Hello World! Welcome Friends! When choosing to install new roofing, it can be worth considering the longevity of different roofing materials – especially if you plan to live in the same home for years to come.
Asphalt is the most common material for roofing due to its low cost and easy installation. However, it doesn’t have the longest lifespan – most asphalt roofs last no longer than 20 to 30 years.
Unless they are well maintained, most timber roofs won’t last much longer. Meanwhile, materials like felt are lucky to last 20 years.
So just which roofing materials do last a long time? While it depends on how well you keep on top of maintenance, there are some roofing materials that can easily last well over 50 years. Below are a few examples of the most long lasting roofing materials.
Steel
Steel roofs typically last 30 to 50 years, but can last much longer if well maintained. Steel is renowned for being incredibly durable and is able to withstand wind speeds higher than most other roofing solutions. It’s also resistant to heavy impact and won’t catch fire.
Steel roofs also don’t corrode easily, although it’s still worth regularly cleaning them. It’s particularly important to not let ice or snow sit on them for too long as this is when corrosion can kick in. Steel roofs can come in many different colors and can also be shaped in all kinds of ways. They tend to be great insulators, and can also keep homes cool in the heat.
Perhaps the biggest drawback of steel is that it can be noisy in rain or hail. There are sound insulating underlays you can install to reduce this noise, but they will cost you extra during installation. Speaking of cost, steel roofing can vary massively in price depending on the style of roof you opt for. Corrugated steel roofs typically cost between $4 and $6.50 per square foot, while steel shingle roofs can cost anywhere between $6 and $21 per square foot.
EPDM
EPDM is a synthetic rubber. It is commonly chosen for its long-lasting durability – the majority of EPDM roofs last 30 to 50 years, and modern solutions are expected to last even longer. It is a common commercial roofing solution, but can also be used on residential buildings.
EPDM is known for remaining pliable in extreme heat and cold, making it very resistant to cracks. Damage is also very easy to patch up – EPDM is applied as a liquid, which makes it easy to fill holes. On top of this, EPDM has excellent insulation qualities.
Unfortunately, EPDM is not the most visually attractive roofing material, which is why it is favored more on commercial buildings. It makes up for this by being a relatively cheap roofing material – between $3 and $12 per square foot.
Concrete
Manufacturers of concrete tiles typically guarantee their products for 30 to 60 years. Concrete is renowned for being robust, fire-resistant and water-resistant (particularly when sealed), which makes it a very popular option.
Concrete tiles can be made to look like clay tiles and can come in a variety of colors. They can also offer very good insulation. This makes them very attractive as a roofing solution.
A downside of concrete is that it is very heavy and may not be suitable for some buildings without installing added structural support. Expect to pay $7 to $19 per square foot.
Clay
Clay roofs typically last 60 years. However, there are cases of clay roofs lasting as much as 100 years with good maintenance.
Clay shares almost exactly the same properties as concrete: robust, fire-resistant, water-resistant and a good insulator. Certain types of clay like terracotta are also very visually attractive.
Although durable against the elements, clay tiles can be easily cracked when stepped on and maintenance needs to be carried out with care. Clay tiles are a lot lighter than concrete tiles. However, they can be more expensive, costing $8 to $22 per square foot including installation costs (which is why many people choose concrete).
Slate
Slate roofs can easily last 100 years or more as evident by the many historic buildings with original slate roofs. This makes slate the longest-lasting roofing solution.
Slate is known to have universally good qualities. It’s fire-resistant, water-resistant , incredibly durable and energy-efficient. Slate also has an attractive black-gray natural stone appearance that continues to look good as it ages and weathers.
The biggest disadvantage of slate? It’s the most expensive roofing material you can choose. Including installation, slate roofs typically cost $9.50 to $25 per square foot.
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