is less than three inches rise to twelve inches of run. This slight amount of rise allows water to run to the sides of the roofs where there is a drainage system to remove it rather than forming puddles, as would happen if the roof was completely flat.

Tar and gravel flat roofing material is a built-up roof, where the roofing contractor lays down three to five layers of saturated felt material, slathering it with tar and asphalt in between each layer. When the top layer is reached, it is topped with a mineral and rock mixture to allow for walking across the roof and also more protection from the elements. This type of roof is very inexpensive, but it is also very messy, does not last more than fifteen years on average, and is not for high rain or snow types of climates.

Modified bitumen is a similar flat roofing material, which layers polyester or fiberglass rather than saturated felt, and also uses bitumen rather than tar and asphalt. This also is a low cost flat roofing material, but it does not last long either and is not for high raid or snow climates. Roll roofing material is the cheapest and is applied in a single layer, so that it is not messy like the other two, but since it is only a single layer, it only lasts about ten years.

More lasting flat roofing material is ethylene propylene diene monomer or EPDM which is a rubber roofing material. This type of material is also applied in a single layer, but it is much better in high winds or hail than the tar and gravel or modified bitumen roofs. It also has a longer life, usually lasting at least twenty years and is UV resistant, which helps with the air conditioning bill in the summer.

Slate roofing material has been around for a long time and with good reason. Slate roofs often last at least one hundred years and some have even been known to last two hundred years! Slate roofing material also adds a sense of class and style to any home or office building, being made of stone to compliment any building design.

Benefits of Slate

Slate roofing material is the most expensive of residential roofing materials, yet it also requires less maintenance and lasts for an extremely long time. Slate roofing material usually costs between six hundred to one thousand dollars per square, which is about ten times the cost of asphalt shingles. However, slate roofing material is much more aesthetically pleasing than asphalt shingles, and they last up to five times as long before having to be replaced, in fact, in most cases outliving the owner of the residence!

Slate roofing material must be installed by an expert in slate roofing so that it is installed properly, this eliminating possible problems encountered by a less experienced team. Be sure to ask the contractor for references when contemplating a slate roof and also ask if they are a member of a slate roofing association, which would help to ensure that they are up on the latest practices regarding slate roofing materials.

Slate roofing materials are fire proof, since they are made of stone, so they do not require the fire retardant of other materials such as cedar shake. They are also moss resistant, which can be a problem with other cedar or shingle roofs, causing them to deteriorate and lose their water resistant qualities. Since they are stone, there is little maintenance required, with the only exception being if a tree panch hits the roof peaking some of the slates.

There are some options for those who are not able to afford slate roofing material but like the look that slate gives a home or office building. Metal roofing materials now come in a variety of different textures and patterns, one of which is a shingle that can look identical to slate. The benefit of metal slate roofing material is that it is lighter and is not as pittle, making it much easier to install. In addition, the cost is average for roofing materials, a little above asphalt roofing material, but significantly lower than true slate roofing materials. Installation costs are also usually less since it does not require as much specialization to work with metal roofing material as slate.

When renovating a roof there are many different choices in roofing materials, from slate to cedar shakes and even metal roofing materials. The choices depend on the slant of the roof, the price range desired, and the skills of the contractors in that community. There are also different design aspects to consider when choosing roofing material as well as the insulation properties of the materials and the length of time the roof will normally last.

Types of Roofs

If the roof is a pitched roof, meaning it has a slant to it, there are certain roofing materials that can be used that cannot be used on flat roofs. One type of roofing material is cedar shake, which looks like shingles that are made out of cedar. This type of roofing is environmentally friendly and usually lasts about thirty years if it is installed correctly, fifteen to twenty years if not.

Another type of pitched roofing material is composition or dimensional shingles. Composition shingles are made of organic or fiberglass asphalt and are the most common shingles on the market. Not only are they the least expensive, but they usually last twenty to thirty years and are easy to install. Fiberglass shingles are stronger and more flexible than the organic ones, although they cost a little more. The thickest are the dimensional shingles which are better for design options, giving a custom appearance to the roof. They cost more initially, but usually have a longer life, running about forty years.

Tile and slate shingles are the least seen in roofing mainly because of the cost of each, being up to ten times more expensive than asphalt shingles. However, both of these types of roofing material last the longest on the market, with slate roofs often lasting over one hundred years if installed properly. Tile and slate roofing materials are heavier and do require a more specialized installation, needing experts to properly install them.

