Importance of the Right Roofing Type and Gutters

Knowing the importance that roofing and gutters play in the efficiency within your home, you as a homeowner should make sure that what you have are the right ones. If not, then you should be considering having these replaced even if there are still no sign of leaks inside your house. Always remember, leaks can be silent killers as they may already be causing damage even without the outwards signs. By the time you notice dripping water or water marks, the damage may already be huge. As they say, “An ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure.”

Other than complementing the look and style of your home, your choice of roofing material should also answer to the needs of your home. In the selection process, the region where your house is located should also be a consideration as the weather condition as well as the natural adversities that the area is prone varies. Laid out are the most common types of roofing materials and their pros and cons.

Slate and Clay Roofing Tile

Slate is composed of rock slivers that come in a good assortment of sizes and earthly colors that can be organized in a variety of attractive patterns. This offers a very natural look and is commonly seen on upscale homes indicating their cost.

Clay roofing tile is another expensive choice that best suits homes in Spanish Mission, Italian, southwestern and even contemporary design. It comes in a variety of styles, color, brands and types.

Both roofing option can last a lifetime, requires less maintenance, does not rot nor burn, and cannot be damaged by insects. The drawbacks however are that both materials are heavy and may need extra structural support and are fragile.

Composition Shingles

This type offers a clean look but on a more affordable scale. It comes in a wide variety of brands, colors and types with higher quality versions made of fiberglass or asphalt. This option is relatively easy to install, requires less maintenance and does not easily break. The downside is that they can easily be blown off by very strong winds.

Metal Roofs

This was one of the most popular roofing materials in the late 1700s that is still widely used today. Many choose it for its durability, environmental benefits since they are recyclable, fire-resistance and for being almost maintenance-free. Though this type absorbs less heat from the sun, the material is a terrible insulator which makes heating in your home a challenge.

Like roofing, gutters also come in various materials with their benefits and drawbacks.

But whatever your budget and priorities are, there would always be some material to match your specific home needs. To make sure that you choose the best and ensure the proper installation of your roofing and gutters, hire a qualified contractor to guide you and help you every step of the way.

Craftsmen Network,
New York, NY

This entry was posted on Monday, April 6th, 2009 at 11:39 pm and is filed under Roofing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.