The Best Roofing Materials For Your Home

Most roofs last for about 20-30 years, depending on the roofing material used. However, some roofing materials can last for much longer. If you're a homeowner who is looking for a long-lasting roof to meet your needs, you have options. And when it comes to selling a home, a good roof helps sell the home. Here's what you need to know.

1. Slate

Slate is a type of stone that is easily cut into long, flat shingles. Slate is one of the oldest types of roofing materials available, and can be found on buildings that have been around for centuries. Because it is a natural stone, slate is very durable and long-lasting.

Soft slate roofing can last up to 125 years, while hard slate can last up to 200 years. While the stone itself can last for decades, poor installation or poor maintenance can lead to the roof to fail prematurely. Homeowners can avoid this problem by purchasing their roof through a reputable contractor who has experience installing slate on other homes and buildings.

Slate is extraordinarily heavy, and homeowners wishing to install a slate roof on their home must ensure that the home is built to support a roof of this weight. Existing homes may need to be reinforced.

2. Clay

Clay is another old roofing material that has been used on homes for hundreds of years. Clay tile is fire-resistant, wind-resistant and comes in a range of colours. Clay can last for 50 years or more, with proper maintenance. Like slate, clay can fail prematurely if it's not properly installed or if it's not properly maintained. Clay should not be walked upon, and roofers who come to do repairs to the home can cause damage to the roof if they aren't careful.

For this reason, it's very important to hire a contractor who understands clay tiles, including how to repair and install them. Clay should be inspected periodically to ensure that it's in good condition. Homeowners who want to install clay on a home that previously held asphalt shingles or another lighter material may need to have the structure of the home reinforced.

3. Metal

Compared to slate and clay, metal is a far more modern roofing material. Metal is desirable for many reasons, including:

• Can take many shapes. Metal can be shaped to look like asphalt shingles, cedar shake, clay, and slate.
• Lots of colours. Metal comes in many colours and can be easily matched to the home where it is being installed.
• Lightweight. Compared to other long-lasting roofing materials, metal is very lightweight.
• Green. Metal is recyclable, and many metal roofs are made from recycled material.

Metal roofs can last anywhere between 50 and 100 years, depending on the type of metal installed and other factors. Like clay and slate, it's very important to hire a contractor who has experience installing residential metal roofing. Agricultural metal roofs may be installed differently and are not appropriate for a residential home, so homeowners should be wary of hiring contractors who usually do agricultural or commercial buildings.

Contact Your Real Estate Professional

It's a good idea to install a new roof on an Oak Bay home before putting it up for sale, if the old roof is in bad condition. If you're thinking about selling your home soon and you're not sure what else you can do to make your home more marketable or desirable for buyers, contact a real estate professional today.