15 Types Of Roofing Materials To Consider Before Building Your Home

If you're considering choosing a slate roof for your home building project without considering the other possible options, think again. We agree: A slate roof is the most popular material option. However, before setting out to build your home, it is essential to look up other options to see what fits best into your home modeling fantasies, glam and appearance, your budget, and even expected longevity. Because a roof will last for decades, you'll want to be sure you choose the correct roofing system for your home.

There are more possibilities in the marketplace than ever before, making it difficult to choose one. Asphalt shingles, wood shakes, clay tiles, steel panels, and rubber slate are among the most popular options. We have you if you will heed our advice and assess other alternatives. Considering The Spruce's yardstick for choosing roofing materials like appearance, longevity, and structural issues, we have curated a list of 15 roofing materials you should intently look up before building your home. We will also mention their independent features and pricing per square foot. Come along!

The thing with the rolled roof is that it does not exactly work for your entire roofing system. This mineral product that comes in 100 square feet segments is ideal for outdoor roofing only or structures that are mainly unoccupied, such as sheds, garages, and other outbuildings, Nombach writes. The Spruce notes that this roofing system goes for $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot and will not need replacement — except when accidents happen — for 10 whole years!

BUR, also called Tar and Gravel roofing, is ideal for you if you are looking for heavy-duty roofing. According to Stay Dry Roofing, this approach consists of a material known as bitumen, which is applied in about four to five layers before a row of crushed gravel is placed on it. If you consider going for this roofing, Homewyse writes that the price can vary from $6.12 to $7.61 per square foot.

If you are in the market for economical, easy-to-find, yet highly durable roofings, then the asphalt composite shingles are your best option. According to Bob Vila, this roofing is available in two types. The first option is the fiberglass shingles, which are made of less asphalt and have a lighter weight. The second option and the traditional one is organic-mat-based shingles, which are much heavier because they contain more asphalt. Now, depending on the material type, Home Advisor says that they cost anything between $1 to $16 per square foot.

Standing seam metal is an excellent metal roofing choice. While it derives its name from the fact that the seams are raised, this system can be painted in multiple colors and is also very modern. You can even get tailored designs, just like you might prefer. In terms of pricing, LawnStarter mentions that this roofing material can be relatively expensive, costing an average of $29,000 for just a single installation. The pricing may be worth it, though, as Bill Ragan Roofing says it could last up to 50 years.

Metal shingles or shakes are good options to look into because they come with a plethora of benefits. As Classic Metal Roofing System writes, they are eco-friendly, fire-resistant, and an excellent way to save energy. In addition, Remodeling Costs notes the price of this roofing material can be anything between $4 to $6.50 per square foot. Our last selling point will be Forbes' review of this material as the ideal roofing solution — if this looks like something you want on your house.

Technology keeps amazing us day after day, and it doesn't look like it'll stop anytime soon. As a replacement for solar panels and an addition to the long list of roofing materials, solar shingles have become a holistic product. According to Semprius, they do not only generate electricity but also protect against harsh weather like storms and remain fireproof. Modernize notes this roofing option could cost anything from $60,000 to $75,000, depending on your house's size and the roof's slope and pitch.

The stone-coated steel roof has all the beauty with its shiny appeal. As per Roofing Calculator, it is a blend of industrial steel with shakes and shingles, and its main aim is to provide durability for up to 50 years. Costing around $5.40 to $10.37 per square foot, this is a good deal for most people looking to replace their roofs. Despite its long life span and almost non-existent need for maintenance, Hendrick Construction writes that some people avoid it because it can become noisy when raining, but a solid sheathed roof deck beneath deadens the sound.

Synthetic rubber slate or synthetic slate shingles are replicas of the standard slate without replicating the material purchase cost. Roofers Guild writes that these new products are recyclable, do not crack, and are designed to last. Additionally, synthetic slates are affordable, with Rise noting that they cost anything between $9 to $12 per square foot. For this quality, this is a terrific deal.

Native to old Greek and Roman architecture, clay tiles are the perfect choice to give your home an elegant and comely ancient look. But, according to Hunker, a clay tile weighs three times more than regular asphalt composite shingles, and it needs solid plywood. Modernize also writes that the clay tile roof would cost anything between $25,000 and $50,000 for its installation, depending on your roof's square feet. Still, clay tiles can last up to 50 years with proper maintenance.

Efforts are being put towards sustaining our planet in all sectors, and the roofing industry is no exception. According to the NPS, an eco-friendly green roofing system is a layer of vegetation planted on top of a flat roof and sometimes on slightly sloped roofs. This green option is typically the expanse of mother nature on your roof, basically consisting of different material layers typically not found in roofing systems, such as vegetation, drainage, waterproof elements, and more. The cost of an eco-friendly roof can be between $10 and $25 per square foot, Ecogardens notes.

Invented at a time when people used whatever it was they could find for building their home, wooden shingles or slates can be an excellent option for you as well. According to Hunker, this roofing material can last 30 years or more with proper care, is appealing, and offers roof insulation and dimensional stability; the only downside is that wood is an extremely flammable material. Hunker also mentions that cedarwood shingles or slates would cost about $130 for every 100 square feet.

Natural slate roof tiles are the first option when it comes to longevity. Lifestiles writes that this roofing material can last up to 150 full years without exaggerating. The best part is that they require very little maintenance, so consider natural slates before you go ahead with any other roofing option. When buying, though, you need to ensure you get slates with less than 20% calcium content and a 25-degrees pitch. Anything higher than these numbers means there may be a compromise in their quality.

When it comes to membrane tile roofing, you have three basic options. Bill Ragan Roofing writes that the EPDM roofing should be used only for non-living spaces because of its characteristics for absorbing a lot of heat. The second option, TPO, reflects rather than absorbs heat and can be an excellent choice for living spaces. And the third alternative, PVC membrane roofing, is excellent for flat or low-slope living spaces over a bedroom or a living area. Membrane tiles can cost $6 to $9 per square foot for smaller sheets and $5 per square foot for larger ones.

Concrete tiles are made of sand, cement, iron oxide, and water and are one of the best roofing materials to use if versatility is your thing, Roofing Calculator explains. In addition, this material gives you many options at the lowest price possible, with each square foot costing only $6 to $12. Concrete tiles are also durable, have a long life expectancy of over 50 years, and are sustainable. Still, you need to allow a professional to install this roofing material to ensure you don't allow room for errors.

Finally, you should also consider the most used form of roofing material: the synthetic slate roof tile. The most prominent advantage of this material is its longevity, which can span a century. Synthetic slates are also mold- and mildew-resistant, can boost a home's value in time, are sustainable, and require minimal maintenance. Furthermore, Use Natural Stone adds that this roofing material is 100% stone with no additives, chemicals, or petroleum. As per New Home Source, this option could cost anything from $900 to $1700 per 100 square feet, so before you dive in, consider your budget.