When you think about what makes your roof good, the first things that come to mind are probably related to whether your roof keeps you warm and dry. Your roof's main purpose is to keep your home and your family protected, after all. It shields you from rain, hail, wind, and debris, and it helps provide safety and security for your home. Beyond that, most homeowners aren't too concerned with other traits that make a good-quality roof.
A quality roof that's well designed, installed by an expert roofing company, and regularly inspected and well-maintained should last about 30 years, so roofing a house is a concern that most homeowners have to worry about only once or twice in their lifetimes. If you're in the market for a new home, repairing your current roof, or replacing your roof entirely, you'll want to make sure you invest in a high-quality roof. Below, we'll go over the characteristics of good roofing in your home.
Roofing a House: How to Choose High-Quality Roofing
Once you know what to look for, it's easier to spot good roofing. The main things to look for in your roof are:
1. Shingle type
Tons of shingle options are available on the market, and when it comes to choosing what's best for you and your home, you should consider factors such as durability, lifespan, versatility, and price. You want shingles that can withstand harsh UV rays, strong winds, hail, and rain and that will be able to withstand the elements for years to come. The cheapest roofing material that you can buy is asphalt. In addition to being the most economical, asphalt shingles are also very traditional looking, easier to install, easy to replace, and available in tons of colors, which makes them versatile.
On the other end of the cost spectrum are designer shingles, which are sometimes called dimensional or luxury shingles. Designer shingles are more expensive than standard shingles because they're actually made from two layers of shingle material fused together. This makes them extremely durable and adds a sophisticated look to your home. Other popular materials that shingles are made from are wood, clay, slate, metal, and concrete.
2. Energy efficiency
Choosing a roof that has energy-efficient materials is a huge way to save yourself money down the road and increase the resale value of your home. Energy-efficient roofing materials and attic insulation provide thermal protection for your home, so in those hot summer months, your home stays cooler without having to run your air conditioning 24/7. Energy-efficient materials also prevent air from leaking out of your home, which again keeps you from constantly running your heat or AC to regulate the temperature in your home. This all saves you money on your utility bills in the long run and is better for the planet too.
3. Cost efficiency
Cost efficiency is another sign of a quality roof and ties in with longevity. Replacing your entire roof is a really big investment: The average cost of a new roof is between $5,500 and $11,000. Even though it's one of the most important investments you'll make, you also want to make sure that you're not having to make it more than necessary. While asphalt shingles might be the cheapest roofing material upfront, they don't last as long as metal shingles, so you might need to replace an asphalt roof sooner than a metal roof, and that's a factor to take into consideration when choosing roofing materials.
4. Roofing professionals
Perhaps the most important thing to look for in good-quality roofing is professional roofers to construct the roof safely, quickly, and securely. Hiring a team of professional roofers is essential because a bad roofer will spell trouble for your home and your roofing materials, and it could end up costing you much more money in the long run.
How to Use Roofing Reviews to Find a Roofer
The best way to judge a roofing company is to head online and read their roofing reviews. Reading roofing reviews gives you a firsthand account of the caliber of their work, their level of professionalism, and how happy their customers are with the entire process. Roofing reviews are the best and fastest way to vet whom you'll hire to work on your roof. You'll also want to ensure that they're properly insured, licensed, and bonded and that they are local to your area.
Need a New Roof on Your Georgia Home?
If your home needs a new roof and you're looking for quality roofers who know what good roofing is, contact Georgia's largest full-service roofing contractors today