Flat roofs require different types of roofing materials. Tar and gravel is one type, where the roof is layered with three to five layers of saturated felt. In between the layers there is tar and asphalt and the top layer usually has a mineral or rock concoction. Modified bitumen is another, similar roofing material for flat roofs which uses polyester or fiberglass layers with bitumen in between them. Both of these types of roofing materials are low cost, but are not for high rain or snow climates. EPDM rubber roofs are more substantial and are applied in a single layer over the roof. Since this is the case, it needs more insulation, but it does have a long life and resists UV rays from the sun. Metal roofs are another option, which are usually single seam for flat roofs.

Residential roofing material comes in a huge variety of choices in today’s market. Depending on the slope of the roof and the cost of the roofing material that the consumer wants to stay within, there are different colors and design options to choose from that complement any style of home.

Pitched Roofs

Residential roofing materials are usually pitched roofing material, since most homes have a slanted roof rather than a flat one, depending on the climate. The most common residential roofing material is composition shingles, which are composed of asphalt material, either organic or fiberglass. Asphalt residential roofing material usually costs from sixty to one hundred dollars per square, which is some of the cheapest on the market. There is also the option to use dimensional shingles which are thicker and provide a more custom appearance for the roof in addition to having a longer life, lasting up to forty years instead of twenty to thirty.

Residential roofing material for pitched roofs also includes tile or slate roofs, which are on the more expensive end of the spectrum. Slate roofs often run from six hundred to one thousand dollars, which is ten times the amount of asphalt roofs. However, both of these types of residential roofing materials last significantly longer than asphalt roofs and require less maintenance, with slate roofs lasting up to one hundred years or more.

Flat Roofs

Flat residential roofing materials are made for roofs that are of a three inch rise to twelve inch run or less. The one common residential roofing material between pitched and flat roofs is metal, which is very versatile. Metal roofing materials are of average cost, a little more than asphalt roofs but much less than slate. Metal roofing is also flexible in texture and look, offering standing seam which is the most common, but also tile and slate. This allows the consumer to create the look he wants without the cost of tile and slate. Metal roofs last up to fifty years and are also low maintenance, making them a great choice for any home.

In addition to metal, the most common and least expensive flat residential roofing materials are tar and gravel, modified bitumen and roll roofing materials. The first two are built-up roofs, meaning they use layers of materials to build the roof which is a messy process. Roll roofing material is a single layer of asphalt shingle mat, which is very inexpensive, but also only lasts for about ten years.

Metal roofing material is gaining popularity in residential roofing, rather than only being found in commercial settings. Part of the reason for this change is that metal roofing material has more options available in texture and types, varying from standing seam, which was so common in commercial settings, to tile and even shingle roofing material. Metal roofing material is also flexible in the types of roofs that it can be used on, since it can be used on any pitch of roof, commonly used as pitched or flat roofing material, and is lightweight compared to other materials, making it much easier to work with, especially on steep pitched roofs.

Options

Metal roofing material’s cost is slightly more expensive but nearer to the sixty to one hundred dollars per square for asphalt roofing material than the six hundred to one thousand per square cost for slate roofing material, which is the most expensive on the market. Although it is more expensive than asphalt roofing material, metal roofing material lasts longer than asphalt materials, often being under warrantee for up to fifty years.

Standing seam metal roofing material is the most commonly used, which connects the pieces side by side through hidden fasteners so that the entire roof looks like one piece of metal with ridges in it. Tile metal roofing material can be of many different earthy colors and textures according to the design of the house, masking itself as the more pittle and heavier tile that is sometimes used on pitched roofs. Shingle metal roofing material can come in any color and texture as well, even masking itself as cedar shake but without the fire hazard and need for fire-retardant treatment.

Metal roofing material can also be made of ‘cool metal’ which helps to deflect the sunlight in very hot climates, thus reducing the air conditioning bill for the consumer. In addition, it is usually made of up to twenty-five percent recycled metals, so it is more environmentally friendly than some of the other roofing materials. Metal roofing materials are also recyclable, so that a panel can be taken from one project and used on another, thus reducing waste and cost.

Metal roofing material can also come insulated, so that the two metal sheets are filled with a liquid foam insulation that expands until it fills all possible space and then hardens so that it becomes a solid piece. This provides a uniform insulation across the top of the roof, which is better than other types of insulation that is used which sometimes leaves air gaps, letting out heat in the winter.