St. George Utah Roofing Company

Many homeowners are nervous about dealing with their roofs. When it comes to repairing, replacing, or installing a new roof, there’s a lot to do and know. But most homeowners don’t know the first thing about how to repair or install a roof on their own. Knowing that you need a new roof or that your roof needs to be repaired can cause a lot of stress. You don’t want to be stuck with a roof that will need to be repaired again in a few years, and you don’t want to deal with a roofing company that will leave you hanging or provide less-than-top-quality service. 

But dealing with your roof doesn’t have to be nerve-wracking or stressful. Especially not when you hire St. George Roofing to repair, replace, or install your roof. 

We understand that you don’t want to have to spend the time or money it takes to repair your roof. That’s why we promise to quickly, expertly, and affordably repair, replace, or install your roof. 

We also want you to be as comfortable as possible throughout the process. We believe that knowing a little about the process and being able to understand some of the roofing terminologies will help relieve some of the stress that comes with a major home project. To help you learn a little bit more about roofing, we’ve written this little guide to the different kinds of roofing materials available. We hope that knowing more about the materials we may be used to repair, replace, or install your roof will bring you some comfort and help you ask us any of the questions you have about our process. 

The different types of roofing include:

• Tile
• Metal
• Shingle
• Slate
• Wood

Tile Roofing

There are several different types of tile roofing, each with its own advantages and costs. Some different kinds of tile roofing include slate tiles, clay tiles, concrete tiles, shake tiles, and more. Many of these tile materials are ideal for the southern Utah climate found in St. George. While every kind of tile material is different, here are some of the pros and cons shared by most materials:

Pros:

• Fairly lightweight
• Easy to install
• Long-lasting 

Cons:

• Occasional maintenance needed (depending on material)
• Expensive (some materials)

Slate Tiles

Slate tiles are made of stone and can last for up to 150 years, which is longer than almost any other kind of roofing material. Slate tiles have a very distinctive look that a lot of homeowners love. This old-fashioned, rustic look goes great with many of the older homes found around St. George.  A huge advantage of slate tiles is that they are very fire resistant, protecting your home and your belongings better than some other roofing materials. A disadvantage to these tiles is that they are heavy and can be fragile in poor weather. This means you will likely need to replace several over the years, but overall your roof will last for a long time. 

Clay Tiles

Clay Tiles are commonly used in warm climates, making them perfect for St. George. Clay tiles come in many different sizes, colors, and shapes, so finding one you like won’t be a chore. Like slate tiles, clay tiles tend to break easily and may need to be replaced as time goes on or as your area encounters severe weather. Clay tiles are also rather heavy and not all homes can be modified to carry the weight. You should always check with an expert before installing slay tiles on your home.  

Concrete Tiles

Concrete tiles are much like clay tiles in that they come in many different colors, sizes, and shapes. With concrete tiles, you can adapt your roof to look exactly how you want. However, concrete tiles differ from clay tiles in that concrete tiles are typically much cheaper than clay ones. Clay tiles can be expensive, so if you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to bring tiles to your roof, concrete tiles may be the way to go. Concrete tiles are also fire-resistant and require low maintenance. 

Cedar Shake Tiles

Shake tiles are made from split logs, which makes every tile unique and slightly different. This appeals to a lot of homeowners, and the drawbacks are sometimes overshadowed by their uniqueness. Drawbacks to shake tiles are that regular maintenance will be needed to keep moss, mold, and mildew from accumulating and potentially damaging the wood. Shake tiles also don’t last as long as other roofing materials.  

Metal Roofing

You will likely see many metal roofs on commercial buildings, and this has been the trend for the last several years. However, this trend is starting to change, and more and more residential homes around St. George can be found with a metal roof. 

Here are some of the pros and cons of using metal for your roof:

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Durable and long-lasting
• Easy to install
• Fire resistant 
• Saves energy
• Low maintenance 

Cons:

• Noisy
• Can be expensive
• Dangerous to walk on in certain weather conditions

One of the best advantages of a metal roof is that it can withstand severe weather conditions while still saving energy and lasting for a very long time. Metal roofs are very low maintenance, so even though you may end up spending a bit more money now to install a metal roof, that investment will pay off when you don’t have to spend more money in the future to repair or maintain your metal roof. Because metal roofs can be dangerous to walk on, especially in the rain, it is always best to leave any maintenance or repairs that do need to be done to the professionals. If you have a metal roof or want to install one, contact St. George Roofing and we can help! 

