Advanced solar collectors integrate seamlessly into existing roof tiles and generate up to 1 kilowatt of energy per 100 square feet. Made mainly of aluminum or steel, metal roofs have been proven to be the most durable and sturdy option available. Titanium, zinc and copper are also used for specialized architectural applications in homes. While metal roofs are more expensive than most other roofing materials, they are also believed to be the most reliable.
Rolled roofing material is the pillar of low-slope residential roofs, as well as of outbuildings, such as shops and sheds and other utility structures. The rolled roof consists of long rolls of mineral-impregnated and asphalt-impregnated material topped with mineral granules. Each roll has approximately 100 square feet of roof and approximately 3 feet wide. These large-format strips of thin roofing material offer a quick, convenient and economical way to cover a building with a sloped roof, such as a workshop where appearances are not important.
Recessed ceilings (BUR) are one of the oldest material options for flat roofs or roofs with a very low slope. BUR systems are constructed of several layers of asphalt impregnated roofing felt that is applied hot. The felt is applied in overlapping layers to form a barrier of two to four layers thick, then a layer of finely crushed stone in hot tar is embedded on top to create a very durable and impenetrable roof. Asphalt composite shingles are the most popular roofing material in North America.
Made from a fiberglass base covered with asphalt and mineral granules, these three-tab tiles are a good choice in every way for most home roofing needs. They usually come with a 20- to 30-year warranty, and replacing individual shingles that are damaged is a fairly easy job. Practically every roofing company is familiar with installing these simple tiles. Composite shingles are excellent for flexing and adapting to roof movements due to expansion and contraction.
Roofing materials vary depending on roof shape, location and climate, and whether the use is residential or commercial. Asphalt shingles are popular for residential use, as they are quite inexpensive and have a good lifespan. In commercial construction, where flat roofs are more common, metal, EPDM and recessed roofs are widely used. Nowadays there is a wide variety of roof covers available, each with its own advantages depending on the use. The most common roofing materials include asphalt, wood, metal, clay, cement and slate, glass and plastic, and plastic liquid coatings.
Asphalt tiles are die-cut from thick sheets of asphalt-impregnated felt coated with mineral granules that act as a wear layer and decorative finish. The most common type of asphalt shingle used predominantly in residential roof construction in the United States is 12 inches by 36 inches (305 mm by 914 mm) in size. Usually, asphalt shingles are grooved twice along their width to make them look like three smaller tiles. This gives the ceiling a finer visual scale when finished. Another type of asphalt roof known as rolled asphalt roof is manufactured in rolls that are 36 inches wide allowing it to be used on roofs with a slight or steep slope. Similar in composition to asphalt tiles they are also installed by lapping and nailing.
Wooden shingles are made of wood species resistant to decay such as red cedar cypress redwood etc. They are available in a variety of qualities and are machine-cut or divided by hand called mixers. Wooden tiles are applied to both ceilings and walls on solid or spaced coatings and are fastened with aluminum or galvanized nails. Shingles have a conical thickness and the thickness of the cylinder head (the thick end) is expressed as the number of tiles needed to produce a total thickness. A weather barrier and coating layer are usually used underneath wooden tiles or slats for added protection against the elements. In regions where snow is common a solid coating and an additional weather barrier are used.
Fire can be a problem with wooden shingles however they are often pressure-treated with flame retardant chemicals to prevent combustion. An alternative method of application is to spray brush or scrub with flame retardant chemicals after installation. When cost is considered roofs shaken with wooden tiles can be relatively expensive. Metal roofs are very durable and can last for many years. In addition they are lightweight and easy to handle quicker to install and require fewer construction components. They are available in a wide range of colors and earth designs and can be glazed. Clay tiles are made from the same clays as bricks since they are formed from natural materials their color uniformity depends on the uniformity of the raw clay. Cement roofing shingles are made from Portland cement and fine aggregates they tend to be less expensive than clay tiles and also come in a variety of colors and shapes that resemble clay tiles. Concrete tiles are formed by pressing them into pressure molds synthetic oxide compounds color its surface sometimes cement tiles are painted which tend to fade over time cement tiles tend to be more porous than clay naturally making them less strong and durable however cement tiles are usually sealed to compensate for this they usually need to be resealed over time. Slate roofs are extremely durable sometimes lasting up to 75 or 100 years its initial cost can be quite expensive however this is offset by its long lifespan shingles or slate tiles are extracted from natural rock and divided into thin rectangular slabs sizes range from about a quarter inch to half an inch thick an average dimension of approximately 12 inches by 16 inches when installing slate tiles it is important to also use support materials and accessories that are comparable in terms of lifespan. Commonly used nail fasteners include large-headed hard copper wire nails copper cut nails cut brass or cut yellow metal slate nails sheet metal.
