Roofing Materials: 

Color of your Roof Affects Roof Life and Energy Efficiency

The color of your roof can have a big affect on the temperature inside the home.  Dark roofs retain more heat from sunlight than lighter colored materials.  A dark roof can make it harder to cool a home.  Also, dark roofs tend to wear out faster than lighter colored roofs.  The temperature difference can be significant.  For example, a black roof can be up to 65 degrees warmer than a lighter colored roof on a sunny day.

Choosing a Roof Color

When choosing a roof color, look at the roofs of neighboring homes.  It looks better not to duplicate the colors of other home homes that are near your home.  Try to choose a color that is different from your the neighboring homes.  Neutral colors are easier to coordinate.  Choosing shingles that have a variety of colors can sometimes add visual interest.  If you want to draw attention to the roof then a higher contrast in shingle colors will do that.  If you want to avoid drawing attention to the roof then reduce the contrast in the shingle colors. 

When choosing roof colors, remember to look at samples at the site and position them in the direction and angle they will look on the roof.    This will give you an idea how the sun's orientation will affects the color of your roof.  When looking at the shingles, view them from a distance.  Also remember that colors will look different depending on the amount of sunlight there is.  Colors will look darker if it is an overcast day.  It may be easier to choose a roof material by driving around and look at existing roofs to see what you like.  After you find a roof ask your roofing supplier to match the look of that roof. 

Dark colors will make your roof look larger and light colors will make it look smaller.  The roof manufacturer might offer a color matching guide to help you determine what roof colors will look good with different brands of siding or bricks..  Ask your builder or salesperson if the roof manufacture offers a color coordination guide.

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are a common roofing material.  One of their biggest benefits is they cost less than other materials.  Asphalt shingles usually last 10 to 25 years.  The life expectancy of the shingle is affected by the grade of quality you choose.  The most common and least expensive type of shingle is called 3-tab shingles. 

Laminated shingles contain extra layers and can last up to 40 years.  Wind resistant shingles are available that are interlocked and this may help reduce roof damage in areas that have strong winds.  Fungus resistant shingles usually have copper or lime added to the shingles to resist fungus and algae growth on the roof (copper works better).  Shadow line shingles have colored edges that make them look thicker.

Wood Roofs

Wood roofs are either shakes or shingles.  A shake has a rougher appearance and a shingle has a smoother appearance.  Shakes are thicker then shingles and shake last longer.  Typically wood shakes last 25 to 50 years and wood shingles last 20 to 40 years.  Wood roofs are usually more prone to fires and are usually more expensive then asphalt shingles.  Wood is also more prone to hail damage.  Wood can give a home a more distinctive look.  Usually wood roofs are made of cedar. 

Metal Roofs

Metal roofs have been used for over 2,000 years and were very common on homes before asphalt shingles became common.  In fact, Thomas Jefferson used a metal  for the roof and dome of his home (Monticello). 

Metal roofs can cost about 3 to 4 times more than the cost of asphalt shingles.  Some of the benefits of metal roofs include fire resistance, less maintenance, a distinctive look, and a resistance to wind damage, and resistance to hail damage.  Check with your insurance company to see if a metal roof will reduce the cost of your home insurance. 

In areas that have a lot of pine trees, a metal roof may be required by building codes.  This is because pine needles collecting on a roof could be a fire hazard.  Needles are more likely to slide off a metal roof and metal roofs are more resistant to fire damage.

Metal can also reflect heat and help to keep your attic cooler.  The smoother surface and heat reflection of metal roofs can help snow slide off the roof.  Metal roofs are popular in areas that have heavy snow loads because the weight from excessive snow build-up on a roof can cause it to collapse.  Metal roofs can also reduce the chance of ice dams on the roof.

If you use a metal roof be sure you provide ventilation so that water canescape if it gets trapped under the steel -- otherwise this can cause corrosion. Metal roofs can also be given textures and colors to look like other roofing materials.  For example, it's possible to have a metal roof that looks like a cedar shingle roof. 

Some types of metal (such as copper) will oxidize and change color over time.  Most people avoid metals like copper because of the discoloration that occurs.  Some types of metal roofs have paint or coatings that may need to be reapplied about every 7 or 8 years to prevent rust and corrosion.  However, some manufacturers offer long-lasting coatings that can last for decades.  Consider the maintenance needs of the roof when comparing various manufacturers.   Metal roofs usually last 40 to 60 years. 

Stone Roofs

Stone roofs resist fire well and have a long life.  Stone roofs are also more expensive.  When using stone, the roof may need to be built stronger to support the weight of the stone.  Here are the main types of stone materials:

Clay Tile

Clay tile roofs are commonly found on Southwestern or Mediterranean style homes.  In hot-dry areas (such as in the Southwest or Florida) asphalt shingles may wear out more quickly and clay tile may be more appropriate.  Clay tile roofs may need to be sealed to prevent water from being absorbed by the clay.

Slate

Slate roofs are probably the most expensive roofing material.  Slate has excellent fire resistance. Slate comes in different grades and depending on the grade chosen the roof may last anywhere from 20 years to over 100 years.

Cement

Cement tiles can be made to look like clay roofs or slate roofs.  Cement has excellent fire resistance.  Cement roofs also have a long life (30 years or more).  Also cement costs less than clay or slate and can be made to look very similar.

Membrane Roofs

Membrane materials might be used for a flat roof or roofs with low slopes.  Flat roofs are more prone to having standing water and leakage problems.  Look at the warrantee of these materials to get an indication of how long the material may last.  It's best to avoid using older technology materials (such as asphalt and gravel) on flat roofs.  It may cost less to use the older technology but the chance of your roof leaking will be greater and you will likely need to replace your roof sooner.  Membranes can provide a much more leak free and long-lasting roof.  Sythetic rubber is often used for membranes and some common membrane materials include EPDM and CSPE.

Roof Felt

Typically a material called felt is put on the roof and the shingles are put on top of the felt.  The main purpose of felt is to catch any moister that may trickle through the shingles and prevent the moisture from leaking through the roof.  Some builders might skip this step or use another technique known as "skip sheathing" which uses boards that are space a few inches apart.  Both techniques can work well and some people feel skip sheathing can let the shingles breath better.  However, if you decide not to use felt you should check the warrantee of the shingle manufacture.  Some warrantees may be voided if it felt isn't.

Outside Finishes:

"What You Need To Know About Natural and Cultured Stone"