Maybe, you could have seen several types of roofs on the way to work, or on the way to the supermarket: metal roofs, clay roofs, tile roofs, etc., and you may think that they are almost all of the same type, but they are not. In this opportunity we will explain specifically what are the main differences of each type of roof.
Asphalt shingles
They are those that protect structures from humidity or rain since they are resistant to all weather and easily adapt to all types of construction. They are made of fiberglass, asphalt and other minerals. Its main characteristics are:
- Require very little maintenance.
- Are much lighter than other types of tiles.
- Easy to install.
- Have a long useful life (between 10-20 years before the first maintenance).
Some disadvantages are:
- There are different brands of tiles and, therefore, different types of quality.
- Are more expensive than clay tiles.
Copper Roofs
They are a very interesting solution due to their reflective capacity and great resistance to corrosion. The material of these roofs offers elegance and fire protection to structures and is far superior in quality and durability to asphalt shingles.
The main features of these roofs are:
- Resistant to mold and salt water.
- Long-lasting (more than 50 years before the first maintenance).
- It requires little maintenance.
- It is light, reaching a quarter of the weight of other types of roofs.
Their main disadvantage is that they can be very expensive (approximately $ 5 per square foot).
Slate Roofs
It is definitely the best type of roof that can be used in a construction due to its aesthetic and structural characteristics. It is a natural sedimentary mineral, which can be extracted in an artisanal way and which can be given various uses, including serving as a covering for roofs.
It is a material that has been widely used in Eastern Europe (France, Spain, Portugal) and therefore has a long tradition as a roofing material.
Its main characteristics are:
- Long durability (more than 100 years before the first maintenance).
- Resistant to mold and mildew, making it particularly good for humid climates.
- It is an easy-to-use and sustainable material.
- It is a natural term insulator (even against heat and noise).
- It is not a combustible material.
- Offers aesthetic characteristics superior to those of other types of roof.
- It is resistant to corrosion.
Some disadvantages are:
- They are expensive.
- They require reinforcing the structure before being installed due to the great weight that they can generate in total once installed.
- They are relatively brittle if dropped or stepped on.
These disadvantages are relative, since this type of material in the hands of experts can be handled without any problem, and the price of the structure where it has been installed is revalued as time goes by.