6 Signs You Should Try an Alternative Roofing Material

Asphalt shingles may have been right for your family in the past, but the roofing industry is changing, and you can now find a lot of alternative materials that will suit your unique needs. How can you tell if a non-asphalt roofing type would work better for you? The following are a few signs.

  1. Your Area Has Bad Weather

Asphalt shingles can be durable in average weather, but if you live in an extreme climate, a metal roof could provide an even more durable shield against hard weather.

  2. You're Worried About Wildfires

If you live in an area with lots of wildfires, evacuation is a real concern, and you do not want to come back to a burned-down house. While a fire-resistant roof can't protect your building if the fire comes through the area, it can help prevent building fires started by windborne burning brands.

You can choose from several classes of fire-resistant roofing. While wood-containing asphalt shingles may have a class C fire rating, some metal roofs have a class A rating, the highest available. You can also find fiberglass shingles that have a class A rating; however, like metal roofing, these shingles will also be much more expensive than an average shingle roof.

  3. You Want Your Roof to Last a Lifetime

If you are in the house you want to spend the rest of your life in, wouldn't it be great if you never had to pay for another re-roofing project again? If you choose your contractor and your roofing material wisely, this can be a reality. For example, if you're in your 40s and choose a roofing material with 50 to 60 years of life in it, your roof could last the rest of your life.

  4. Your Budget Has a Bit of Flexibility

Alternative roofing materials offer a variety of price points. However, none of them are as popular and widespread as a less expensive asphalt roof, and that means that they're not going to be quite as easy on the budget since they don't have the economy of scale that asphalt shingle does.

  5. You Care About the Environment

Certain types of asphalt roofing will lessen your roof's impact on the environment, such as ones made from recycled materials and ones that are long-lasting and which will generate less waste material. The asphalt manufacturing process, though, is still more resource-heavy than that used for manufacturing metal roofs.

You can gain maximum eco-friendliness by choosing a material that has minimum impact in a variety of areas. For example, metal roofing has a high recycled content compared to most asphalt roofs, and it has a natural reflectivity that can help lower your energy usage. It also has a super-long lifespan.

  6. You're Looking for a New Aesthetic

Shingles can offer a distinguished, sleek-looking roof, but their styles are sometimes limited when compared to the huge range of aesthetics provided by metal panels and other alternatives.

These six signs can help you identify whether or not you're ready to move on from a basic asphalt shingle roof style. Remember, although many alternatives exist that can provide unique benefits to homeowners, an asphalt roof can still be a great all-around option, so you shouldn't discount it without spending some thought on the pros and cons of choosing an alternative.

Whether you decide that you want a new asphalt roof or you switch to an alternative such as metal, it's important to make an informed decision after weighing all the information.   Contact  JCB Roofing for more information that will help you make the best choice for your home.