Shingle Roofing

Shingle roofs are by far the most popular roofs in the United States. And of the many different shingle materials, asphalt shingles are the most widely seen around the country, including around southern Utah. Shingles can also be made from cedar shake, clay, concrete, and more. Shingle roofing is usually the cheapest option, which is why so many homeowners choose to shingle their roofs.  

Pros:

• Cheapest to install
• Most common
• Several different kinds
• Easy to fix and maintain yourself 

Cons:

• Won’t last as long as other materials

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material in North America. Asphalt shingles are one of the cheapest options and are easy to install and maintain. While most of your shingles should last for about 20 years, some may fall off before then due to weather. If this does happen, it is easy to replace them yourself without the need to hire a roofing company. There are many different types and colors of asphalt shingles, so finding one you like and that looks good on your home shouldn’t be a problem. 

Cedar Shake

Cedar shake shingles are a type of wood shingle made from split logs. Each piece is slightly different, so your roof will be unique and different than anyone else’s. Cedar shake roofing is more expensive to install and maintain than some other types of roofing, but for many homeowners, this extra hassle is worth it. This hassle includes regular maintenance that will be required to keep moss, mold, and mildew from growing. 

Clay Shingles

Clay shingles are a type of tile shingle. Clay shingles have a nice, old-fashioned look that appeals to a lot of people. Clay shingles are mostly used in warm climates but can be adapted to work in colder climates as well. Clay shingles come in many different sizes, shapes, and colors, so you can easily find one that matches your style and looks good on your home. A disadvantage of clay shingles is that they can break quite easily, especially in hail or extreme weather. Also, clay shingles are a rather heavy material and not all homes can accommodate the weight, so make sure you have your home checked before deciding to purchase clay shingles. If your home can take the weight, then clay shingles may be just the thing for your roof. 

Concrete Shingles

Concrete shingles are a good alternative to expensive clay shingles. Concrete shingles are cheaper than clay ones but often look very similar. Concrete shingles are very durable and may last as long as your home. Winds that may strip off other types of roofing materials will likely not damage concrete shingles, proving their resistance to extreme weather conditions. Concrete shingles do well in most climates and they come in many different sizes and colors, allowing you to customize the look of your roof and of your home. 

Slate Roofing

Slate roofing is made from a kind of stone that can last for up to 150 years. This makes slate one of the longest-lasting roofing materials available. Slate has a very distinctive, rustic look that calls to many homeowners. One of the main advantages of slate roofing is that it is fire resistant, giving you more security in your home and protecting your belongings from fire. A drawback of slate roofing is that slate is rather fragile and some tiles or pieces may need to be replaced after extreme weather. Overall, though, slate tiles are well worth the investment and will ensure that your roof is protected for years to come. 

Pros:

• Fire resistant
• Recognizable and beautiful
• Long-lasting

Cons:

• Fragile
• Not good in extreme weather

Composite Slate Roofing 

If you don’t want to spend the money on real slate roofing, another great option is a composite slate. Composite slate roofing is basically a fake slate. This will give your home the look of real slate tiles, but without the hefty price or heavy maintenance. This type of roofing is also pretty durable and has been known to last for about 50 years. Composite slate roofing is still fire-resistant and does not weigh as much as real slate tiles, which makes it more durable. It also withstands weather conditions better and will not break as easily when hit with hail or falling objects. You can also walk on these tiles without breaking them, unlike real slate tiles.  

Wood Roofing

As mentioned under the tile and shingle sections, a popular type of wood roofing is cedar shake. Shake is made from split logs, which is what makes them so appealing to some homeowners. Each tile or shingle is unique, but wood roofs have drawbacks as well. 

Pros:

• Each roof is unique

Cons:

• Grow mold, moss, and mildew
• Regular maintenance needed
• Don’t last as long as other materials

Wood roofs tend to grow mold, moss, and mildew that will need to be removed every so often. This makes wood roofs more difficult to maintain than other materials because regular maintenance will be needed. This also means that your wood roof likely won’t last as long as other roofing materials. If you like the look of a wood roof, though, and are willing to deal with the regular maintenance costs, then a wood roof may be perfect for your home. 

How St. George Roofing can help?

Now that you know more about the different types of roofing material available to you, hope you feel better about repairing, replacing, or installing your new roof. Knowing more about an overwhelming subject makes many homeowners feel better, and we hope that’s what has happened for you. 

If you have any questions or to get a free quote, contact St. George Roofing. We offer several roofing services, including new construction roofing, roof repair, and roof replacement. We want to make the roofing process as easy and stress-free as possible, so give us a call today and we’ll get started on your roof as soon as possible.