The roof of your house is one of the most important parts; aesthetically, functionally and as far as your house’s worth on the market goes as well. Putting a little time and thought into what type of material you want on your roof will definitely pay off not only in the long run, but immediately in how much you’ll be able to enjoy your home.

Here are a couple of roofing materials that are popular choices for roofing which you might want to consider using when getting your roof done:

·        Rolled Roofing. This is a material often used for low-slope residential roofs and sheds, shops, as well as other out-buildings. It’s one of the less expensive materials; generally under $2.50 per square foot.

·        Built-Up Roofing. This is one of the oldest materials used for roofing, and is used specifically for flat roofs. It generally costs under $5 per square foot. Using layers of roofing felt and asphalt, it forms four thick layers topped off with crushed stone and hot tar leaving you with a tough and durable roof.

·        Membrane Roofing. If you’ve got a very low-pitch roof or a flat roof then membrane roofing is a great option. You can use Neoprene, PVC, Polymer-modified bitumens and EPDM for mebrane roofs. You can count on it costing under $4 per square foot and it will generally last up to 35 years before it needs replacement.

·        Asphalt Composite Shingles. These shingles are the most popular roofing material across North America. Almost every contractor will give you a 20-30 year guarantee with these shingles and, depending on the quality, they can last you from anywhere between 12-30 years. The will cost you from $1.50-$3.50 per square foot.

·        Standing Seam Metal Roofing. When it comes to metal roofing, the standing seam is the most common. It’s got steel or aluminum panels that join into seams that are raised up to keep out moisture, hence the name “standing seam.” This one’s a little more costly, running from $6-$12 per square foot, but you can count on this type of roofing to last you up to 75 years without needing to be replaced.

These are just a few of the most common roofing materials you can choose from, but there a whole lot more!