Popular Roofing Materials Around the World

When it comes to roofing, home owners have to choose wisely the material and ensure its life span through good maintenance. For thousands of years people have successfully used natural materials like clay, straws or wood to roof their homes. Modern times have brought many new efficient and lasting materials, but also came along with hidden dangers for our health, like in the case of asbestos.

Let’s have a look at 3 of the most popular roofing choices around the world. In the same order of events, plus why you should consider going green.  

The Asphalt Shingles in the US

Asphalt shingles are the most popular choice of material for roofs in the United States. The combination of low price and ease of installation is hard to resist in the case of millions of Americans wanting to roof their homes quickly and on a budget.
These type of shingles also last for up to 30 years and come in a wide choice of colors. The downside in these shingles is related to the moss that builds up. Add the need for extra care and proper venting.

The European Tiles

In many parts of the old continent, homes are covered with a type of clay-based ceramic, turned into what is known as terracotta tiles. They are also very popular in Oceania and in countries outside Europe. The term “terracotta” comes from Italian, and it is often related to as “baked earth”. Their use for hundreds of years has been justified by the fact that this material is very resistant and, if treated properly it can last for generations. Other pluses involve waterproof and fire resistant. It also provides a good thermal regulation, acting as a heat absorber during the hot day, and as a heat releaser during the cold night. The downside: it is quite heavy and difficult to handle, fragile and overly attractive to moss and lichen.

The Australian Roofs: Steel and Other Metals

Although tiles are also popular in Australia, it seems that steel and other metal roofs rank first in the top preferences of Aussie home owners. Steel is very durable, very light and, a big plus, it requires little maintenance. It is also adaptable for various roof styles and copes best with the extreme temperatures of Australian weather. Other bonuses include resistant to fire and strong in the face of cyclones and other powerful winds, if installed correctly. 

Homeowner Diaries: Breaking Up with Asbestos Roofs

Modern times have brought many new “wonder” synthetic materials, improving the roofing industry on many levels. However, there have been also many failures about these new materials. On one side they were sturdy and fire proof, but on the other they proved to be silent killers, like it has been the case for asbestos, banned in the late 1970s. No matter on which continent you live, if your roof is asbestos based, you’d better remove it and replace it with a safe, eco-friendly alternative. Word of advice: leave the asbestos to the pros, otherwise you could jeopardize the health of the entire family. Companies around the world have specialized in offering services to quickly and safely remove asbestos roofs, such as the case of Focus Demolition.

Going Green

Nowadays, with the arising awareness about the carbon print and the impact our actions have on the long term, a roof has to be not only efficient in terms of protecting and isolating the house, but also eco-friendly. When choosing an eco-friendly roofing option, also consider several aspects such as:

• it should help the house in using less energy by ensuring a higher isolation and thermal regulation;
• it should be green all the way from the materials used to the process of fabrication, the durability and the options of recycling at the end of its life span.

Among new green options is also the roof made out of solar shingles that contributes to the green energy of the entire house. A second option is the “living roof” covered with vegetation planted over a waterproofing membrane.

All in all, remember to remove any harming roofing materials and either go for a traditional roofing method or embrace the green eco-friendly. All for the benefit of a better, more improved home!