Slate Vs Asphalt Roofing
If your roof is getting old, then you're probably looking at a replacement in the near future. However, you don't necessarily need to get the same material that you currently have. There are a lot of different roofing materials out there, and one might be much better suited to your needs than the rest. To help you get all the information that you need to make an informed decision, here is a comparison of three of the most popular roofing materials: asphalt, slate, and metal.
What is asphalt roofing?
Asphalt is an extremely common roofing material in most residential areas, mostly because it is so versatile. Asphalt can have just about any color that you want and it also is relatively cost efficient. With asphalt, you aren't necessarily committing too much, since you can change to a different material after a couple of decades.
Cost – Asphalt is going to cost you $50 per square (a square is equal to 100 square feet) at a minimum. This means that you are paying $0.50 per square foot, which ends up being quite a bit cheaper than other options.
Lifespan – Asphalt also has a tendency of lasting 20-30 years, which means that you may need to replace a roof several times over the course of your lifetime. This may seem like a hassle, but the upside is that you are only going to end up paying around $2.00 per square per year, which is a better deal than many options.
What is slate roofing?
For a much costlier and fancier option, you can get slate. Slate tends to be heavy and darker than asphalt, which can make the logistics of installation a bit complicated. However, such an installation only needs to happen once per century, which means that you will never need to worry about it more than once, at least as long as you take care of your roof and don't let it get damaged.
Cost – Slate costs $300 per square in the best case, but can run up to $600 per square if you are unlucky. Of course, you will also need to consider the additional costs that are associated with moving an installing such a heavy material
Lifespan – Slate can last as short as 60 years, but it can also last up to 150 years in ideal conditions. This wide range means that it is possible to get very good value or very poor value out of your slate. In a good case (where your slate costs about $300 per square and lasts 150 years), you are getting better value than an average asphalt roof offers. However, in a bad case ($600 per square and replacement after 60 years), you are going to pay $10.00 per square per year, which is 4 times as expensive as your average asphalt roof.
Contact a roofer, like Wayne Siding & Home Improvements, for more help.