Eagle Rivet

When you are replacing your home's roof or building from the ground up, it's important to consider your materials choices. Durability and price are obvious concerns, but some materials are better suited for your individual situationand others can give you tax breaks. Below is a brief list of the pros and cons of the most common roofing materials:

Asphalt Shingling

Also called composition shingles, these begin with fiberglass matting. The fiberglass is coated in asphalt for water resistance, and a final coating of sand and asphalt is applied.

• Benefits: Asphalt shingles are commonly used by CT home roofers, and it is easy for you to find the color you want. These shingles are fire-resistant and lightweight, and they can often be installed over existing roofing.
• Disadvantages: Composition shingles don't last as long as other types of materials. On average, you can expect to get about 20 years out of an asphalt-shingled roof; the shingles will become brittle and faded over time.

Wood Shakes or Shingles

Whether you opt for shakes (which are thicker and hand-split) or shingles (which are smaller and split on either side), wood is an aesthetically pleasing choice for CT home roofing.

• Benefits: The natural look of wood blends with a home's surroundings and it can offer substantial insulation properties.
• Disadvantages: Wood shakes can be costly, and they aren't very resistant to fire. However, fire-resistant coatings can be applied, and the shingles can rot or warp over the years.

Tile Roofing

Whether you opt for shakes (which are thicker and hand-split) or shingles (which are smaller and split on either side), wood is an aesthetically pleasing choice for CT home roofing.

• Benefits: There are a tremendous range of styles and colors for CT residential roofers to help you choose from. Tile is highly resistant to insects, rot and fire.
• Disadvantages: Tile roofing is costly and very heavy, which means that the roof framing needs additional reinforcement. Home insurance rates may go up, because replacement costs are so high.

Tile Roofing

Whether you opt for shakes (which are thicker and hand-split) or shingles (which are smaller and split on either side), wood is an aesthetically pleasing choice for CT home roofing.

• Benefits: There are a tremendous range of styles and colors for CT residential roofers to help you choose from. Tile is highly resistant to insects, rot and fire.
• Disadvantages: Tile roofing is costly and very heavy, which means that the roof framing needs additional reinforcement. Home insurance rates may go up, because replacement costs are so high.

Metal Roofing

With metal roofing, thin metal sheets are rolled and cut into panels so they can be installed on-site. A layer of waterproof sheathing can be applied first, to keep the internal structure of the roof safe from the elements.

• Benefits: Metal roofing is durable and can protect your home from rot, insects, fire and weather damage. Because of their durability, some homeowner's insurance companies give discounts to those who hire CT residential roofers to install metal shingles.
• Disadvantages: Metal shingles are more expensive than those made of asphalt. These roofs are noisy during storms, and surfaces can show dents and dings with heavy impacts.

Slate Roofing

Slate roofing has been used for centuries. The material is natural, which means that grades and colors can vary widely.

• Benefits: Slate roofing is very durable and attractive and it can last for over a century. Much like metal or tile roofing, there's no reason to worry about deterioration and fire damage.
• Disadvantages: Slate roofing is very expensive. It's also very heavy, and requires special framing modifications to handle the increased weight of the roof. Because of the higher replacement cost, the home's insurance expenses may increase.

If you've considered the pros and cons of each of the roofing choices listed here, and you still can't make a decision, you should contact Eagle Rivet for individualized advice. Our roofing experts can evaluate your needs and your situation, and they can give you an expert recommendation.