Choosing a roofing material for your Atlanta, Newnan, or Peachtree City home is a matter of taste, cost, and functionality, as well as other concerns such as environmental impact and local building codes.  

Here is a handy guide some of the most common roofing materials, their pros and cons, and their relative cost. To get the actual cost for installation, contact Eagle Watch Roofing for a free quote. 

Asphalt Shingles 

Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material for homes in the United States. Much of their popularity is based on their cost and installation.

They tend to be cheap and easy to install, which keeps cost down for builders and homeowners. They can also be reinforced by adding fiberglass or cellulose. 

Some nice features of asphalt shingles are due to their popularity. They are widely available and tend to be cheaper than other materials. They are also available in a number of different colors to match the look of your home. They are especially common in typical suburban house styles. 

The downside is that asphalt is less durable than other roofing materials. Asphalt roofs have a shorter lifespan and don’t provide the insulation you can get with some other materials. Typically, a well maintained asphalt roof will last 20 to 25 years. 

Clay and Concrete Tiles 

Clay and concrete tiles provide a distinct look. They are most common on homes that have a Mediterranean or Southwestern feel, such as Spanish or Mission style homes. They are non-combustible and long-lasting, but their weight can require extra framing, making them unsuitable for homes that weren’t designed with clay or concrete tiles in mind.

However, if you are going for a certain look, clay and concrete tiles provide a unique texture, color, and elegance that is hard to reproduce with other materials. Clay and concrete tile is also expensive but has good durability at 40 to 50 years. 

Metal Roofing 

When you think of metal roofing, you may picture the old corrugated metal roofs of storage sheds or agricultural building, but metal roofing has come a long way. Its sleek look can complement a number of housing styles, ranging from cabins and cottage-style homes to bungalows and modern or contemporary designs. 

Metal roofing provides some nice environmental bonuses. It is recyclable. It also reflects a lot of sunlight (and heat), reducing energy needs for cooling during hot Georgia summers. Metal roofs are also perfect for rainwater harvesting, reducing reliance on already overstretched municipal water sources or as part of a broader off-the-grid living plan.  

Metal roofing tends to be one of the more expensive roofing options, with prices varying from $100 up to $800 a square for some styles. But it is also extremely durable, lasting 40 to 75 years. That’s or 2 to 3 times as long as a typical asphalt roof, which can offset costs over time. 

Slate 

Slate is expensive, beautiful, heavy, and extremely durable, lasting up to 100 years or more if well maintained. It provides a traditional European look perfect for colonial style homes, European cottages, and French chateaus.

The heavy weight of slate roofing requires extra framing, which means it is only suitable for houses that were designed with slate in mind. 

Wood Shingles and Shake 

Wood shingles and shake have been in use for hundreds of years. Wood shingles are machine cut with a consistent look, while shake is handmade and tends to be a little rougher and more varied.   

Wood shingles and shake are not especially long-lasting and their combustibility means that some areas have banned its use altogether.

However, its natural rustic look makes it ideal for certain house styles. Bungalow, Cape Cod style homes, cottages, Craftsman homes and Tudor-style homes all tend toward this kind of roofing.

As it ages, a wooden roof will weather into an appealing gray hue. If you are concerned about fire, look for shingles treated a fire-resistant coating, which is widely available and increasingly common. 

Wood shingles and shake are on the cheaper end of the roofing materials scale, but like asphalt will only last 25 to 30 years, even under favorable conditions, requiring regular maintenance and occasional repairs. 

Synthetic Roofing 

Synthetic roofing is becoming more common. Materials such as plastic and rubber are made to look like a wide variety of more traditional materials. Cost and durability vary depending on the material and how it is manufactured. Warranties on these materials tend to be about 50 years. 

If you are having trouble picking a roofing material for your home or just want more information about your options, contact Eagle Watch Roofing and their specialists will be glad to help. When you are ready for a quote, Eagle watch roofing will prepare a written, no cost, no obligation quote for your desired roofing material.

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