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Residential Roofing Tips

The Pros and Cons of a Metal Roof for Your House

It might be challenging to narrow down your choices with so many different roofing options. However, each roofing type we offer here at Bond Roofing is unique and has its special features. Today, we will talk about one of our favorite roofing materials: metal. Metal roofing is a popular choice among our clients, but, like anything, has its pros and cons.

The Pros of Metal Roofing

  • Metal roofing is not only an attractive choice, but it will also increase the value of your home. You can think of it as an investment. Here are other reasons you might want to consider metal roofing for your home.
  • One of the most considerable benefits of metal roofing is its longevity; it will last 50 years or more.
  • Metal roofing is extremely durable against things such as hail and wind uplift. If you live in an area with these kinds of conditions, metal is a great option.
  • Metal roofing comes in a wide range of styles, colors, and profiles, so you are sure to find a material that fits your vision. You can even find metal panels that look like shingles!
  • They are eco-friendly and environmentally-friendly. All metal roofing is made with a minimum of 25 percent recycled content, with some materials reaching up to 75 percent. That means your roofing materials may be recycled in 50+ years and won’t end up in a landfill.
  • Most metal roofing materials are energy efficient due to solar reflectance and heat gain. Talk to the Bond roofing team about your options if energy efficiency is a priority.
  • Metal roofing is quite versatile. We can install it on roofs of all shapes and sizes and on roofs with the lowest slopes. It is a useful option for a more intricate roofing style.

The Cons of Metal Roofing

Metal roofing has so many wonderful benefits, but of course, there are some downsides to consider.

  • Your upfront cost for metal roofing is going to be a lot higher than if you choose a material such as asphalt shingles. You’ll save down the road because of its longevity, but many people don’t want to spend the initial cost. And remember, when your roof needs replacement in 50+ years, it will be a hefty cost.
  • Metal roofing is not as easy to repair as asphalt shingles. Say a tree falls on your roof. You’ll have to replace a large section of the roof, rather than just the place where the tree fell.
  • Metal roofing is more difficult to install than other roofing types.
    You’ll have a longer lead time to install metal roofing than other roofing types. The lead time for us to get the product in is usually a couple of weeks. With other roofing options, we should have materials in a couple of days.

Metal roofing is one of our most popular roofing materials due to its longevity, durability, and attractive look. Contact the Bond Roofing team if you are interested in metal roofing or any of our other roofing styles.

Categories
Residential Roofing Tips

The Pros and Cons of Asphalt Shingles

Building a home or looking into a roof replacement? Asphalt shingles are a popular roofing choice. Asphalt shingle roofing is likely the most widely used roofing system in the United States, covering nearly 70 percent of residential structures.  There are several positive reasons to choose asphalt shingles, but like most anything else, there are some cons as well.

The Pros

  • Economical – Asphalt shingles are one of the most economical roofing materials you can choose, which is why most people select them. The initial cost is much lower than a metal or flat roof due to lower material costs and ease of installation.  With asphalt shingles, you get high performance for a low-cost.
  • Versatility – Asphalt shingles can be applied to all sorts of shapes and roof slopes and are suitable for a variety of climates and environments.
  • Wide Variety of Style and Colors – If you seek a unique look, you can achieve that with asphalt shingles. Because they come in such a wide variety of styles and colors, you’ll be sure to find a combination that suits your home. If energy efficiency is a priority of yours, there are even solar reflective energy-efficient shingles on the market.
  • Fire, Wind, and Impact Resistance Options – When it’s needed, higher-end shingles with increased protection from the elements are available at a relatively low-cost difference.
  • Ease of Repair – Just as asphalt shingles are easy to install, they are also easy to repair.  With specialized systems like metal, slate, tile or wood shake you might have a hard time finding a roofer and the material to make a repair.  Most roofers can make a shingle repair and the shingles themselves are widely available.

The Cons 

  • Relatively Short Service Life – Asphalt shingle roofs will last 15-30 years before you’ll need to replace the whole roof. This might seem like a long time but is relatively short compared to the service life of copper, tile, or slate roofing, which can last up to 100 years.
  • Lower Wind Resistance – Ok, we mentioned this as a pro for shingles and there are some options for increased wind resistance with asphalt shingles, but if you live in an area with the potential for strong winds like the beach or the mountains, you might consider other options like metal or tile.
  • Not Suitable for Low Slopes – This con doesn’t apply to most homes, but a roof must have a slope of at least 2:12 to be suitable for asphalt shingles. Otherwise, water buildup could damage your roofing, structure, and home.
  • Not as Energy-Efficient – Unfortunately, asphalt shingles will not be as energy-efficient as metal or white flat roofs. Shingles are much better at absorbing heat than reflecting it, even when painted a lighter color. If energy efficiency is what you’re after and you’d like asphalt shingles, consider a solar reflective shingle.

Now that we’ve reviewed the top pros and cons of asphalt shingles, we hope your roofing decision will be made a bit easier. If you have any roofing questions or you’d like to set up a consultation, contact the Bond Roofing team.