So you need a new roof in Manatee County. Even though you’re not doing the work yourself (please don’t try that), you have a lot of challenges ahead of you before the work ever starts.
The first challenge? How to choose a Bradenton roofing contractor (which we covered in an earlier article).
Another challenge? Which roofing material to have installed.
This is a biggie. You put your whole property—not to mention your family/business and belongings—under that roof. You want it to be safe and secure.
There are a lot of factors to consider. Here’s a brief overview of your most common options for residential roofs, including the pros and cons of each one.
Asphalt Shingles
This is what many people consider the “typical” roofing material. To make an asphalt shingle, they take a base mat (usually fiberglass) and coat it in asphalt for waterproofing, then add a topcoat of mineral granules (quartz, slate, schist etc.) that can help deflect UV rays and also add to your roof’s overall aesthetic.
Pros: Asphalt shingles are both cost-effective and easy to install. They even come in wind-rated options, a necessity for Bradenton-area roofing.
Cons: They’re not great for insulation and the manufacturing process is not eco-friendly. Additionally, as the most common roofing material in the U.S., asphalt shingles are more likely to attract less-qualified roofers to the job.
Metal
“Metal” is a general term for what can be a variety of materials, including steel, aluminum, or zinc, or a combination like galvanized steel. The most common metal roofs are what we call “5v” (which you may know as corrugated metal), standing seam, in which the overlapping ridges create a more weathertight seal, and stone-coated steel, which combines metal’s durability with a more traditional appearance.
Pros: Metal is great for Florida. Not only do metal roofs keep wind and rain out, they reflect heat and keep your building cooler using less energy. And today’s manufacturing and installation practices mean a metal roof typically isn’t any noisier than other materials when it comes to rain. Also? Metal roofs last 30 years, minimum, and possibly twice that.
Cons: All those pros above we listed above? Yes, they save you money in the long run, but they cost more up front. We understand that some people simply can’t cover the expense of a metal roof, regardless of its advantages.
Tile
Tile roofs are most often the traditional (or traditional-looking) rounded tiles atop Spanish and Med-Rev architecture. Here in southwest Florida, we love a terracotta (clay) roof, but nowadays you also have the option of concrete tiles that imitate that traditional appearance.
Pros: Long-lasting and energy-efficient, tile roofs stand up well to our Florida environment. They’re not going to warp or weaken from sun, sand, salt, or humidity.
Cons: They are, however, more likely to crack if something hits them. And clay tiles are more expensive, while concrete are susceptible to staining from mold and mildew.
Why Your Roofing Contractor Matters When Picking Roofing Materials
Bear in mind, no matter what you pick, you’re asking your roofing contractor to properly install that material so that it lives up to your expectations. And even if you pick a qualified roofing company and a material that fits your needs, you still might not end up with the best roof.
Whether you’re in Bradenton, Ellenton, Anna Maria, or Lakewood Ranch, roofing contractors often have materials that they specialize in and work with frequently. If you prefer a roofing material that’s outside of their wheelhouse, several things can happen:
- A reputable roofer will recommend a local counterpart who does specialize in the material you’ve chosen.
- Less-reputable roofers might push you to choose their favored material instead, leaving you with a big bill and a roof that wasn’t your first choice.
- Or they go ahead and install the material you prefer, but with substandard work that leaves your roof open to leaks and other issues sooner or later.
Rest assured, all of the roofing materials covered in this article (and more) are part of the regular workload of our Blue Collar team of experienced roofing professionals. Feel free to explore your options with us, and we’ll be sure to point you in the right direction.
