Whether you own your own Denver roofing company or you plan on doing your own rooftop roofing work, you'll need guidance of Denver roofing companies along the way to determine what the best materials are to use for your home.

Typically, Denver Roofing Companies will tell you that you will need to replace your rooftop every 15 years or so, unless you end up getting a green metal roof installed and it's no easy task to do yourself. Personally, we suggest you do some shopping around Denver Roofing Companies to do the work.

We normally take the roof over our heads for granted until it falls into disrepair and leaks abound. This not only will cause water damage to the inside of your house and make it look shabby, but will also lower the overall value of your home. A sturdy rooftop is made with sturdy materials. Denver Roofing Companies should be able to inform you about the different materials available, as well as their pricing. The materials are normally sold by the square footage.

The usual range of choices are asphalt rooftop shingles, clay tiles, wood shakes, steel panels and rubber look-alike slate. A recent trend among roofing materials has emerged and people are gearing towards using more engineered materials. This change in taste is due to several factors including the high cost of roofing wood and building codes requiring the use of fireproof construction material. Denver roofing companies will tell you that another reason is that people have begun realizing the advantage of having rooftop roofing materials that last longer.

Asphalt rooftop roofing shingles have become one of the most popular options available for home-owners. Denver roofing companies estimated that about 80% of all American homes have asphalt rooftop shingles decorating their roofs and not just because they're aesthetically pleasing. Of course, most people don't realize that asphalt roof shingles come in a wide variety and some are better for certain homes than others.

Asphalt Roof Shingle Materials -

You may ask yourself, "Isn't asphalt a type of rooftop roofing material?" You would be correct, but the core of an asphalt shingle can be made from various materials. It sounds confusing, but here's an informative guide to help you sort it all out:

These are essentially roofing shingles that use a composite of two materials, namely asphalt and organic or fiberglass cores.

These roof shingles typically have an organic core made from a blend of paper and wood fibers that make a sort of felt-like material. This kind of core for asphalt shingles used to be the default brand, but people don't use it for their roofs anymore because of its low life expectancy. Fortunately, they can be quite effective in cold/dry climates.

Fiberglass shingles are just made of just that - fiberglass. The inner base of fiberglass holds a greater resistance when it comes to fire and moisture. It is also quite light which makes it a lot easier to work with and install on your roof.

Asphalt Shingle Styles -

Asphalt roof shingles also have several different styles to use for your home:

This style is commonly referred to as "three-tab." It allows for various patterns and light-and-shadow options. Each roofing strip is separated into three tabs to work in accordance with the style of each individual shingle.

When used in roofing, laminated shingles are known as architectural or three-dimensional roofing shingles. The shingles themselves use a variety of spacing, thickness and numbers to make creative 3D designs. That is why these roofing shingles are preferred by architects and homeowners.

Interlocking shingles are essentially shingles that interlock together on your roof. Although they're not as popular as the common laminated or strip roofing shingles, they're still a good option to keep in mind if you live in a windy environment.

These share the same obvious trait as interlocking shingles as they are very "separate." The biggest advantage to these is that they offer a lot of flexibility for your project. These usually come in different patterns, including hexagonal or rectangular, which allow for a unique style for your roof. Unfortunately, Denver roofing companies will normally include an added cost during installation for these particular roofing shingles.

Problems with Asphalt Roof Shingles -

Asphalt Rooftop Shingles are definitely one of the more popular and inexpensive options when it comes to restoring your roof or building a new one. They also come with a warranty that may last as long as 50 years. The problem remains, though, that if these asphalt roofing shingles become damaged before the warranty expires you may be out of luck IF the manufacturer sees that the roofing contractor didn't install them correctly.

Clay is one of the oldest materials used for roofing; its use even dates back to the middle ages. Usually they are created from clay collected from local soil so that anywhere you go the clay may be different. It's then baked and after the moisture is gone a coat of glaze may be added as a finish to the rooftop tiles. The tile itself holds a a rich red color and is very resilient in harsher climate areas. They can also be arranged on your roof in a number of styles and designs depending on your tastes.

Types-

Spanish Design:

A popular and well-known type of clay roof tile design is the Mission or Spanish style. You may very well have seen these decorating someone's roof as they're unique shapes (usually a "U" or "S" shape) make a creative interlocking design.

Italian Style:

Italian style roofing clay tiles are created from two different components. These include a flat bottom section piece and a round top piece that fit together. The bottom portion is laid flat and it uses flanges to keep rain from collecting on the roof's surface. The round part sits on top and overlaps the flanges to a style reminiscent of the Spanish design.

Mangalorean Style:

These distinct roofing tiles are flat and interlock together on your roof.

Installing Clay Rooftop Tiles-

Clay roof tiles require a special system of reinforced framing and sheathing to support them because of the collected weight (they are normally heavier than typical roof tile). Another thing to keep in mind is a waterproofing membrane which will keep your roof tiles and structure from water damage. Of course, clay roof tiles are not specifically designed to repeal rainwater, but they do protect the underlying membranes from harsh weather damage or sunlight so that those underlying membranes can protect from collected water damage. A good Denver roofing contractor will secure the clay roof tiles to wooden strips called "battens" rather than linking them directly to the roof deck. If the clay roof tiles are flat then they are secured directly to the roof deck in a way that's similar to shingles.

Functions-

Clay rooftop tiles have a dual function, being practical and aesthetic. They can be used in a variety of styles to enhance the overall look and feel of your house, while they are very effective at protecting your home from environmental damage. The space created under these tiles can also cool down your home and save on energy costs.

The Benefits-

Whatever type of clay rooftop roofing tile you decide to use, you can expect your rooftop to last for decades. They can also give your home a distinct look or compliment the style you've incorporated on the inside. They can also add to a specific motif, whether it is a Spanish or Italian design. These clay roof tiles are also recyclable and very resilient.

The Drawbacks-

Your Denver roofer must inform you of the drawbacks to having clay roofing tiles. They can be pretty expensive depending on whom you buy them from and they can also be very difficult to install on your roof. Also, several of the styles mentioned before require professional installation by certified Denver Roofing Companies who really know what they're doing as these tiles are rather fragile to handle. They are fairly heavy as well, so if your home is not structurally sound, Denver Roofing Companies should dissuade to from installing them.