There are many factors to consider when selecting a roof, such as fire-resistance, eco-friendliness, structure, slope, and weight. But whether you’re looking for a new roof or planning a roof replacement, it’s the appearance, durability, and overall cost of a roofing system that are generally the forefront of your priorities.

APPEARANCE AND AESTHETICS

What is the aesthetic appeal of the roofing material? Will it complement the style of the rest of the house? The roof is one of the major elements that make up your exterior design. Fortunately, roofing materials today offer a wide array of choices in terms of color, shape, and design. You just have to make sure that you choose roofing materials based on what will complement your home’s existing color scheme and design.

Slate tiles, for example, are often the staple choice for historic homes. And while clay tiles is a popular roofing material for mission and Spanish style homes, with its natural red color and curved shape, the glazing colors and flat designs available now make it an option for other home styles as well. There are also the even more versatile materials, like fiberglass and concrete, that come in many colors and can mimic the look of wood and clay. Go over as many options as you can choose roofing material that will give you the appearance you’re going for.

PART 1 THE ESSENTIALS - APPEARANCE, DURABILITY AND COST

DURABILITY

More than how long it will last — as every roofing system has its lifespan — durability is a question of how well your roof performs against aging and the natural elements. Depending on the climate in your area, there’s an ideal balance of strength and structural design in the roofing for your home. For instance, asphalt shingles typically offer moderate to fair levels of durability but the availability of algae-resistant options make it a great choice for warm and humid climates.

COST

Labor and material costs vary for each region and individual project. But more than just choosing what will offer you the most savings, consider instead going for what will offer you the best value for your money, factoring in how much you’ll be spending (upfront and on maintenance throughout the years) and the service life a roofing option is rated with.

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Whether it’s appearance, durability, or cost, you cannot have one without considering the others. In Part 2, learn more about the factory tests that help ensure roofing materials live up to their claims.

PART 1 THE ESSENTIALS - APPEARANCE, DURABILITY AND COST

Protection and covering, the two basic functions of your roofing system, isn’t as simple as they sound. Every roofing material has to be tested, approved only if they meet industry requirements. An asphalt shingle roof, for example, can undergo as many as 185 tests to ensure the roofing material lives up to manufacturer claims.

THE TESTERS

ASTM International and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) are the primary authorities in roofing standards and testing. Their tests have been developed to evaluate performance, potential hazards, and proper fabrication and installation. The results of these tests remain the most concrete way for manufacturers, contractors, and homeowners to ensure the roof’s ability to protect and insulate against external elements for as long as possible.

THE TESTS

Some of the qualities that tests assess roofing materials for include:

Temperature and Weather Cycling. Roofing materials are exposed to cycles of extreme temperatures, light, and water over a span of hours to days to look at how well they can perform under different types of weather. Wind resistance tests, on the other hand, gauge roofing performance against wind and wind-driven rain, and can be measured through uplift resistance and air permeability tests separately. The roofing material, parts, and components are then inspected for signs of tearing, cracking, breakage, and water intrusion. Asphalt shingles also need to be checked for the amount of granules lost.

PART 2 TRIED & TESTED QUALITIES

Fire Resistance. While roofing materials can only either pass or fail standard tests, the fire resistance test is also designed to categorize them into classes A, B, or C. Class A roofing materials are the most fire-resistant, and are required for high-risk commercial buildings, while less critical structures might only need to meet Class B or C requirements.

THE RESULTS

Slate, metal and plastic polymer roofs all have good fire and wind resistance, while other materials like asphalt, clay and concrete have strong resistance against fire but can show weakness against the wind. Wood naturally has poor resistance against fire, but can be treated with fire retardant to reduce the material’s vulnerability. Whatever roofing material you choose, don’t forget to factor in local climate in your area to ensure that your choice will be truly suitable for your home.

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Found your ideal roof? Don’t let it go to waste by finding the ideal roofer. Head on over to Part 3 for tips on finding the right one and others to ensure you are satisfied with your roofing job.

PART 2 TRIED & TESTED QUALITIES

How your roof installation turns out will mostly dictated by your choice of roofing contractor so it is important to choose wisely. You want to make the most out of your investment so it is crucial that you don’t entrust the job of installing your new roof to just anyone. Your ideal roof, after all, deserves an ideal roofer, who will not only install your roof right but help you care properly for it as well.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Finding contractors is actually easy because there will be more than a handful operating in your area. It’s narrowing down your options until you have just one that can get tricky. This is where doing your research comes in. Fortunately, a lot of information will be available to you online so use that to your advantage. Go over a contractor’s website and read up on their service offerings, credentials, warranties, as well as testimonials from previous customers to help you gauge the kind of work they do. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give them a call!

Doing your research also extends to getting to know the different roofing materials available to you. Your roofing contractor is in the best position to offer you recommendations but it will also be in your best interest to know what different roofing materials are capable of and what they entail down the line in terms of maintenance.

PART 3 RECOMMENDATIONS - THE IDEAL ROOFER & INSTALLATION

COVER YOUR BASES

No matter which type of roof you choose, it’s best to look at it in terms of a complete roofing system. This means you’re not just getting asphalt shingles, for instance, but all of the other components of a roof as well, like flashing and gutters. And that’s just what’s on the outside! Depending on your roof’s current condition, you might also be looking at fixing, reinforcing or even replacing your underlayment. To make sure that you’re getting all of the needed work done, your roofing contractor should carry out an inspection before anything.

TALK TO YOUR CONTRACTOR

Your contractor is there to address your roofing needs so don’t hesitate to relay all your concerns to them. Getting a new roof is nothing to scoff at, after all, and working with a reliable roofer will help you ensure that everything goes off without a hitch.

PART 3 RECOMMENDATIONS - THE IDEAL ROOFER & INSTALLATION

BRAX Roofing

12 Starboard Ct Gaithersburg,MD 20877

(301) 363-4688

BraxRoofing.com