Home Improvement

When designing a new building, whether it be a new home, a commercial enterprise, a public structure or anything else, deciding what type of roof to install and what it should be made from, is a decision that can have a lasting impact on the property as a whole. There are several different materials that can be used when constructing a roof, from clay, slate or concrete tiles, to shingles, and since it always involves a significant investment, it really is worth carefully considering your options to get the most out of your money.

A roof that has been professionally installed by an experienced roofing company should last for many years to come, so it’s essential that you make the right choices in order to avoid frequent repairs.

With this in mind, here are 6 factors to take into account when deciding upon the right materials for your new roof:

• The style of the building
  

For a roof on a building that hasn’t yet been constructed, you’ll need to take into account what style of structure you want it to be. Some roofing materials are better suited to certain styles of roof, so pitch and shape will need to be thought about when matching the roof to the building.

• The buildings purpose
  

If a roof is being chosen for your primary residence, or for a school or hospital, for example, then naturally you’ll want to make safety and durability a priority when choosing roofing materials. But if the roof is for a secondary structure, such as a garage or occasional recreational space, you may be able to select a material that’s a little more affordable.

• How fire resistant it needs to be
  

Fires can be devastating and cause untold destruction, and if the new roof is going to be sitting on a building wherein the risk of fire is a very real possibility, you’ll want to choose a roofing material that will minimise the spread of a fire should one break out.

• Its configuration
  

When choosing roofing materials, your choice will be directly related to the design and form of the roof, as not all materials are appropriate for more geometrically complex structures. For example, if a roof is flat with barely any pitch, ceramic tiles will not be suitable, and you may want to opt for concrete roof tiles or something similar. Remember that you can discuss this, and any of the points raised, with your chosen roofing contractor.

• Cost and characteristics
  

Some roofing materials are simpler to install than others, while some are more durable. Others will be more suitable for a pitched roof, while others will work better on a flat roof. Then of course, there are those that are costlier than others, such as slate. While there are roofing materials suitable for every kind of roof, and to match every budget, care should be taken to select one that you can afford, but which will also have the properties and characteristics you desire.

• Design and appearance
  

As touched upon briefly above, a roof completes a building and makes up a significant portion of it from both an aesthetic and functional perspective. At the point of designing a building, how the roofing materials you choose will complement or contrast the rest of the structure, must be taken into account, along with how it will look in terms of the surrounding environment and neighbouring landscape features.

The right roofing materials can make or break a building in terms of aesthetic appeal, but when it comes to safety and durability, there really are no shortcuts, and every effort should be made to choose a material that’s long-lasting and ideally, fire resistant. Talk to a local roofing company for further guidance, and to take the next step towards designing the perfect roof for your building.