Roof Types, Materials & Designs
Different Types of Roof Materials
The material used in the construction of a roof is an important decision. The type of material chosen will determine how long it lasts, its durability, and cost to install or replace. There are many materials that can be used for roofs, each with its own pros and cons. Deciding on the best material for your roof depends mostly on the climate and weather where you live.
Asphalt & Asphalt Fiberglass Shingles
Wood Shingles & Shakes
Clay & Concrete Tile Roofing
Rubber Roofing
Rubber membrane roofs are often used to seal flat roofs over garages and porches. Credit: EPDM Roofing Association
Although rubber has been around for a long time, rubber roofing is fairly new. That’s because it’s taken a great deal of chemistry research to develop a thin rubber membrane with the durability and waterproof qualities required of a roofing material. Rubber roofing is sometimes referred to as EPDM roofing. EPDM is an abbreviation for ethylene propylene diene monomer, the highly engineered compound used to manufacture most types of rubber roofing. Rubber roofing is used primarily on flat or low-slop roofs in both commercial and residential buildings.
A “membrane roof” usually refers to a rubber or EPDM roof that is installed in a flat roof or a low-slope application. Many commercial buildings have membrane roofs; few houses do.
Composite Roofing
Composite shingles carry some of the industry’s longest warranties.
The term “composite” can apply to several different types of roofing, since it simply implies that a number of different materials are used in the manufacturing process. Today one of the most common types of composite roofing is a simulated roofing slate that is made from resins and from rubber compounds extracted from reclaimed tires. This slate lookalike offers excellent longevity and a lower installation price while providing the appearance of a traditional slate roof.
Metal Roofing
Corrugated Roofing
Corrugated metal roofing panels offer a great solution for sheds and other garden structures.
Corrugated roofing is easy to spot because of its distinctive form; it’s a thin sheet that contains a symmetrical pattern of alternating ridges and grooves. Most corrugated roofing comes in sheet form, but large shingles are available from some manufacturers. This type of roofing can be made from steel, polycarbonate, or an asphalt-fiberglass composite. It’s more appropriate for agricultural and commercial buildings and for small sheds than it is for houses. One important advantage with corrugated roofing is that it can be fastened down over an existing shingled roof without removing the original roofing material.
Flat Roofing
Slate Roofing
Slate is king of roofing materials, but finding someone who can install or repair it may be a challenge.
Most roofing slate used in the U.S. comes from slate deposits in Vermont and Pennsylvania.
Expensive to manufacture and tricky to install, this “stone” roof is among the most expensive available. When properly installed and maintained, a slate roof can last for 75 years or more.
Solar Shingles & Solar Roofs
Solar shingles are far less obtrusive than bolt-on modules, but they are less efficient, too. Credit: Courtesy of The DOW Chemical Company
Solar shingles and solar roofing are examples of new “thin-film” photovoltaic technology referred to as “building-integrated photovoltaics,” or BIPV. Solar shingles are designed in the standard size and shape of asphalt shingles so that they can be unobtrusively integrated into an asphalt shingle roof.
Solar roofing, or BIPV, can take the form of solar shingles or roofing tiles that contain solar cells.
Energy-Efficient Shingles
Different Types of Roof Designs
Some roof designs, like a gable roof, are more common than the others such as a mansard roof for example. When building a house, one of the things you have to decide is what type of roof design will suit it. A roof design will not just depend on your preference but also on the place’s temperature and weather condition. There are hundreds of types of roof designs that exist today for example:
Gable Roof
This type of roof is one of the most common roof designs. This roof type has two slopes on each side and meets at its peak. Gable roofs can be steep or shallow depending on what’s required for the building. Its advantages include being easier to build and maintain. On the other end, it is not as energy efficient as others. In addition to classic gable roofs, there are other variations that as just as popular, including Dutch gable roof, cross gable roof, and front gable roof.
Gambrel Roof
A type of roof where it has two slopes on each side like a gable roof, but instead of meeting at the top, its peak is placed in the middle. This makes it look like an inverted gable roof. Both steep or shallow gambrel roofs have more headroom than a gable roof, which makes it suitable for areas that experience snowfall. Gambrel roof is also very common for barns.
Its advantages include having more headroom and being less likely to break than a gable roof because of its steeper walls. On the other hand, it is not as easy to build or maintain as gable roofs.
Mansard Roof
Mansard roofs are also known as french roofs, this type of roof has two slopes on each side and ends at its peak in the middle. This is another type of roof that is most suitable for areas with a lot of snow. It will have less headroom than gambrel roofs but more than gable roofs. The advantage of this type of roof are its steep walls, which make it look more massive and can also be used as space savers.
Hip Roof
A traditional hip roof is designed with four sloping sides that meet at the peak. Like with the gambrel roof, it also has more headroom than a gable roof but less compared to a mansard roof. But even if this type of roof is bigger than gable roofs, it requires fewer materials because its walls are not as steep as those of the aforementioned roofs. Hip roofs are known for their flexibility in design and ease when building.
Shed Roof
This is a type of roof design where a single slope goes from the side to its peak. It has one horizontal line and slopes downward on all sides. This is another popular roofing style for barns but has lately become a common design for modern homes. Although shed roofs are simple to build, they are not ideal for bigger homes.
Colonial Contracting Works With All Roof Types, Materials & Styles
CCI is a full-service roofing contractor, specializing in everything from new roof installations, roof repairs and maintenance to total roof replacements. It doesn’t matter what type of roofing system we are working with, we always ensure quality workmanship, excellent customer service, and a long-lasting, durable roof over your head.
Our roofers have been providing top-quality services throughout Northern Virginia for over 25 years, and we are ready to work with any of the types of roofs highlighted above. If you have a specific roof type or roof material in mind for your new roof or need emergency roof repairs, call us at 703-754-9551 today to schedule an appointment for a free roofing estimate!