Which Roof Style Will Maximize Your Home’s Curb Appeal

The type of roofing material you choose can impact considerably your home's curb appeal. The correct material can make your home look more stylish and inviting. But the wrong one can detract from its overall appearance.

• Cedar Shake Roof

Cedar shake roofs are another gorgeous, natural, and historically significant roofing material. This option competes with slate roofs for the title of most visually pleasing.

These shingles may be hand split or taper sawn from cedar trees. They have a rougher appearance while maintaining a polished aesthetic quality.

Wooden shingle roofs were widespread in Colonial America because wood was inexpensive, abundant, and readily worked into shingles. Slate, tile, and thatch were the most common roofing materials in Europa throughout the same time.

In the 19th century, wood shakes became widely used as the standard roofing material throughout the United States. Manufacturers crafted these shakes and shingles from different types of wood, depending on where they were installed. Oak and Cyprus were common in the South, while redwood and cedar were typical in the West.

Cedar shakes have insulating properties that make them aesthetically pleasing, long-lasting, sturdy, and energy efficient. Yet, this type of roof may require frequent inspections and repairs to prevent moss, mildew, and mold. Thus, makers apply preservatives to the wood throughout its production to protect it from rotting and fungus.

Because of their high quality and durability, cedar shake roofs often cost more than other materials. The price of a cedar roof can be more than five times that of asphalt shingles in a dimensional roofing system.

The initial investment in synthetic shakes is more than genuine cedar. Yet, these shakes have a far longer predicted lifespan and require significantly less care during their lifespan.

• Metal Roofs 

The use of metal for roofing has become popular recently for good reasons. They can give any home a sophisticated, contemporary appearance that surely will attract passers-by. Metal roofing comes in many shapes and colors. So you can pick the one that best complements your home's design.

Metal roofs are no longer rusted corrugated metal roofing that people ignored for years. Metal roofs are made of galvanized steel, copper, aluminum, zinc, or tin. Besides, more than a hundred distinct colors are available for metal roofs. Standing seam metal roofs are the most common. But metal shingles that look like clay tiles, slate, or cedar shakes are also available.

Because of their reflecting properties, metals are an energy-efficient building material. Hence, you will spend less money and time cooling your home in the summer.

Metal roofs have several advantages. But they have a higher initial investment. High-end metal roofing can be as much as ten times more expensive than asphalt shingles. However, costs vary widely based on quality and kind. 

Metal roofs are more expensive to install because they need more time, effort, and money to get right. It may be wise to spend more money upfront for a roof that will probably never require replacing.

Do You Want to Improve Your Home's Curb Appeal?

Is your roof still in good condition or relatively new? There is no need to replace it only for aesthetical reasons. 

Watkins Construction & Roofing can provide you with the help you need. You can get in touch with us by calling us at 251-299-8151. We service areas in Gulf Shores, Spanish Fort, Foley, Fairhope, Robertsdale, and Orange Beach, AL.