If you need to choose a roofing material for your home, it can be as daunting as it is exciting. Your roof can add a lot of character to your home, and choosing a new roof that gives your home a pleasing look is important to many homeowners.

But there's much more to choosing your roofing material than just color, design, and budget. From your local climate to how eco-friendly you want your roof to be, there's lots to consider.

Let's take a look at some roofing options, and their pros and cons:

Slate

Slate tiles are an excellent choice in many situations because they're both hard-wearing and almost always look great.

As a natural, metamorphic rock, slate is both eco-friendly and long-lasting. Slate tiles can last for decades with proper care and maintenance, making them an excellent long-term investment in your home. Because it's non-porous and doesn't absorb water, it has the advantage of resisting damage from frost and extreme temperatures.

As a natural material and with a manufacturing process that creates minimal C02 emissions, it's also an eco-friendly environmentally friendly option.

However, slate roofs are not suitable for every home and are usually not installed on a roof with a pitch less than 4:12.

Asphalt Shingles

Shingles can be made from several materials, but without a doubt, asphalt is the most common in the U.S. In fact, around 80% of homes have roofs made from asphalt shingles.

They're available in many different colors and design options. They also tend to be lower cost than options like slate, so they are a versatile roofing material and suitable for many homes and budgets.  They also offer good fire resistance.

Like all other roofing materials, there are some downsides to asphalt shingles. They can be reasonably susceptible to damage from impact like hailstones and can also be easily damaged by moss growing on the roof. Because of this, they can require a little more maintenance than some other roofing options. They're also not as long-lasting as other options, often needing replacing around every 20 years or so, even with regular maintenance.

Rubber

Rubber roofing is more common for commercial roofs, and it's also best suited to flat or low-slope roofs.

While it's not as commonly considered for residential roofs as asphalt shingles and slate, rubber is a long-lasting, very durable and low-cost option if your roof is suitable. It's also a great eco-friendly option because it tends to be made mostly from recycled materials and uses comparatively little energy to produce. 

Rubber roofs have fewer seams than some other options, so they are less prone to leaking. Even better, they tend to require very little maintenance.

Whatever your roofing requirements, the best people to determine the right roofing material for your home are expert roofers. Your friendly local roofing company can take a look at your home and discuss your requirements. Using their specialist knowledge of roofing materials and the local area weather conditions etc., they can help you choose the very best roofing material for your home and budget.

Ready for a new roof in Philadelphia? Contact Pace Roofing today for a free estimate.