Your home roof keeps you and your belongings safe from outdoor’s natural elements. Without some basic roofing knowledge, it can be quite daunting to decide on metal roofing or any other various types of roofing shingles. Keep reading to understand the difference between roofing materials, and decide which roofing supplies best suit your needs.

Choosing Home Roofing Materials

Many factors come into play when deciding which home roofing supplies to use for your roof. Metal roofing is durable, requires little maintenance, and comes in a variety of colors and textures. Wood shake is also durable, but these roof materials require more maintenance. Tar roofing shingles come in a variety of colors, and the more durable types can last 30 years or longer.

Counter cost with durability when considering roofing supplies. The long term cost of having to replace a roof may make it more cost effective to install more expensive, though more durable, roofing materials.

Various Roofing Shingles

Here is a look at a variety of roofing shingles that you can use for your roof:

• Asphalt roofing shingles are the most common in North America. These roof materials come in a variety of styles, colors, and have varying degrees of durability.
• Clay tiles are long lasting, require little maintenance, and are fire resistant. Unfortunately, these home roofing materials are heavy and more complicated to install.
• Composition roofing shingles are versatile and easily installed, also coming in varying degrees of durability.
• Concrete tiles simulate many other types of roof materials, last a long time, and are fire resistant. They are, however, more expensive.
• Slate roofing shingles require little maintenance, and are fire-resistant and long lasting. These home roofing materials are also quite expensive and heavy.
• Wood shake roofs help houses breathe, aid in insulation, and create character. Regrettably, these roof materials require more maintenance to prevent mold, rot and insect infestation.

Metal Roofing: A Good Idea?

Metal roofing has been around for hundreds of years. These roof materials are:

• Extremely durable
• Fire-retardant
• Low-maintenance
• Resistant to high winds.

Among the different types, here are some pros and cons of a few types of metal roofing:

• Aluminum metal roofing offers a light weight corrosion resistant option, is malleable, and easily worked. It cannot be soldered, and contact between aluminum and some metals and concrete should be avoided.
• Copper metal roofing is corrosion resistant, easy to work with, and doesn’t require painting. This type of metal roofing can’t touch other metals.
• Galvanized steel roofing has an almost indefinite lifespan, is widely used in commercial and industrial buildings, is easily worked, and is economical. These roof materials don’t work well in corrosive environments.
• Stainless steel roofing offers durability, corrosion resistance, and requires little maintenance. This metal roofing should be cleaned after installation to prevent corrosion.
• Teme metal roofing is lightweight and durable when painted and maintained. These roof materials should avoid contact with certain other metals. They should also be primed and painted after installation, and other minor instructions should be followed.