One of that last structural elements determined during home design is typically that of the roof and the materials to be used in creating it. Why? Not surprisingly, most roofing is simply an asterisk to the beauty of the home. However, the pitch, valleys, hips, eaves and materials selected for your roof can either create a beautiful, memorable crown for your home or a nondescript add-on to a standard house. Let’s discuss why your roof design makes a difference.
Go Back Before Going Forward: Memorable Roof Designs
Before broaching the subject of new or modern roofing choices, consider a roof you may have seen and remembered because of it’s beauty and singularity. Roofs can truly be memorable, as exemplified by cedar shake roofs that age with a gorgeous patina over twenty to thirty years of life. Although many neighborhoods have been produced as subdivisions with cookie-cutter homes, consider the roofs that have, over the years, been replaced according to the homeowner’s taste and style preferences. Some of the roofs are now beautifully outstanding in their own setting.
Old-World Roofing Choices That Fit Today’s Home Designs
The memorable roofs that accompany large, older homes age gracefully, like grand dames of home design. Consider Spanish home designs, mid-century modern homes, and Tudor-style homes that boast of certain decades in design. Each offers beautifully-styled roofing that brings out the beauty of the homes. Large homes found in the established neighborhoods in the greater Chicago area, for example, may be roofed with slate or tiles, which can be replaced or repaired by the best roofing company in Chicago when needed.
Flat roofs, the icing on the cake for mid-century modern homes, carry a welcoming message of serenity in a quirky, inviting style. And, Tudor-style homes reflect an ongoing interest in everything British and French, as mini chateaus dot the cities of America. The roofing tiles of such homes fit the styles of each and various composite options have been added in recent years. Each of these roofing designs, with the appropriate roofing materials added, can act as the crown of your own home design style.
New Roofing Design Options And Materials
After considering the eye-candy roofing designs and materials of years past, you may choose to select a pattern that conforms to those styles, yet use newer materials. According to Benchmark International, the focus of the roofing industry and homeowners in years ahead will be on “sustainable and eco-friendly practices, resilience to extreme weather events, innovative materials, and energy efficiency requirements.” This suggests that homeowners may have a wider array of choices ahead for roofing materials that can offer both a sustainable and eco-friendly material base, while adding a significant amount of character and beauty to their homes.
Roofing Materials That Enhance Design Choices
Take a look at the newest roofing materials and consider which will best suit your design preferences. Chances are the materials you choose are guaranteed for up to thirty years of “roof life” and have sustainability built in to the materials, as well. Today’s roofing materials offer a wide array of choices.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are the most commonly used roofing material and they are the preferred material of most home builders. The newest asphalt shingles provide a lower-cost option for roofing a large home or one that requires a budget-friendly price. Typically, a base of fiberglass is layered with asphalt on top and dusted with a granular fixative. The results, depending on the materials used, may be multi-colored and beautiful upon reflection. The construction of the asphalt shingles is simple, making installation a swift project for experienced roofing employees.
Metal Roofing
Various types of metal roofing, including shingles, are expressive to the viewer and definitely reflect the homeowner’s personality and design choice. Along with the stark beauty of metal, which conforms perfectly with straight angles and minimalist home styles, comes the reality of the pricing. Materials such as copper, steel and zinc bring a hefty price tag. The advantage of metal roofing is that the materials will last twenty to thirty years and are quite durable in nature.
Barrel Tiles
Because authentic clay tiles are exponentially expensive and fairly fragile, many homeowners choose to use a synthetic barrel tile to conform to the look and feel of clay tiles. The plastic tiles will last twenty to thirty years and can survive both snow and sun extremes, which makes them usable in almost any climate. Desert subdivisions often use synthetic barrel tiles to impart a look of the Old Southwest.
Solar Roofing
Solar roofing is becoming popular with the increased attention to climate conditions and the need to reduce sometimes-destructive plastics and other roofing materials. Solar panels are used to generate electricity from the light emitted by the sun, so it makes sense to place panels on a roof where conditions are met to serve more than one purpose. Solar can be offered as tiles or panels and they save energy costs, however they depend on the sun for performance so the climate must be considered overall.
Cedar Shingles or Shakes
Although considered sometimes to be an “old-fashioned” source for roofing, cedar shingles or shakes are probably one of the most efficient types of roofing materials available. The wood shingles are thick, durable and have a roof life up to an astonishing fifty years, depending on weather conditions. Data Market Research suggests that the wood shingles “offer a unique combination of durability, aesthetic appeal, and environmental friendliness…” They are also heat-resistant, making them flexible for almost any type of home. The cost of cedar shingles or shakes may be high when compared to other forms of roofing, but the long-lasting characteristics of this roofing material must be considered, as well.
Green Roofing
Green roofing is the application of a living environment to the top of a home or other building. Green roofs have been identified as adding an improved air quality to the environment. Although this has not become a proven fact, green roofs are seen as environmentally-friendly, inviting plant growth, insects, spiders and bees to flower and plant gardens. Costs for green roofs can vary, depending on the size of the roof and the materials used. Maintenance is an on-going responsibility for the owner, as the plants require water regularly and weed abatement in every season.
With all of the roofing choices now available, perhaps your only decision to make when it comes time to roof or re-roof your home is which one best serves your home? Further, which one will be the crown of your home?
