Wood Shingle or Shakes

When you want a roof that is going to look good, wood shingles or shakes will!  The problem is that they don’t have a very long-lasting life and if you live in a place where there is a lot of rain or snow or even wildfires, this might not be the right choice for you.

The wood shingles and shakes are a very popular choice for those that have luxury homes, and they are considered one of the most attractive materials for roofs. Here are some reasons to choose the wood shingle or shakes roofing materials:

•         They’re made from natural wood, like cedar or redwood.
•         Often seen on Cape Cod-style homes.
•         The shingles are a wedge-shaped, thin, piece of wood that comes from sawing.
•         The shakes are made into thicker wedges that are split wood and have a rough texture.
•         Wood shingles are between $4.50 and $9.00 per square foot, installed.
•         Wood shakes can cost between $6.50 and $14.00 per square foot.
•         Can last 20-60 years, depending on the conditions of the climate. If the wood is used in damp areas, it will not last as long as if it is used in areas that are dry.

Clay Tile

One type of roofing material is clay tiles. This is clay that is taken from the earth and

rolled, molded or made into shapes that interlock. It is then fired so that it can be hard. The color of these is normally a red or orange color and is often left unglazed to have the natural look. This kind of tile can be glazed and fired if looking for a ceramic look. Here are some reasons to choose clay tiles:

•         They are made of great material if you live in hot climates.
•         Work great in areas where there is salt in the air.
•         It’s often seen in the desert regions or in southern coastal regions.
•         This is an expensive kind of roofing and can run from $10 to $30 dollars per square foot.
•         It is uncommon to pay $30 dollars per square foot, installed and usually runs at the high end of $18.00 per square foot, installed.
•         It’s a strong material that can last for up to 100 years.

Concrete Tile

If you want a material that is strong like the clay tile, picking concrete tiles might be perfect

for you. The difference is that you can get the concrete tiles any color or hue that you want. These can look like a variety of things such as rolled clay tiles or even look like wood shakes. You can even choose to get a decorative coating on your concrete tiles. Here are some other reasons to choose concrete tiles:

•         They work great in areas that have high winds.
•         It is made of sand-mix concrete, so it is very strong.
•         Can be made into different kinds of profiles.
•         Are less expensive than clay tiles running about $10.00 to $15.00 per square foot, installed.
•         It’s a heavy-duty material that can last up to 50 years or more!

Slate Shingles

One of the nicest looking roofing materials is the slate shingles. This is one of the

choices of homeowners that want their roofing to look its best. Slate roofing has been around for hundreds of years and is still one of the most chosen materials around. Slate roofing is made of real stone sheets that are thin. Here are some reasons to choose slate shingles:

•       They are easy to carry because they come in thin sheets.
•       They can cost between $9.00 and $12.00 per square foot, installed.
•       It can last even up to 200 years.

One problem with choosing slate roofing is that some contractors will not install this kind of roofing because it takes someone that is specialized in installing this kind of material. Always ask before you make your choice or materials.