New Home Builders Raleigh, NC
Types of Roofing - Shingles, Shakes, Metal and More
How to Keep Costs Down and Appearances Up for Your New Home
Considering buying or building a new home? The types of materials used in building your new home can make a major difference in appeal, versatility, maintanence, and cost. Here are some of the basics:
Asphalt Shingles - Types of Roofing in New Homes
Asphalt shingles are the most common kind of roofing used today. This roofing material is durable and affordable. Asphalt shingles come in different thicknesses, and have different "year" rankings. Most common are 20 year, 30 year, 40 year, or 50 year shingles.
Many builders use 20 year shingles, but others do not see the initial cost savings or green impact as a worthwhile prospect, and install 30 year shingles.
The initial savings on materials is very low, compared to the cost of replacing all the roofing, materials and labor, 33% sooner. Not only that, the longer-lasting shingles are a greener choice, because there is less waste produced over time.
Least common is 50 year shingles, which tend to cost three to four times as much as a typical 20 year shingle.
There are two basic types of asphalt shingles - three tab and architectural or dimensional. A dimensional shingle has a lot of color variation, and looks more like a hand-applied individual shingle than a strip shingle.
Cedar Shakes - Types of Roofing in New Homes
Cedar shakes are visually appealing, long lasting, and low maintenance, but also pricey, depending on location. They are also prohibited in some areas due to fire hazard.
Green builders should purchase only Certified cedar shingles, as noted by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Cedar roofs can cost two to three times the cost of a 50 year asphalt roof.
Clay Tile Shingles - Types of Roofing in New Homes
Clay tile shingles were common at one point in warmer climates like Florida and California.
A clay tile roof can be overlapping or interlocking, and has a lot of fireproof and durability qualities. They don't absorb the sun's heat as much as other types of roofing. However, a tile roof is not as suitable for a climate in the frost zone - they are prone to breaking, and water damage can also occur. Clay tile has also become more expensive.
Concrete Roofing Tiles - Types of Roofing in New Homes
Concrete is very flexible, that is, before it dries! A concrete roofing tile can be shaped to look like late, wood, or clay. They last a long time and are good at reducing heat build up. They do require specialized application, and are more expensive than shingles, but can be another option for a different look.
Slate Roof Tiles - Types of Roofing in New Homes
Slate is a natural stone product, which must be mined and shaped into shingles. They are often seen in black, gray, red, purple, and green colors. Slate has a lifespan of 100 or more years with proper application - however, cost for a slate roof can be 10 to 12 times that of a 20 year asphalt roof.
Metal Roofs - Types of Roofing in New Homes
Standing seam metal roofs are most commonly seen as accents for porches or overhangs in a home that is otherwise traditionally roofed with asphalt shingles.
Metal roofing is more expensive than asphalt, and because it is not as commonly used, labor costs can be higher as well.
However, metal roofs are low maintenance, durable, and highly resistant to fire. Metal roofs can be a great green building option - most metal roofs have at least some recycled material, and aluminum roofs can be 100% recycled.
You may also be interested in:
Wake County NC Property Tax Rates 2011
Wake County New Home Communities
Finding Your New Home in the Raleigh Area
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Articles copyright Stanton Homes 2006-2011. Unauthorized use is not permitted. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any statements. Please note: all listing information per MLS, and current as of posting date. Information subject to change. Stanton Homes does not make claims to ownership of any lot listings, but can work with homebuyers to purchase available lots and build. Home plans to be approved on an individual basis, subject to neighborhood restrictive covenants and lot restrictions. Ask for further information regarding any community, lot or floor plan. Photos represent typical homes and details of each neighborhood, to help highlight different options available in the Raleigh/Triangle area. No claim of ownership is made to homes or land pictured.
Great Information from a builder. Thanks!
Good info. Of course, a 20 year shingle normally lasts about 15, and a thirty about 20+. A lot depends upon climate as well.
I love the Homes For Heroes Program ! Thanks for doing your part to recognize the Men & Women who protect our rights ! In our market 25 year strips are most common on Entry Level or Smaller Vacation Homes , 30 Year on Move UP & Larger Vacation Homes , 50 Year on Higher End Custom Homes . Keepin' it Green !
Penny this is really excellent work of describing the advantages of certain types of shingles! BTW - I love the 1st picture...that is a gorgeous home with the blend of stucco and stone.
Very nice post and great information. Thanks for your time and a well done blog . I am re reading this to try and remember the great points
Penny, this is a great analysis and review. We replaced our roof and went with a concrete tile roof. What I learned is that we had to have our roof shored up because of the additional weight. The result is great I just did not think at the time about weight.
In my opinion all of the above roof types are good choices with the exception of wood cedar shakes. I have seen wood cedar shakes fail as soon as 15 years. Do not even consider wood shakes if your roof is shaded. This will promote moss and algae growth in addition to rot which will reduce the overall life expectancy of the roof.
Shakes are also a fire hazard and often banned in some parts in new construction. I personally like the thatched roof. I stayed in a hotel in Cancun that had palm fronds for a roof and it did not leak once. Talk about green!
