Roof Types

There are a variety of choices for your home’s roof. Let’s go over basic roof types and the materials of the coverings.

Residential roofs usually fall into one of two categories:

  1. Low-slope roofs
  2. Steep-slope roofs

Slope

Slope (or pitch) refers to the measurement of how high the roof rises vertically every 12 in of horizontal length. Even roofs that appear to be flat (low-slope roofs) have slope.

Low-Slope Roofs

With a slope of 2/12 or less, low-slope roofs are often referred to as “flat roofs.” Often used in commercial builds, these roofs also offer several advantages to homeowners, including:

  • More affordable installation, because it requires less materials and labor.
  • A firm surface that can handle heavy equipment or foot traffic. For example, homeowners will often use their low-slope roofs to place their heavy HVAC units. Or they can even use it as a deck for outdoor entertaining or sunbathing.
  • The preferred covering used on low-sloped roofs is modified bitumen which is thought of as the evolutionary cousin of the built-up roofing systems (BUR) that have been used on low-slope roofs for more than 100 years, and provides homeowners with increased waterproofing compared to BUR.

Steep-Slope Roofs

A roof with a slope greater than 4/12, is considered steep-slope. Besides being one of the most popular roof types, a steep-slope roof has several advantages, including:

  • A steep-slope roof usually has an attic space below that creates a buffer from outdoor temperatures, making it easier and more energy efficient to regulate the temperature within your home.
  • It’s low maintenance because debris tends to fall off of them and rain easily drains from them.
  • The roof coverings are more varied for steep-slope roofs. Covering choices include: asphalt shingles (the most popular and cost-effective), tile (clay and concrete), and metal.

Not sure which type of roof your home has?

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Roof Covering Types and Materials

We already shared the industry standard top choice for low-slope roof covering (i.e., modified bitumen), but the choices for steep-slope roof coverings are much more varied. Let’s go over steep-slope roof covering types and materials.
shingles roof

Shingle

This type of shingle is also known as laminated shingles, and because they are thicker, they tend to last longer than asphalt shingles.

An asphalt shingle is a type of roof covering that uses asphalt as the primary waterproofing material. It is the most commonly used material to cover roofs in the United States.

Some advantages of installing asphalt shingles are:

  • They cost less than other coverings. You save on the shingles, and since the shingles are lighter than tiles, you need less material and labor to make the underlying structure.
  • Repairs are easier and less expensive than other coverings.
  • They come in a variety of colors and textures that can look more like slate.
  • Depending on the climate, thickness of the shingle, quality of manufacturing, proper installation, and adequate ventilation of underlying structures, an asphalt shingle roof covering can last anywhere from 10 to 50 years.

Tile

Many homeowners prefer tile due to its beautiful European look. There are two types of tile, and each of them have their own set of advantages and disadvantages.

Beautiful, durable, and long-lasting. Concrete tiles often looks like clay and vice versa. Here are some advantages of using concrete tiles as your roof covering:

  • They have been tested and found to withstand sustained winds of up to 180 mph.
  • Are Class A fire tested.
  • Concrete tile usually lasts the life of the underlying structure.
  • Since concrete tile is lighter than clay tile, the underlying structure requires less fortification, which saves you money on materials and labor.

These tiles have the same benefits as concrete tiles, with a few additional benefits and downsides:

  • The resale value of homes with clay tile is usually higher than those with other roof coverings.
  • Clay is a material that is more difficult to find than concrete, so if building materials become scarce, concrete may be easier to find.
  • Although clay tiles come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, the amount of movement and textures is more limited compared to concrete tiles.
  • Clay tile is more energy efficient than concrete at the beginning, but, with time, clay can change to a darker color, potentially decreasing its energy efficiency.
  • Clay tiles are heavier than concrete tiles, so that means the structure underneath needs more fortification and will cost more in labor and materials.
tile roof
metal roof

Metal

This type of roofing is not your typical residential roof covering, but it might work well for your home. Here are some benefits of metal roof coverings:

  • Metal roofs can last 50 years or longer—typically as long as the house itself. This means that once you buy a metal roof, you will likely never have to worry about your roof ever again.
  • It is one of the lightest roof coverings, which means you save on the design and building of the roofing structure.
  • Reflects heat from the sun. This can be great for those hot Florida summers and save you money because you use less energy to cool your home.
  • Typically, metal roof coverings have a Class A fire rating because metal is noncombustible.
  • Since metal is a non-porous material, the rain just slides right off.
  • Withstands sustained winds up to 140 mph, and were found to be the most hurricane-resistant roof covering when properly installed.
  • Is more environmentally-friendly to produce versus asphalt shingles that use fossil fuels and petroleum in their production.
  • Experienced roofers, like us at JA Elite Roofing, can install metal roofing quickly.

Want help deciding which type of roof covering best fits your home and budget?

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