Your home’s roof does many things, from providing safety to adding elegance to your home’s architectural design.
Your roof not only protects you from the elements but protects you from animals, small critters, and mold development in your home.
However, when we use a general phrase such as “your roof protects you from the elements,” it’s important to distinguish between all of the different weather conditions that could affect a roof.
Depending on where you live, you may have to think about the suitable roofing materials that will hold up during the brutal winters and keep your home cool in the summers.
Isn’t the roofing material that my house came with already good enough?
You can’t really be sure what the decision-making process was when building the roof before owning your home.
It is possible that the materials that the builders used were not the best for Indiana’s humid continental climate in the north and humid subtropical climate in the southern portions of the state.
This means that Indiana experiences cold, wet winters and very hot summers.
What should I think about when choosing roofing materials?
When choosing a roofing material for your home, jacksoncontractingsite.com advises that you think about:
- Durability
- Energy efficiency
- Cost of installation versus lifelong savings
- What your homeowners’ association allows, if applicable
Slate
Slate is a great material for the spring and winter months. Slate is a popular roofing material because it is durable, non-combustible, and highly resistant to extreme temperature changes, such as the ones experienced throughout Indiana.
Slate roofing is also a very popular cold climate roofing option because when installed properly it slicks off snow on sloped roofs.
Not only is a slate roof practically weather-proof, but slate shingles also one of the more affordable roofing materials for homeowners to install.
Asphalt
Asphalt is a perennial favorite because it holds up well not only in the summers and winters but during the rainy spring seasons or windy fall.
Another advantage to asphalt is that when shingles are damaged, your roofer will only have to fix the ones that have been affected.
Another reason why homeowners love asphalt shingles is that they are affordable to install and can last between 20 to 30 years.
These days, you'll find plenty of color and style options so you'll be happy with how your home looks as well, without breaking the bank.
Metal Roofing
Metal roofing is a well-known material that’s great for winters when there is heavy snowfall, and you need to rely on your roof slicking it off easily while also withstanding strong blizzard winds.
You can ask your roofing contractor about using insulation with your metal roof since they are not the best material for heating efficiency.
Metal roofs can be very loud when it is raining. Insulation can dampen the noise and help you save money on your winter energy costs.
Metal roofs are also popular among homeowners because they can last for almost 50 years. That’s almost as long as you will live in your house!
So there are definitely pros and cons with metal materials. It's one to consider of course, depending on the style of your home as well.
Plan Ahead
Roofers have to work around nature, and its whims, so it is vital that you think ahead about your roofing needs.
You will want to make any emergency repairs necessary during the fall or the spring before extreme weather makes it more difficult.
It’s also a good idea to have your roof checked before going into wet, rainy seasons so that any issues that are discovered can be fixed.