subject: Roofing Materials Comparison [print this page] When choosing your roof covering, you should consider about its appearance, quality, fire rating, suitability and installation. For appearance you should look at actual samples of the materials that you are considering. This will help you decide on the appearance, including texture and color. Architectural grade materials are generally considered to be most visually appealing. Consider how the look will blend with the rest of your house and your surroundings.
You should also consider the suitability of the material for your structure, part of which will depend on the slope of your roof. Specifically, there are different material and installation issues for steep and low slope roofs. Most houses have steep slope roofs. A quality contractor should be able to accurately judge your slope and guide you to appropriate materials.
Environmental conditions like amount of sun, rain, wind, snow, ice, humidity and tree foliage also plays an important role in deciding the type of roofing material to be selected. Very intense sunlight could cause deterioration of the roof whereas excessive moisture could result in rotting. Heavy foliage can result into blocking of gutters by falling of leaves in gutters and also contributes to moisture problems.
Durability of a roof is mainly based on two factors: material used and installation procedure followed. A roof installed properly using a high quality materials lasts for more than 20 years. Slate and other materials having high grades are expected to have longest life span.
For having durable roof, it is quite essential that it is properly installed. For good installation, selection of a good roofer is very essential. Therefore, try to hire a roofer who is licensed, insured and experienced for installing the roof using the appropriate material.
Few measures like fire rating, ASTM rating, warranty and product grade helps a lot in knowing about the material that is being used for your roof. A roofing product may have A, B or C rating. A material with rating A means that it is highly fire resistant whereas one with C rating is least resistant to fire.
Also find out if the materials meet ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards for its class. This should be noted on packaging or in product literature. Find out if there is a warranty and for how long. Quality products generally come with good warranties.
Within all materials, there are different grades and quality levels. Make sure you consider exactly what grade product you are choosing. As a general rule, be somewhat cautious of the least expensive or lowest grade choice.
by: Scott Rodgers.
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
