There is much to consider when buying a new roof for your home. You will want to protect all that your home contains, and protect your investment. Here are 4 important things to consider when making your roofing purchase decision. It may seem a disparate list…but it all comes together under the right roof.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is a great thing to consider when buying a new roof, though many homeowners never even think about it. The primary time when a roof can help save energy is during hot summers. The right roof can reduce attic heat gain which then saves energy and lowers air conditioning costs. This energy efficiency can be achieved through solar reflective roofs, light-colored roofs, and various forms of ventilation and thermal breaks. For example, metal roofs with heavily formed thicknesses include an integral airspace which achieves a thermal break between the rooftop and the roof deck – very similar to how the two panes of glass in a thermal pane window function. This thermal break will enhance energy efficiency and savings.
Fire Safety
If you live in an area prone to wildfires, fire resistance can be an important thing for you to want in a new roof. Think in terms not only of initial fire resistance but also fire resistance after the product has weathered for a few years. Products that dry out over time will be increasingly less fire resistant with age. Also, in the event of an interior fire, low weight roofing can help protect your home while allowing firefighters to enter the structure and extinguish the fire at the source.
Design and Beauty
About 60% of the visible exterior of most homes is the roof. Today’s roofing options offer a wide variety of looks, styles, and colors. Choosing the right product can enhance your home, adding curb appeal and value. Visualizer tools can help you in advance to compare what different roof styles and colors would look like on your home. The amount of value added to a home by a new roof depends largely on the aesthetics of that roof, and the ability of that product to maintain its beauty even as it ages.
Weight
If you have an older home or perhaps live in an area where very heavy snow loads can pile up on roofs, then one of your roof criteria may be a low weight roof. Roofs can weigh from less than a half pound per square foot for aluminum up to around 4 pounds for dimensional shingles, all the way up to as many as 20 pounds for very heavy tile roofs. Low weight roofing can be beneficial to older structures as well as to homes in areas prone to seismic activity.
Do You Want to Learn More About Buying a New Roof?
Check out the other articles on this subject. Our free Homeowners Guide to Roofing can help you determine what type of roof is best for your home.