Home Improvement – Asphalt Shingle Alternatives.

Home improvements are often at the forefront of homeowners’ minds. Trying to balance the best home improvements to increase the comfort and enjoyment levels of your home while also increasing the home value makes for difficult decisions.

Some home improvements are easy targets, like installing a pool, maintaining good exterior paint, or updating a kitchen, but when it comes to the roof, many homeowners don’t consider the many options that could add to home value and curb appeal.

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles have long been the standard choice for roof coverings. In recent years, homeowners have moved away from the three-tab shingles in favor of laminated or also called architectural shingles and in some cases have upgraded to impact-resistant shingles or even decorative shingles. However, there are many great alternatives to asphalt shingles that add both value and curb appeal to your home.

Alternatives to Asphalt Shingles

There are many obvious roof alternatives to asphalt shingles like slate, tile, and standing seam metal roofs. Here we will discuss a few asphalt shingle alternatives that some homeowners might not know about like synthetic slate, solar roofing, membrane roofs, and green roofs.

Synthetic Slate Roofs

Synthetic slate roofs are becoming increasingly popular as homeowners search for more affordable options to natural stone slate roofs. These manufactured slate roofs are often made up of recycled rubber or plastic. While some consider them to be eco-friendly roofs because they can be recycled, some manufactures do not use any recycled materials to produce their products so be aware if eco-friendly options are important to you.

Since the roofs are rubber-plastic material they do hold up well to large hailstones and bad weather events. Most synthetic slate roofs are Class IV rated roofs, meaning that they can withstand large hail impacts and should qualify your home for an insurance discount. Additionally, many are also Class A fire-rated but this varies by manufacture and model.

Synthetic slate roofs are resistant to foot traffic and have been said to have a lifespan of 50 to 100 years. However, there are no real-world examples of the longevity of these roof systems yet.

Solar Roofing

Solar roofing is another newer roof system designed to incorporate solar panels directly into the roof system. Solar roofs like Tesla’s solar roofing are sleek designs that contrast greatly when compared to the normal solar panel on top of the roof. These systems are designed to provide solar power and a roof covering all-in-one.

There are several manufactures of solar roofing and more by the day it seems. Be sure to really do your research if this roofing system is of any interest to you. You should consider the kilowatt output of the solar roof per square foot, the durability of the solar panels, and the cost of the entire system with the storage batteries.

While solar roofing systems are becoming more available, because of how new these systems are, many have not had the test of time.

Membrane Roofs

Membrane roofs are most commonly used on commercial buildings because they provide a waterproof barrier for low-sloped roofs, commonly referred to as flat roofs, they are durable, and are easy to repair. Although membrane roofs are not suitable for the average house with a steep-slope roof, they are worth considering if your home has a low-sloped roof or any portion of the roof is flat.

TPO membranes are one of the most common waterproof roof membranes to consider. TPO has an average lifespan of around 20 years. This roof system is low-cost to maintain and when it gets close to the end of that lifespan it is a perfect candidate for a roof coating which can provide another 20 years of life for a fraction of the cost over replacing it with a new TPO roof.

Green Roofs

Green roofs are nothing new in many parts of the world but they are very uncommon in America. These roofs are literally green, They are built to support plant life on top of the roof. These roofs insulate incredibly well and are the most eco-friendly roofing option.

A green incorporated a waterproof membrane, like TPO mentioned above, as the base with a proper drainage system. The membrane is covered with a growing medium like soil and is covered with plant life. A variety of plants will work but moss is a very common choice because of its effective water usage and lightweight.

Green roofs are not as easily maintained nor are they as cost-effective as most other roof systems. Green roofs simply make a statement about the environment that no other roof can boast. Green roofs are both unique and beautiful if well maintained.

Your Home Improvement Project

When you are ready to tackle your home improvement project, seek the help of the professionals like Baker Roofing & Construction. We have been assisting homeowners with making the best choices for their home improvement since 2003. We are more than just a roofing company. We provide a wide variety of construction services in addition to our superior roofing, like window replacement, remodels, additions, restorations and so much more. Give us a call at 855-766-3777 to learn more about how we can help make your dream a reality.