Which Roofing Material is Best for Your Roof?

Choosing the best roofing material isn’t always a top priority for homeowners – what difference does it make having tiles or metal, rubber or lead? But not doing your research could have a big impact, both financially and on the safety and health of your building, so we’re here with our lowdown of the best in the business to make your life easier.

It’s important to think about the climate of your location, your budget, the image of the property, and the quality of the property in terms of whether it can support heavy roofing materials. In some cases, with listed buildings or those in conservation areas, you may need to consult the relevant literature to ensure you’re staying within government guidelines.

Tiles

Tiles are the go-to roofing material for many homeowners who haven’t explored the rest of the market. That’s not to say that tiles don’t have great benefits, and, for some, they will be the best roofing material money can buy.

Tiles made of clay, concrete or slate can be in the expensive range given their quality and healthy reputation, but for many, this can be seen as an investment; the quality will mean a replacement will be unlikely in the near future, meaning one less thing to think about when it comes to home repairs.

Tiles are incredibly versatile in appearance and come in a huge range of styles, colours and aesthetics. They are also resistant to fire and water, with slate clocking in at the longest lifespan with upwards of 100 years.

Tiles: Slate

Slate is the pride of many parts of Britain, and there’s a rustic and authentic appeal about applying slate to the roof of your home. For this reason, it comes at a higher price point.

It’s one of the most durable materials, when it’s left alone, although one thing it’s not resistant to is people, meaning it’s best not to tamper with it if you want to avoid shards falling off and ruining the look. A similar effect happens in extreme weather such as hail and harsh winds.

Slate is, like other types of tile, a heavy material, and can require roof reinforcement to ensure it can bear the load. Although this will add an extra cost, many homeowners consider it the best roofing material due to its proven reliability.

Sheet Metal

Metal roofing is less well-known in Britain, and indeed, it might strike fear into the hearts of many who care about the traditional look of their home.

But not to worry! Metal roofing can actually be disguised as slate or wood tiles and has a great longevity at around 60 years. It’s safe as it’s resistant to fire, wind and precipitation. And at a cheaper price range than traditional tiles, it still represents a worthwhile investment due to its impressive lifespan. Furthermore, due to its lightweight nature, it could be considered the best roofing material for those with more fragile buildings.

One factor to watch out for is that it may not be the best roofing material if you’re in a particularly wet part of the country, or need a quiet home, as metal amplifies the sound of torrential rain.

So, which one will you choose?

There are many more options out there, such as green roofs, and even thatch, but the ones we’ve written about in the first of this two-part blog are among some of the safest and most reliable in roofing today. To find out more, give us a call and we’ll be happy to chat about which would be best for you.

Be sure to keep an eye out for next month’s blog where we’ll be talking about lead, felt and rubber flat roofing, too.