When it’s time for a new residential roof, either for a new house you’re building or the replacement on an older home, the choices can potentially be nerve wracking as you try to balance price and value with the knowledge this will likely be the roof you’re going to live under for 40 years, or perhaps you’ll need it to be a selling point if you plan to move in the near future. If you’re like most homeowners, the function and longevity of the roof is of prime concern, but you also want it to look great regardless of of time and weather or how much effort you intend to spend with ongoing maintenance.
Advantages of Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are to some degree the paradigm standard for American housing and residential roof options. They’re durable and perform their structural function well, which are the main concerns for a roof. Depending on your location, maintaining sealants around chimneys and exhaust vents is a fairly simple task that only needs to be done every 8-10 years. Should a storm cause damage, your roofing contractor can come replace the damaged shingles for a reasonable price. When comparing price to practical usage, along with cosmetic appeal, asphalt shingles are the best value of your roofing options.
The Beauty of Cedar Shingles
Cedar shingles add an unmatched beauty to your residential roof with the distinguished touch of class appreciated by people with high expectations for the appeal of their home to guests or potential buyers. One strong advantage is they don’t have an “expected lifetime,” rather, they will last forever with proper maintenance. Every few years, you need to re-seal your cedar shingles. Inspect the shingles for storm damage. If you find any, replace them immediately. The good news is that such processes aren’t very expensive in the scheme of home ownership and the roof will pay for itself over time when you consider the price of the roof and the amount of use you get out of it.
Matching Your Building
Ultimately, you have to look at the style and value of your house and consider which roof will best suit it. There are many advantages and disadvantages to residential roof options available. If every aspect of the home is custom built with grace and elegance, you may not want to install a standard issue roof. If you’re flipping a fairly inexpensive house as a business investment, it doesn’t make much sense to pay for an extraordinary roof which matches neither the house or the neighborhood. Match the roof to the house and you’ll be happy with the end result.