What to Consider when Choosing a New Roof for Your House

There are multiple options that need careful consideration when you are choosing a new roof for your house, whether it is a new build or a replacement roof. How the way your new roof will look very much depends on the materials used, specific requirements of your home and also your budget. However certain properties may have restrictions on which materials can be used due to the age of the building or a conservation order – These properties present their own difficulties that need to be discussed with your roofing contractor.

We offer you a few tips on how to choose a new roof for your house.

Professional roofers have their own term used for measuring your roof, this helps to work out the cost and give advice on the best materials to use. While builders prefer to use square meters, roofers will normally use “squares”. A square is measured in feet and is the equivalent of 10 foot by 10 foot. A typical house has a roof measuring slightly less than 15 squares in total.

The cost of your roof will be partially determined by the exact size and also the shape of the roof. If you are replacing an existing roof you may be able to reuse some of the materials already present such as the roof tiles and timbers, this should keep costs lower but can take extra time.

Determining the cost of your new roof is a process that takes into account multiple factors. As always this will depend on the quality required and cost of the materials you have chosen to use. A larger than average house will usually cost more due to the extra work needed and also whether or not there are gable ends, chimneys or multiple angles in the roof construction as these all take extra materials and a time for a skilled roofer.

Roofing materials differ slightly across the world and certain types work better in certain climates. The most commonly used roofing materials are slate and tiles, which are both quite heavy, durable and mid-priced but can be re-used. Asphalt shingles are inexpensive and easy to install making them a popular choice. Wooden shingles usually made from cedar or redwood have been used for a very long time and are a hard wearing and traditional choice. Aluminium, copper, steel and lead have all been used as roofing materials but are rather an expensive option these days.

One of the main considerations you need to think of when installing a new roof is how it will look when finished. Aesthetically pleasing roofs are much easier to live with than ugly ones so careful planning is key to your preparation. Most importantly your roof should ensure your home stays dry in all weathers and this means installing flashing around any dormer windows, chimneys and other breaks in the roof surface. Flashing is a crucial component not be forgotten, it can be made from metal or plastic and is installed where the roof changes such as in a valley or around a window frame to keep water from penetrating. Many roofs will benefit from the addition of a waterproof membrane underneath the tiles or shingles – this can be made from modern fabric like material or a heavy duty paper that is often covered on one side with tar.

Your new roof should look regular and parallel at the edges, all of the joints should be made watertight and special attention paid to any overlapped, angled or exposed areas as these are the most likely to leak.

Once you have carefully considered all of the above, the only thing left to do is hire a professional roofer to replace your roof. However, it would help if you first did some legwork to verify that the roofing company you are considering is a professional and well-established business.

Published in: Home advice | Author: Lynn