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Owning a home is a luxury that only a few are fortunate enough to experience. Life on the road between rentals is adventurous and everything, but having a place that you could actually call your own is something else. You never have to worry about rents going up or annoying landlords. You also get to shape the place as you want, which can be pretty exciting –– and expensive. To pick your own furniture pieces and the lighting systems, as well as paint and pretty much everything else, are quite the fun ride. One angle many people forget is the roofing of the house. Whether you’re getting some for your new home or just replacing your current roofing, it is all about choosing the perfect material. Here’s how you can do that.
Budget
It goes without saying that, like anything else in your house, the budget you’ve allocated will play a huge factor in the kind of material you’ll be going for. It’s important that you set a certain amount of money before doing anything, and you really need to be careful with this because it can be pretty expensive to replace your roof, so you want to get it right from the first time. How much money you’re willing to pay will help you decide on which material you should get; some are expensive and others are cheaper, but they all have their pros and cons.
Weather conditions
One of the most important factors that you must take into consideration while choosing roofing materials is how well they are suited to the weather conditions in your area. There are plenty of different materials out there like asphalt, wood, metal, composite, or even solar panels. Not all kinds will be suited to the climate that you live in, and this is why you have to read up on what kind works best for the weather you have throughout the year. For example, asphalt shingles are some of the cheapest and most common roofing materials used. But they can crack under rapid temperature changes, which means they might not be suited for areas with desert climate. This is the kind of reasoning you have to go through before settling on a certain type.
Reviews
We like to read up reviews before we buy anything in life, especially if it’s something that’s actually expensive and would cost a lot of money to replace. You will need to do the exact same before you go about choosing a new roof, because you need to see what experiences people had with all theses different options available. It’s not just the material of the roofing that you need to read up about, but also the roofing services you’re hiring –– you can’t exactly install a roof on your own in most cases. You’ll find plenty of available companies around you to perform this service, but you should make sure you’re dealing with the best to avoid the whole thing requiring maintenance in a year or two.
Maintenance requirements
Speaking of maintenance, this is another angle you’ll need to consider before getting a new roof. Some materials require regular maintenance so you could ensure a long lifespan, while others require no maintenance after installation. Cost also matters in this equation; wood shingles, for example, are quite durable, but it can be pretty pricey to repair any damage done to them. So, do the math and decide on what the acceptable maintenance requirements for you are.
Durability
As we mentioned earlier, your budget will be a major factor in deciding what kind of roofing you’re getting. But you need to be careful when it comes to the cheaper kinds, because durability is something that you have to consider. Removing and installing a roof is time consuming as it is pricey, so is getting a cheap kind that you’ll have to replace after three years really worth it? That would be your choice to make, but it’s always best to opt for more durable materials.
Ease of installation
Proper installation really counts when it comes to prolonging the lifespan of a roof. But it is actually possible to find some roofing materials that you can install on your own, though it wouldn’t be recommended. Asphalt shingles are an example of a kind of roofing that you can DIY if you know your way around tools and have good skills, not to mention the proper equipment.
Choosing the roofing material for your roof isn’t a decision you will want to make rashly. There are a lot of angles to cover and questions to ask, because at the end of the day you want to get a roof that will last you for a long time. And that requires careful consideration of the options available for you..
