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Although metal roofing is more expensive than asphalt roofing material, it is still far cheaper than slate roofing material, the most expensive material on the market. Despite being more expensive, metal roofing does last far longer than asphalt roofing; most metal roofing material will come with a warranty for up to fifty years.

Standing seam metal roofing used to be the most common form of metal roofing. Squares of metal were joined together by concealed fastenings so that the finished product looked like one solid piece of ridged metal. Tile metal roofing can be customised according to the design of your home; it can come in many different colours, or can mimic the heavier tile sometimes seen on pitched roofs. Shingle metal roofing can come in any colour or texture that you want. For example, you can order metal shingles that look like cedar shake, but without the drawbacks of needing to add fire-retardant.

‘Cool metal’ is a type of metal roofing which can deflect sunlight, reducing the temperature of the building and cutting down on air conditioning costs in hot climates. It is also made of twenty-five percent recycled metals, and so is vey environmentally friendly. Most metal roofing materials re recyclable, and they can be taken from one project to another.

One major advantage of metal roofing is that metal roofing material can also come insulated. The two metal sheets are filled with a liquid foam insulation. This enlarges and fills the gap between the sheets, and solidifies to form one solid piece. This will give uniform insulation across the entire roof, which is better than some other types of insulation that can leave gaps. Gaps such as these can let heat out in the winter.

From Least to Greatest

Roll roofing is the cheapest form of roofing material. It is made of asphalt, and is laid in a single layer. Roll roofing has a short life span of only around ten years because it only has one layer, and should not be used in areas with harsh weather such as heavy rain or snow. It is, however, easier and neater to install because it is only made of an asphalt shingle mat. Roll roofing can only be used on flat roofs with a rise of around 7 centimetres and a run of around 30 centimetres.

The next lowest in price is layered roofing materials such as tar, gravel, and bitumen. and gravel roofs are built up with interspersed layers of saturated felt and tar or asphalt, and then topped off with a mixture of mineral and rock. If modified bitumen is the material used, then the layers are made of polyester or fibreglass instead, with bitumen in between. These materials are very low cost, but do not last very long and cannot be used in harsh weather climates.

Asphalt shingle roofs are the mid-range roofs in terms of price. They last for a reasonable length of time, around twenty years, and are usually found on pitched roofs. Dimensional shingles are stronger than asphalt and offer more design options, but are a little higher in price. They also last longer, around forty years. These types of roofs need adequate ventilation in order to prevent moss build up, but are overall good choices for roofing material.

Metal roofing costs more than asphalt, but is generally considered to be a good choice for roofing material. This is because it is light, durable, and adaptable, and offers a wide range of design, texture, and colour choices. Metal can be used on either flat or pitched roofs.

While tile and slate roofs are the most durable, lasting from fifty to a hundred years with minimal maintenance, they are also the most expensive material on the market. Installation can also be tricky and more expensive as a high level of expertise is needed to correctly install them.

Pitched Roofs

Residential homes normally have pitched roofs, because these are more weather-resistant than flat roofs. Composition asphalt shingles, made from organic material or fibreglass, are the most common material used for pitched roofs on residential buildings. Asphalt is one of the cheapest roofing materials you can buy. You can also get dimensional roofing shingles, which allow you to customize the appearance of your roof. They are also thicker, stronger, and can last for up to forty years, instead of the twenty or thirty of asphalt shingles.

Slate and tile can also be used on pitched roofs, but these are some of the most expensive materials on the market: slate shingles cost around ten times more than asphalt shingles. The upside of slate and tile roofs is that they are the longest lasting material (around hundred years) and require very little maintenance if installed properly.

Flat Roofs

Flat roof materials are designed for roofs with a small rise of around 7 centimetres and a run of around 30 centimetres. Metal is the one roofing material which is used on both flat and pitched roofs. Metal roofing materials are very adaptable, but are a little more expensive than asphalt. Metal offers many choices in appearance and design, from the most common standing seam to imitation tile and slate. This allows the homeowner to customise the appearance of their roof without the expense of slate or tile. Other benefits of metal roofing include its longevity (around fifty years) and its minimal maintenance requirements.

Other common and inexpensive roofing materials sued for flat roofs include tar, gravel, modified bitumen, and roll roofing materials. Tar and gravel roofs are made of layers of material, which is a very messy process. Roll roofing is very cheap and easy to install, but it has a very short life span of around ten years because it only has one layer of material.

Types of Roofs

If you have a pitched roof (slanted) then you have some options for roofing materials which are not available for flat roofs. For example, you can choose to use cedar shake, which is made of cedar wood shingles. It is very environmentally friendly and can last for up to thirty years before needing replacing, if installed correctly.

Composition and dimension shingles are also available as materials for pitched roofs. Composition shingles are the more common material, and are made of either organic or fibreglass asphalt. They are easy to install, inexpensive, and last for twenty to thirty years. Fibreglass composition shingles are thicker and more adaptable than organic shingles, which can be quite fragile, but they do cost a little more. Dimensional shingles are the best choice for design because they allow you to customize their appearance, and are also thicker than composition shingles. They are more expensive, but last for longer, around forty years.

The longest lasting type of roofing material are slate and tile shingles. However, these are also the most expensive material, and as such far more rarely seen than asphalt or dimensional shingles. Tile and slate are also quite difficult to install because they are very heavy and require a high level of expertise: but if done properly, slate roofs can last for over a hundred years without needing replacing.

