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New Roofs 101: Choosing the Best Option for Your Home


Copper Roof

Your roof is a hat for your home. It protects it while adding a decorative touch of colour and texture. Unlike a hat, however, the best roofs will not blow off nor need to be replaced each season. In fact, a roof can serve you and your home anywhere from 20 to 100 years. Read on to discover your best roofing options.


What Affects a Roof’s Lifespan?

Four main factors dictate the lifespan of a roof:  

Roof Slope: Steeper slopes tend to last longer than flatter ones.

Climate and Weather: Certain materials resist better to cold, wind, rain, etc. than others.

Installation and Maintenance: Proper installation techniques along with the appropriate roofing materials will help ensure that your roof reaches its full life expectancy, as will maintenance and repair at the first sign of wear, for as the old saying goes, “A stitch in time saves nine.” In other words, if you repair at the earliest sign of lifting, cracking, etc., your roof repair will be minimal and so will any possible damage to your home.

Type of Roofing:

Each roofing material is designed to meet specific purposes, aesthetics, climates, and installation methods. However, this affects their lifespan, as you can see below:

Asphalt Shingles                     20-30 years

Architectural shingles             25-30 years

Wood                                       20-50 years

Slate, tile, clay, or concrete    50+ years

Metal                                       40-70 years

Copper , zinc                           70-100+ years

 

What’s the Best Choice for a New Roof?

The best roofing option for your home will depend on the first three factors listed above, i.e. the slope of your roof, your geographical location and weather, and the availability of professional installers. Your budget will often be the final determining factor in choosing the best roofing option for your home; however, the cost of a new roof is more than the price on an estimate.


Budget Versus Cost-effectiveness

When considering your roofing budget, many factors contribute to the cost-effectiveness of your choice.

·       Weather Resistance

Due to the way it is installed, a copper roof can withstand high winds. Its chemical properties also limit its expansion and contraction in various temperatures.

·       Energy Efficiency

A copper roof reflects light and heat, which keeps your home cool in summer and warm in winter, which reduces your heating and cooling bills.

·       Maintenance

Other than an occasional cleaning and inspection for loose fasteners or problems at the seams, there is virtually no maintenance for a copper roof.

·       Lifespan/Replacement

Copper roofs resist bacterial and fungal growth and do not disintegrate, mould, or rust. They can last 100 years or more, and even once they are removed from your home, copper roofs have value, for they can be sold and recycled.

·       Added Value

The long lifespan and value of copper contribute to your home’s resale value, as does the aesthetic curb appeal of a copper roof.  

·       Long-term Effects

Copper is a lightweight, recyclable, non-polluting material that will not exert pressure on your home’s frame over time.

 

Find Copper Roofing in the GTA

If your cost-effectiveness analysis has led you to consider a copper roof for your home, contact Trudel & Sons Roofing Ltd in the GTA. We have been installing roofs of all sorts for over 40 years.


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