Lead, Felt or Rubber Roofing? We’ve Got the Answer!

In our previous blog post, we uncovered the benefits and drawbacks of tiles, slate, and sheet metal as roofing material options, the latter now leading us to lead, felt and rubber. Each of these is suited to different types of roof. Read on to discover which is likely to do the best job for you.

Lead

Lead is most often associated with church roofs and other old buildings, but it is still available to fit the aesthetic of modern houses.

The reason why lead has remained on buildings for hundreds of years is that it’s undoubtedly one of the most durable materials available. Due to its relatively high cost and heaviness, many homeowners choose to use it as flashing and as other details on a roof.

Lead is one of the perfect roofing material choices for you if you’re looking for a malleable material which can guarantee to hold your roof together for years to come. Its reliability is almost unrivalled, although there are reports that it is becoming increasingly rare. Now could be the time to invest in lead roofing before it’s gone!

Felt Flat Roofing

A material less known to homeowners, though nonetheless worth consideration for its ease of application and specialism in flat roofs, felt is a roofing option at the other end of the spectrum. Flat roofs need care as they are prone to pooling, so a durable material such as felt is ideal. The torch-on method is one of the quickest and easiest, too.

Felt does not possess such durability as those mentioned above. However, it is one of the cheapest and lightest available, meaning that it’s a small investment to cover a part of the roof which is rarely viewed from the street, and therefore may not need as much aesthetic attention.

Despite its low price point, felt, if well applied, can be incredibly waterproof. This is particularly important to prevent leakages from pooling, and as such is a staple within the roofing industry. One downside is perhaps that felt roofing doesn’t perform well under UV rays or intense heat, meaning it may not be the ideal roofing material option for those in hot climates.

Rubber

Rubber is similar to felt flat roofing in terms of price point, though it has greater durability. Nonetheless, both felt and rubber need maintenance every few years to ensure they are in good condition.

Similarly, rubber is quick to apply, as it can simply be rolled out and fixed to the flat roof. It performs well in high and low temperatures, as well as being one of the most ecologically effective materials given its recyclability. Like felt roofing, rubber is somewhat fragile, so best avoided once installed. However, fixes are easy and with a professional roofing service will leave you with a well-sealed roof in no time.

So, which one is right for your roof?

Sometimes, all you want is a roof over your head – and preferably one that doesn’t leak. And whilst there seem to be hundreds of roofing material options to choose from, you can guarantee that a well-trained, knowledgeable roofer will have the solution for your roof, regardless of its size or shape. So don’t fret – while these blog posts have shone a little more light on the subject, you can be sure that the experts will have you, and your home, covered in no time.