The most common materials used for flat roofs are tar, gravel, or modified bitumen. These can last for around fifteen years, and are very cheap. They are however, quite messy to install because each layer of the roof is held together by the tar or bitumen. Tar and gravel roofs are built up with interspersed layers of saturated felt and tar or asphalt, and then topped off with a mixture of mineral and rock. This gives the rood a higher weather resistance and allows you to walk on it more easily. If bitumen is the material used, then the layers are made of polyester or fibreglass with bitumen in between. While being the least expensive roofing material, these types of roofs are not very resistant to harsh weather like heavy rain or snow. EPDM is a rubber material which can also be used by flat roofing contractors. It is simple to install because it is also laid in a single layer, but it will need extra insulation. Rubber will last much longer than tar, gravel, or bitumen, and can give a limited level of UV protection. Another option for flat roofs is metal, usually the single seam variation.

Benefits of Slate

Although slate is the most expensive roofing material available, the cost is offset to a certain degree by the fact that it lasts for so long, and that it requires very little maintenance. Slate costs around ten times as much as asphalt roofing, from six hundred to a thousand dollars per square metre. However, it is very visually appealing, and will probably never need replacing during the owner’s lifetime.

It is vital that you get a contractor who is a specialist in slate to install a slate roof. This will reduce the risk of any problems occurring, and will ensure you get the full value from your slate roof. Be sure to check the references of any potential contractor, and ask if they belong to a professional slate roofing organization. This would mean they are up to date on the latest materials and techniques.

Because slate is naturally fireproof, it does not need the added fire retardant that other materials like cedar shake do. Slate is also moss resistant, another danger of other roofing materials. Moss can erode the water resistance of a shingle, heightening the chance of leaks. Because slate is a type of stone, the maintenance required is minimal, barring unusual damage such as a tree falling on the roof.

If slate is beyond your price range, but you still want the appearance of slate for your building, there are some other options available. Metal roofing is now available in a number of patterns and textures, including imitation slate. Metal is lighter and less brittle than slate, so it is easier to install, and the cost is far lower than real slate. Because metal roofing does not require the same level of expertise as slate, installation costs are also greatly reduced.

For example, if you have a pitched roof you can choose from cedar shake, compositional asphalt shingles, dimensional shingles, tile, slate, and metal. Pitched roofs are often found on residential or commercial buildings in areas with more severe weather such as heavy rain or snow. For flat roofs (those with a rise of around 7 centimetres leading to a run of around 30 centimetres), you can pick from materials such as tar, gravel, modified bitumen, roll, metal, EPDM rubber, and PVC mepane materials.

Strength and Value

EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) is a rubber material which can also be used by flat roofing contractors. It is more expensive than asphalt roofing materials, but is still a mid-range material. It is simple to install because it is laid in a single layer, unlike the messy multiple layres of tar and gravel roofs. Rubber will last much longer than tar, gravel, or bitumen, around five to ten years longer.

Because EPDM rubber roofing requires a more rigid insulation sheet than other roofing materials like metal, where the insulation is part of the material, it is important that you hire a roofing contractor who is familiar with EPDM. This material can give a limited level of UV protection by deflecting the sun. In hotter climates, this can help in lowering energy costs. Rubber is more resilient than tar, gravel or bitumen, and so will last longer without needing significant repairs.

Another heat reflecting material is PVC mempane (or polyvinyl chloride). It is about the same price as EPDM, and will also help lower your air conditioning bills. PVC Mempane is highly weather resistant because it doesn’t have any seams due to interior heating, reducing the risk of leaks and other damage. This type of roof can last up to thirty-five years if installed correctly. Both these types of rubber roofing are more durable and cleaner than other roofing materials, and are therefore easier for contractors to install.

Types of Materials

Flat roofs can use many different types of roofing material, and are identifiable by the fact that they have a small rise of around 7 centimetres leading to a run of around 30 centimetres which allows water to flow to the edges of the roof and stops it pooling in the middle. The benefit of this design is that it can help prevent water damage and leaks. The small slope lets water run off the roof into the gutter. Tar and gravel are two of the materials which can be used on roofs such as this.

Tar and gravel roofs are built up with interspersed layers of saturated felt and tar or asphalt, and then topped off with a mixture of mineral and rock. This gives the rood a higher weather resistance and allows you to walk on it more easily. They are, however, quite messy to install because each layer of the roof is held together by the tar or bitumen. These can last for around fifteen years, and are very cheap, but are not recommended for high rain or heavy snow areas.

Modified bitumen is a similar material. Here the layers are made of polyester or fibreglass instead of felt, with bitumen rather than tar in between. Like tar and gravel, it is cheap to buy, but is not good for harsh weather climates. Roll roofing material is another common, economical material which can be used on flat roofs. Roll roofing has a short life span of only around ten years because it only has one layer. It is however, easier and neater to install because it is only made of an asphalt shingle mat.

EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) is a rubber material which can also be used on flat roofs. It is simple to install because it is also laid in a single layer over a stiff insulation mat, and is more resistant to wind, rain, and snow than tar, gravel, or bitumen. Rubber will last much longer than tar, gravel, or bitumen, and can give a limited level of UV protection. In hotter climates, this can help in lowering energy costs for air conditioning.