Thinking new roof? What's your choice?

Let’s see.  Sometime next spring I think we’ll need to replace our roof.  What do we do?  What are our options?

Standard Composition Shingles: 

·        Positives:  Clean looking, wide variety of shapes and colors, low maintenance, easy to install and able to walk on them.  High quality shingles may be asphalt or fiberglass.  Some may be available made from recycled materials.  Affordable.

·        Cons:   Can blow off in high winds.  Shorter lifespan than other materials

Wood Shakes:

·        Positives:   Natural looking, breathable, good insulation

·        Cons:     Maintenance required, susceptible to mold, rot and insect damage, more difficult to install.  More money than shingles

Roofing Tiles:

·        Positives:   Popular with southwestern, Mediterranean, Italian and Mission designs.  Long lifespan, little maintenance, available in many varieties and colors.  Insect resistant.

·        Cons:   Heavy, extra support may be needed before installing.  Some fading is possible.  May not be able to be walked on.  Installation may be difficult.  Expense

Slate:

·        Positives:   actual shingle-like slivers of rock - is another roofing material that shows up on more upscale homes.  Offers a very natural look and can be laid out in a variety of patterns.  Very long lifespan, good fire protection, low maintenance, and an invulnerably to rot and insects. Good selection of sizes and colors, although colors are limited to those found in nature.

·        Cons:   Weight, extra support is recommended.  Breakable.

Cement:

·        Positives:   Long lifespan, low maintenance, good fire protection and resistant to rot and insects. Concrete mixed with cellulose can mimic the appearance of wood shakes, while improving on the durability and fire protection that real wood affords.

·        Cons:   Concrete is more expensive than some roofing materials, and early types of concrete roofing had problems with the material curling, breaking and changing color. Technology has improved, however, and these problems have mostly been overcome.

Metal:  

·        Positives:   Standing-seam steel roofing is the most popular residential metal roofing today. (The term standing-seam describes the upturned edge of one metal panel that connects it to adjacent sections, creating distinctive vertical lines and a trendy historical look.) But metal roofs can also be made to resemble wood shakes, clay tiles, shingles, and Victorian metal tiles. Aluminum or coated steel is formed into individual shingles or tiles, or into modular panels four feet long that mimic a row of shingles or tiles.

Metal roofs are durable, fire retardant and almost maintenance-free. They are also energy efficient; metal reflects heat and blocks its transfer into the attic. Research by the Florida Solar Energy Center in 1985 showed that metal absorbed 34 percent less heat than asphalt shingles, and homeowners switching to metal roofing reported saving up to 20 percent on their energy bills.

Steel roofs offer other environmental benefits as well. They are made from between 60 percent to 65 percent recyclable material. Because they weigh very little, metal roofing can be installed over existing roofs, eliminating the need to dispose of excess material in a landfill.

·        Cons:   Installing some metal roofing can be an intricate process best done by a professional, and the initial cost of a premium metal roof is higher than most other roofing materials. You need to compute the lifecycle cost to see if paying more to begin with for a metal roof will prove to be a better investment than some other form of roofing.

I have not checked to see if grants, loans or any other programs will help defray the costs of the more energy efficient roofs.  Check your state for details