Vinton, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/22/2014 -- Are all Roofs the Same?
The answer to that is no. Unfortunately most new homeowners regard roofs as an afterthought until they start to leak. Families who purchase old homes know this all too well.

Not all roofs are the same. The options range from asphalt and slate to concrete and clay tiles. There are certain factors that need to be taken into consideration whether a homeowner chooses to install a new roof for an existing home or have one built from scratch –

Cost
This goes without saying. However, a lot of homeowners still make the mistake of ignoring the costs that will be associated with a new roof. For example, they often overlook the cost of stripping off materials from an old roof or repairing the supporting structure.

Not every home requires a complex roofing job. This depends on a roof’s shape. For example, a gable roof that doesn’t have any breaks such as chimneys requires a simple roofing job.

Types of Roof
Homes have either flat or pitched roofs. The materials that go in the construction of each varies. For instance, roofing jobs that involve pitched roofs often use materials such as dimensional or composite shingles, tile, metal, synthetic materials or slate. Flat roofs on the other hand are often constructed from materials such as tar, gravel, PVC membranes, or roll roofing. Roofing contractors are responsible for providing warranty information about the materials that they use for the service.

Color or Style
A house that has asphalt shingle roofing looks slightly different than the same house that has cedar shakes. Homeowners should consider the look they are going for before they decide on any type of roof. The same goes with colors. For example, roofing shingles come in a wide variety of colors. They come in the following materials-

- Wood – Wooden is a popular roofing material of choice especially since it makes roofs last as much as 25 years. The materials are usually made from southern pine, redwood or cedar that are either split or sawn.

- Asphalt – Asphalt shingles are the easiest to install. The price may depend on the type of installation or shingle chosen.

- Metal – Roofing materials that come in aluminum, steel, and copper asphalt which makes them more durable than wooden or asphalt shingles. Of course, this also means that they cost more.

- Slate – Slate is considered to be one of the most durable of all roofing materials. Hundred year old slate is often recycled for reinstallation in some cases.

Framing
A roof needs to have a sturdy frame if it is to last. An existing home’s frame may not always be able to support heavy roofing materials such as clay or slate. A roofing contractor can determine whether a homeowner’s roof is sturdy enough to handle the weight of such materials. Homeowners who prefer heavier materials may need to strengthen the frames of their homes before they consider the option.