Roofing Options for Your Home

While you rarely think about it most of the time, when it comes to replacing your home’s roof, you suddenly have to think about it a lot.

First, if you need to replace your roof due to a leak or other unexpected emergency, you have a lot to consider, and you need to do so quickly. But even if you haven’t yet suffered any unpleasant surprises, and you want to replace your roof before you do, it’s not as simple as it used to be.

Today you have a number of options for replacing your roof. It means you need to carefully consider each of them to choose the one that’s right for you and your home. After all, you’ll be living with your decision for a long time.

• Asphalt/Fibreglass Shingles – If it used to be easier to make choices regarding your roofing materials, it’s because asphalt shingles were just about the only choice you had. All you had to do was choose colour and quality.Today, most new homes and roof replacements use fibreglass shingles, which are similar to the old asphalt shingle, but with a layer of glass fibre that improves their performance and durability, including less moisture absorption, higher heat ratings and more resistance to tearing and cracking.

• Metal – Metal roofing has been around for a long time, but was not often used for homes in Canada until quite recently. Metal roofs are very versatile in appearance, allowing you to choose almost any look for your home. Metal is durable, fire-retardant and less susceptible to the ravages of weather, insects and flying debris. On the downside, metal is usually more expensive than asphalt shingles.

• Cedar Roofing – If there is one roofing type that adds a unique feel to your home, and one that other materials like metal and asphalt shingles can’t imitate, it is cedar roofing. Despite being a more natural, eco-friendly choice, cedar roofing is very durable, it helps insulate your home and it requires very little maintenance.

• Slate Tile – If you’re looking for one of the longest-lasting roofing materials, slate is it. Slate has been used on roofs for hundreds of years and you’ll find original slate roofs on many historic buildings. Slate roofs are often guaranteed for 100 years, which makes them one of the only true ‘set it and forget it’ roofing materials.

• Clay Tile – Clay tile is a popular roofing material in warmer climates because it keeps homes cooler. And the same insulating properties that help it to do so make it a great choice for Canadian roofs also. Like slate, clay is one of the oldest roofing materials and one of the longest lasting.

Many of the roofing options you have for your home are newer to the Canadian market. Regardless of which one you choose, make sure your roofing company is experienced in installing and maintaining it.