When your roof gets old, it's time to replace it to better protect your home
and belongings. However, with so many roofing materials from which to choose,
selection may seem overwhelming. Two popular options, however, are wood
shingles and asphalt shingles. If you aren't sure which you'd prefer, check out
how they differ to determine which is best for your home.
Cost
While some flat roof materials are cheaper, asphalt is one of the cheapest
roofing materials for sloped roofs. On average, if you hire a professional
roofer to remove your old roof and replace it with new asphalt shingles, you'll
pay about $1 to $4 per square foot, per CostHelper. Keep in mind, that the size
of your roof in square feet is likely more than the size of your house in
square feet because of the slope.
Wood shingles are a little more expensive, but they still sit at the cheaper
end of the price spectrum. For professional installation and removal of the old
roof, you'll pay about $4 to $7 per square foot. To compare, more expensive
roofing materials can cost as much as $40 or more per square foot.
Options
When it comes to options, both wood shingles and asphalt shingles have a
good selection from which to choose. First, with asphalt roofs, you can choose
the color of shingle. This is useful for matching your roof to your home or
helping to reflect or absorb the sun's light. While many people choose standard
three-tab asphalt shingles, you can also choose more stylish options such as
dimensional shingles or luxury shingles.
With a wood roof, you can choose the type of wood, but most people chose a
type of cedar, such as Western red cedar. You can also choose wood shakes
instead of shingles. Wood shakes are a little bigger and have a less polished
look.
Maintenance
Any roof you choose requires some level of maintenance, but asphalt is usually
considered low-maintenance because you don't need to do much to keep it looking
great. If you live in a climate with lots of wind, you may have to worry about
debris, and if you live in an area with rain and humidity, moss may be a
problem. Debris and moss should be removed to prevent damage and improper
drainage.
With a wood roof, you also need to remove debris and moss as needed.
However, wood roofs are more likely to rot than asphalt shingles. For this
reason, they must always be protected with some kind of stain or
water-resistant barrier. Even with good care, however, the roof may change
color over time, becoming duller and grayish.
Longevity
The biggest drawback to asphalt roofs is their longevity. They are cheap,
but they also don't last as long as more expensive roofing materials. With good
care, your asphalt roof may only last about 20 years. You can expand the life
of the roof by doing an overlay when the roof gets older, but this won't fix
any underlying damage. It will only give the roof new shingles.
Wood roofs are a little more expensive than asphalt, and they last a little
longer than asphalt roofs. As long as the roof was installed correctly and you
take good care of it, expect your wood roof to last 30 to 50 years. Of course,
generally, the more expensive the material, the longer the lifespan of the
roof.
Both wood and asphalt shingles are actually quite affordable, especially
when compared with clay tiles and slate. However, if you want a lower
maintenance option, asphalt may be the better choice over wood. For more
information about new roofs and different types of roofing material, contact usat Mikro Corporation
today.
