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Home Home and Family Home Home Improvement and Repair - Replacing Your Roof
Home Improvement and Repair - Replacing Your Roof PDF Print E-mail
Written by Tom Burrell   
A home is not really a home. It is a collection of systems. These systems are surprisingly varied when it comes to their lifespan. Specifically, the may last a long time or, in the case of a roof, they may not.
by TomBurrell


A home is not really a home. It is a collection of systems. These systems are surprisingly varied when it comes to their lifespan. Specifically, the may last a long time or, in the case of a roof, they may not.

Why is there such a difference in the expected ages of a roof? Well, the obvious issues are the quality of the materials being used and installation, but the bigger issue has to do with Mother Nature. Simply put, she is plenty strong and must be respected.

Think about it. The average roof takes a beating. 365 days a year it just sits and bakes in the sun. It expands as it heats up during the day and then contracts as it cools off at night. It gets pummeled by rain, wind and flying objects. Heck, it is pretty amazing it lasts as long as it does.

Given the beating a roof takes, it is not surprising that the type of roofing material used makes a huge difference. A slate rock roof is like putting tank armor on your home. It is going to last for at least 70 years, but it is going to cost you an arm and leg to buy and install.

If you have a small budget, the cheapest roof system available is the infamous wood shake shingle roof. Well, it is cheap to buy and install, but will cost you in the long run. Why? It will only last between 10 and 25 years.

Unlike slate roofs, there is another concern with wood shingle systems. Fire is the problem. Embers landing on wood shingle roofs almost always turn them into fire pits. You can buy far retardant treated wood shingles, but they are not much better.

Is there a compromise between slate and wood roofs? Most people believe tile roof systems fit the bill. They are not as cheap as wood shingle roof systems, but will not burn. They are a lot cheaper than slate roofs, but have the minor issue of only lasting 40 years or so. Still, it is a good compromise system.

One really interesting new type of roofing you might want to check out is solar shingle roofing. These roofs come in rolls that are spread out in vertical columns down your roof. They are layered so that they look like flat shingles overlapping from top to bottom.

The concept of the solar shingle is revolutionary. It turns your entire roof into an electricity generator. You can heat and cool your home using the power. You can run appliances, leave lights on and so on. All for just the cost of the initial system.

Sooner or later, you are going to have to improve or replace the roof on your home. Instead of just automatically putting up the same type of roof, take some time to explore your options. You have plenty of choices.

About The Author:

Tom Burrell writes roofing articles for 866FixMyRoof.com - a licensed California roofing contractor providing roof construction services.

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