Roofing Types
Types of Roofing Materials
Asphalt Shingles:
Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roofing on sloped roofs especially in the residential side for roofing. There are two styles that are the most popular; three tab shingles and architectural shingles. The three tab are the traditional shingle that were the most prevalent before the 90's. Architectural shingles are sometimes called dimensional shingles. These are becoming more and more popular and are even required in some neighborhoods around Columbus.
The most popular brands in our area are Certainteed, GAF, Owens Corning and Tamko. Each manufacturer offers a variety of styles and colors.
Regardless of style or manufacturer, asphalt shingles are made using a fiber glass mat that is saturated in asphalt. Granules are then imbedded in the top to prevent Ultraviolet light degradation.
Most roofing material manufacturers make algae resistant shingles that help to avoid black steaks in the shingles as they age.
Built Up Roofing (BUR):
A built up roof is aptly named as it is a built up roof consisting of reinforcing layers of materials such as fiberglass mats, felts or polyester mats. Asphalt is placed between the plies and then it is capped with a coating of stone mineral or some other material.
Cold Process Roofing:
Similar to BUR except the asphalt is not hot when applied.
EPDM:
Single ply membrane material is one of the most popular for low slope or flat applications.
Fiber-Cement Roofing Materials:
This material is usually used to manufacture tiles that are designed to appear to be other types of roofing material such as slate and tile.
Metal Roofing:
Metal roofs are becoming more popular despite their higher initial cost. They can be used on low sloped applications however they are most commonly used on pitched roofs.
The most common styles of metal roofs are standing seam and formed metal roof panels that are used to replicated tile, slate or tile roofs.
Modified Bitumens:
A rolled roofing product that combines bitumen and either plastic or rubber. This type of roof is used on "flat" applications.
Polyurethane Foam:
Sprayed polyurethane foam (SPF) is a two part system sprayed to the roof. It expands and hardens into a closed cell insulating roof. It requires a coating to protect it from UV.
PVC:
A single ply membrane made form Poly Vinyl Chloride. The sheets are heat welded together on site.
Slate:
Slate is an excellent roofing material but due to expense it isn't installed on new construction too often in the Central Ohio area.
Slate can be purchased in a large variety of color and qualities. Most of the slate work performed in Ohio is slate repair. The cost of applying to a whole roof is prohibitively expense although it would not be unusual for the roof to last 100 years.
Tile:
Clay tile is similar to slate in regards to its expense and weight. It is somewhat lighter than slate but quite a bit heavier than are asphalt shingles.
Wood Shake & Shingles :
Machine cut shingles are cut evenly on both sides. Shakes are usually split on one or both sides for a more rustic appearance, and they tend to be thicker at the exposed portion than are shingles. Wood shakes and shingles are substantially more expensive than asphalt shingles and are less fire resistant.