When selecting material for a roof, aesthetics, warranty, and price are important, but not the only factors to consider. Choosing the right type of roofing for your climate can mean the difference between an attractive, comfortable, watertight roof and one that leaks, rusts, or needs costly repairs before the warranty expires.
Traditional Shingles
Traditional asphalt or composite shingle roofs are the first, most obvious choice and they work well for many parts of the country, including moderately warm climates. They can also withstand snow, ice, and heavy rain.
Asphalt shingles are good insulators and hold in the heat ā which can be a negative in dry, hot areas. Choosing light-colored shingles or applying one of the newer cool-roof surface coatings can greatly improve the performance of asphalt roofs in this situation.
Corrugated & Metal Roofing
Corrugated steel roofing is becoming more popular, due to the fact that it lasts so much longer than asphalt ā 50 to 100 years vs. 10 to 25 year warranties for asphalt roofs.Though steel tends to rust, corrugated Galvalume sheet metal has been specially treated for corrosion resistance, making it ideal for use as a roof in wet climates. In some cases, such as restorations of older buildings or new builds with modern designs, metal roofing made of weathering steel can provide the right rusted look.
Metal roofing is built to withstand extreme weather conditions, including high winds, heavy snow, hailstorms, and even wildfires. It can prevent moisture from getting underneath, which could lead to rot. In hot climates, a white metal roof provides excellent solar reflectivity, and quickly cools down at night.