3 Great Roofing Materials

Replacing your roof is obviously a costly home improvement project, but it is worth it when you consider all the long term benefits it provides. A new roof is not only going to make your home look newer and more stylish, it is also going to add functionality to your property by improving the insulation. Of course, not all roofing materials are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. This article compares the energy efficiency of four of the most popular modern residential roofing products.

Wood Shingles

Wood shingles are definitely one of the most popular roofing materials because of their style, affordability, and easy installation. They definitely aren't chosen just for their installation. In fact, people who live in cold climates and install wooden shingles will have to add an underlayment of insulation to the roof deck before they install the wood. This extra step is actually not that expensive, and it might be worth it when you consider how cheap the actual wood shingles are to install. So, even though wood shingles themselves aren't particularly energy efficient, you can have an energy efficient roof if the deck is properly insulated.

Clay Tiles

Clay tiles will definitely offer a little more insulation then wood shingles. The slightly porous tiles actually perform quite well in hotter climates. They don't offer amazing insulation in cold climates, but once again extra insulation can be added to the underlayment. However, since clay tiles are a little more expensive than wood shingles, this can lead to a more costly repair project. Nonetheless, the overall cost of clay tiles is moderate. It is also a product that is easy to repair and replace.

Slate Tiles

Slate is one of the most popular natural roofing materials and it offers great natural insulation. The actual slate pieces are usually sicker than clay tile, wood shingles. This can greatly increase the insulation in the roof. Of course, slate can be expensive since it is so heavy. This can be a major concern on older homes, especially if the actual roof deck needs to be reinforced before the slate can be installed on top of it. The extra weight means that slate is not a good choice for every roof.

In the end, all three of these products are great and can be used in just about any claim it if there is proper insulation added to the underlayment. To learn more about different home products, contact a team such as Ulrich Builders.