The choices in exterior home materials have multiplied exponentially in the past decade. You can now choose from wood, vinyl, aluminum or composite materials for your windows and doors. Home siding comes in wood, vinyl, fiber-cement, brick, engineered wood and other materials. Roofs are no exception.
Where once asphalt shingles dominated the roofing market, new roofing materials are now being offered by manufacturers.
Sustainability is highly desired for today’s roofing materials.
What is a Sustainable Roof?
Sustainability in roofing generally means not only less maintenance, but also durability, which translates to longevity and less cost for roof replacement. A metal roof, for example, can outlast three asphalt shingled roofs.1 Metal is also recyclable, whereas 20 billion pounds of asphalt is dumped into U.S. landfills each year.2
There is a considerable downside in today’s metal roof market and that is cost. Metal roofs cost roughly $5 to $16 per square foot installed compared to $3 to $5 per square foot for asphalt shingle roof installation.3
More Options
As with exterior siding, windows and doors, synthetic or engineered materials are being introduced for roofs. These synthetic roofing materials are lightweight, long-lasting and generally cost less than metal roofing. Synthetic roofing materials are made from rubber, plastic or polymer composites and can closely replicate the look of asphalt, slate or wood shingles. Many synthetic roofing materials are also made from repurposed rubber, plastics and even old tires.4 Synthetic shingle roofs can last up to 50 years and cost more than asphalt shingles but less than metal roofing.5
Another innovation in roofing is the cool roof. These roofs are coated with reflective materials that deflect sunlight, similar to the concept of wearing light colors in the summer to stay cooler. Your roof gets hot — about 150 degrees or more — on a sunny summer afternoon. On that same sunny summer day a reflective roof could lower the roof temperature by more than a third, or 50 degrees.6 A cooler roof means less energy consumption for air conditioned buildings and more comfort for the building’s occupants.
Asphalt Advances
These are just a few of the exciting advances which are making inroads in the roofing industry. Even the traditional asphalt shingle has improved over the product that was installed twenty-years ago. With the introduction of architectural style shingles homeowners got a thicker shingle with higher wind tolerance and better ability to camouflage imperfections in the roof.
Homeowners still have to strike a balance between affordability and longevity in any roofing product they choose. A professional roofing contractor can help homeowners make the best decision for their particular situation.
Invest in your Home with Trusted Roofing Contractors
With so many roofing options to explore and choose from, it’s important that you connect with a trusted roofing expert. The home improvement and roofing contractors at Excel Home Improvement in Romulus are among the top tier providers of responsible and sustainable roofing solutions for your Michigan home.
We specialize in roof installation and repair as well as siding installation and gutter systems. Together, these make for a home that is solid, energy efficient and long lasting. As experienced home improvement contractors, we know what homeowners are looking for and need.
We also understand the expense of repairs, maintenance and new installations so we offer financing, with $0 Down and 0% interest options. Let us take the stress out of your exterior home improvement issues and connect with us for a Free Estimate and consultation today!
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1, 2 Metal Roofing Market
Link: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/metal-roofing-market.html
3 Cost of Metal Roof Vs. Shingles, by Tamatha Hazen, 4/5/2024
Link: https://homeguide.com/costs/metal-roof-vs-shingles-cost
4 Roofing Trends for 2025: What’s Hot on Top by Cassie Findley, 1/2025
Link: https://www.roof-crafters.com/learn/roofing-trends-whats-hot-top
5 Types of Roof Shingles by Stephanie Minasian-Koncewicz, 12/6/2024
Link: https://homeguide.com/costs/metal-roof-vs-shingles-cost
6 Cool Roofs
Link: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/cool-roofs#:~:text=A%20cool%20roof%20is%20designed%20to%20reflect%20more,clothing%20keeps%20you%20cool%20on%20a%20sunny%20day.