The majority of homeowners often consider the price when selecting among the popular roofing materials today. But there are numerous factors directly affecting the cost of the material, such as inflation rate, market demand, and extent of work required. As a homeowner, you also need to consider the longevity and susceptibility of the material to weather disturbance in the future.
If you’re looking for the cheapest roofing material available, any roofing contractor Bronx will recommend installing asphalt shingles. Asphalt roofing is much affordable when it comes to bulk purchases, delivery expenses, and labor costs. Unfortunately, installing asphalt has several disadvantages, mainly if the house is situated in a mountainous and high climate location.
Factors that Influence Roof Performance
The longevity of your roof depends on its capacity to hold up against extreme weather elements, including hail storms and heavy downpours. The energy efficiency properties of the top are also essential to help reduce your electricity cost during severe weather. If you choose an energy-efficient material, you’ll notice that HVAC units perform well even if you use them for extended hours. But the quality of installation is the essential factor in helping your roof material reach its total life expectancy.
Aside from the quality of installation, roof maintenance can also influence your roof’s overall performance and service life. Have it inspected by a professional roofing Bronx contractor at least once or twice a year to keep yourself the present status of your roof. Regular maintenance can effectively prevent potential water damage unless your roof damage becomes extensive after a series of natural disasters. Before finalizing your roof material, it’s always best to consult a reliable roofing contractor in your area to find out which material is appropriate for the current architectural style, prevailing climate, and roof slope of your house.
There are many roofing products you can find in the market which are affordable and durable. Here are the popular roofing materials that you can install on your roof arranged from cheapest to most expensive:
1. Asphalt Roofing
Asphalt roofing is the cheapest material available for traditional home designs, about $150 to $550 per square. You can select among organic 3-tab, fiberglass, and architectural shingles. Each asphalt variation has individual profile thickness and reflective properties that directly affect the price. Among the three options, 3-tab shingles are the cheapest but easy to wear out, prompting homeowners to repair the shingles more often. Laminated shingles can provide roof protection for up to 30 years but may require consistent maintenance to reach their entire lifespan.
2. Wood Shingles and Shakes
Next on the list are cedar shakes and shingles available either in natural or synthetic wood products. Cedar shingles and shakes provide a subtle, natural appearance to your home and are suitable for ranch-style residences. Their lifespan may reach 25 years, depending on the quality of the materials and installation. You can extend the life of these wood materials if maintenance and inspection are done consistently. Unfortunately, they are not recommended in areas with insufficient water resources or forestry lands.
3. Commercial Roof
Commercial roofing is becoming popular these days due to the proliferation of modern-style houses. The majority of these roofing materials consist of single-ply membranes and only require a short installation time. You can choose between PVC, rubber, and modified bitumen systems. Each system has individual profile thickness, resistance properties, and color variations. But commercial roofing is only suitable for roof decking and flat roofs.
4. Metal Roofing
Metal roof is commonly made of steel, aluminum, copper, and zinc alloy. Metal roofs are highly resistant to inclement weather conditions and may last up to 50 years under normal circumstances. You can choose among rolled sheets, vertical standing seams, individual sheet panels, and shingles for your roof project.
What is even more interesting about metal roofing is that some of the metal products are coated with stone granules or crushed granite to give your roof a traditional appearance resembling the look of asphalt, slate, or wood shingles. The installation process of metal roof systems also seems faster, but this will require specialized roofers to do the installation. In a typical 2,000 square foot house, the potential cost ranges somewhere between $15,000 and $17,000. Though more expensive than asphalt and cedar shingles, the metal roof is more reliable with regard to durability and cost-effectiveness.
5. Ceramic Roof Tiles
Slate and ceramic roof tiles aren’t that popular among average homeowners due to their expensive installation cost, so you can only find them in exclusive properties. These roofing materials are highly durable and expected to last beyond 75 years. They only require minimal maintenance, but frequent inspection is recommended to identify any obvious signs leading to further damage in the future. The installation also seems extensive since you will need construction equipment to carry materials and tools on the roof, in addition to the fact that the material itself is already expensive.
As a Homeowner, you need to consider other relevant factors such as sustainability of the installed roofing material, manufacturer warranty, and home insurance inclusions. Being the cheapest doesn’t mean you can save more on construction costs because the durability of your roof depends on your effort to keep it leak-free for as long as you can.