Thanks Penny! Great post! My grandmother built her home in Chevy Chase, Washington DC in 1908. She installed a metal roof. It is still there... She installed wood siding. It is still there... She installed a wood porch. It has been replaced only once! Things can be built to last! And good for you for suggesting we should!
I re-blogged it. Thank you for this informative post! I somehow managed to be in the dark about roofing.
I know a lot of people have questions about this and I always find it best for the builder's spec to clearly describe the roofing materials to be used. As you note, there are a lot of choices and differences. I really don't like metal roofs in NH because the snow/ice sliding off can be very hazardous.
Wonderful primer for roofing. Very comprehensive and helpful for consumers and agents.
Thanks for the great information, Penny. I'm in the process of getting bids for a new roof, and your posting helped me better understand the different single options. Thank you.
Penny, it is amazing what is being done with asphalt roofing. They have so many different looks now, that even resemble shake and tile. Very impressive.
Brent - there's so much variation between homes, glad this helps!
Thom - yes, climate can have a lot to do with it, as does quality of roofing.
Ed - We're very happy to offer the "Stanton Homes for Heroes" program as a way to support our local troops and veterans. Your breakdown sounds pretty accurate for many markets.
Bill & Charlie - glad to help.
Kelly - yes, the weight of a concrete or slate roof will most often require some reengineering for the roof structure, something to keep in mind!
Glen - the feasibility of cedar shakes certainly depends at least partially on the climate and conditions. The extra expense and the limited lifespan have made concrete tiles that LOOK like wood shakes a popular option.
In my market, there is no use putting anything longer than a 20 year shingle on a house as the hail storms won't allow them to last even 20 years, so why pay more... also, no wood shingles allowed, but a handful of people have started to put the fake wood shakes on their roofs for the wood look, but not the actual wood.
Penny, congrats on the star!!! Great article!!!
Brian - Yes, I mentioned that shakes are prohibited in some areas. This is a kind of roofing we do see very, very few requests for.
Jay - There you go, proof that well-made (and well-maintained) products withstand the test of time!
Mirela - thanks for the reblog!
Joan - I think you'd be impressed with our spec package. One page just doesn't give enough detail for all the different materials that go into a home, and there are too many substitutions or unexpected items that can be slipped in.
Lenn & Jason - glad to help.
Gena - there are new options every day! Helps to stay on top of at least the bigger trends...
Thank you so much for the run down on all the different roof types. I mainly deal with Composition, although I've seen a few with Slate roofs and they are GORGEOUS! And pricey too $$. Great info to share!
Dear Penny,
Thanks for sharing the information! I have bookmarked it.
Excellent post!
Barbara
I just love what there is to learn on AR. I knew there were various types of shingles but I have never read anything so helpful and yet so brief. This was a real help to me and I also am going to bookmark this page for future reference. I have never even heard of concrete shinges until several years ago when my sister got them. They look like slate and really suit her house.
WOW!! Thank you for such fantastic information. I'm reblogging!
Penny - this is great information about roofs. I love metal roofs. I have been told they cost 1 1/2 times the price of asphalt singles.
Penny lots of excellent roofing information on this post, that for sharing. I am seeing a lot of metal roofs on the green homes in my market area.
Glad to help.
Pricing on different types of roofing does vary per area, depending on how high the demand is, how skilled the local subcontractors are, how many different subcontractors are experienced (competition), and how easily the materials can be accessed (are they local, or are you shipping heavy and bulky materials across country?).
Glad to help.
Pricing on different types of roofing does vary per area, depending on how high the demand is, how skilled the local subcontractors are, how many different subcontractors are experienced (competition), and how easily the materials can be accessed (are they local, or are you shipping heavy and bulky materials across country?). Check with yoru
Glad to help.
Pricing on different types of roofing does vary per area, depending on how high the demand is, how skilled the local subcontractors are, how many different subcontractors are experienced (competition), and how easily the materials can be accessed (are they local, or are you shipping heavy and bulky materials across country?). Check with your
Glad to help.
Pricing on different types of roofing does vary per area, depending on how high the demand is, how skilled the local subcontractors are, how many different subcontractors are experienced (competition), and how easily the materials can be accessed (are they local, or are you shipping heavy and bulky materials across country?). Check with your local
Glad to help.
Pricing on different types of roofing does vary per area, depending on how high the demand is, how skilled the local subcontractors are, how many different subcontractors are experienced (competition), and how easily the materials can be accessed (are they local, or are you shipping heavy and bulky materials across country?). Check with your local contractors
Glad to help.
Pricing on different types of roofing does vary per area, depending on how high the demand is, how skilled the local subcontractors are, how many different subcontractors are experienced (competition), and how easily the materials can be accessed (are they local, or are you shipping heavy and bulky materials across country?). Check with your local contractors for final pricing
Glad to help.
Pricing on different types of roofing does vary per area, depending on how high the demand is, how skilled the local subcontractors are, how many different subcontractors are experienced (competition), and how easily the materials can be accessed (are they local, or are you shipping heavy and bulky materials across country?). Check with your local contractors for final pricing - and be sure to get a couple of
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Betty
http://mortgagecalculato-r.com
Betty - glad to be of help! Just let me know if you have any specific questions.