Actually, people have known what the most durable roofing material is for a long time. Unfortunately, it’s expensive and requires great skill to prepare and install. Other roofing materials are more popular because they are less expensive, much easier to install, and still effectively protect the house, at least for a period of time. Here are some of the toughest roofing materials, more or less in order.
Slate Is the Winner
Slate has been known as the most durable roofing material for hundreds of years. Indeed, some slate roofs are still in use after hundreds of years. Slate is usually gray but can also come in shades of blue and red. The thing about slate is that it can flake off into sheets that can be used as roof shingles, but this takes a skilled craftsman. Installing the shingles is also a job for a specialist. A layperson can repair a slate shingle if they have the right equipment, such as a slate ripper, but this job is also best left to a professional.
Clay Is a Runner Up
Clay tile is a durable roofing material. However, each tile can weigh up to 15 pounds. Your roof may need to be reinforced to support their weight. Again, a clay tile roof is best installed and repaired by a specialist, and both the tiles themselves and the labor involved in installing them are expensive. Like slate tiles, clay tile roofs last at least as long as the house.
Concrete Tiles Are Also Durable
Concrete roof tiles are becoming more and more popular. Nowadays, they don’t have to be the drab gray, brutalist color people associate with concrete. Concrete can be dyed or stained a wealth of colors and is pricey but not as pricey as clay or slate. Though a concrete roof can last over 50 years, it’s more susceptible to cracking than clay or slate, it’s heavy, and since it’s dyed or stained, its colors can fade over time.
Two of the Rest: Metal and Wooden Shakes
Like concrete roofs, metal roofs no longer have to be unattractive. Metal roofs can be as appealing as any other type of roofing material, and depending on the type of metal, they can last between 35 and 80 years. However, the fasteners and flashing of metal roofs must be made of the same metal as the roof tiles to avoid a reaction that can lead to deterioration.
People are surprised to learn that roofs made of wood shakes last as long as they do. If they are properly installed and maintained, wood shakes can last for half a century. Wood shingles, however, last about as long as asphalt shingles, which is approximately 20 years.
Call Us for More Information on Roofing Material
There are many wonderful options for roof materials for your home. If you’re in need of roof replacement or other services, get in touch with our roofing professionals at North Creek Roofing of Mill Creek, WA.
