Sun, rain, snow, and wind exposure all day, every day for years – and it’s supposed to look great and function flawlessly. Here’s a look at some of the more “exotic” options in roofing. Please remember when looking at installed costs, the complexity of the roof line design can cause big swings in labor costs.

Slate

CHARACTERISTICS:
Natural stone, noticeable variation in color.

ADVANTAGES:
Will last 60-125 years, beautiful, weathers well.

DISADVANTAGES:
Extremely expensive, requires more structural support in framing, repair can be expensive.

MAINTENANCE:
Needs no cleaning. Check for cracked or broken slates annually, particularly near the roof plate and at the intersection of roof planes.

SELECTION ADVICE:
There is a wide range of colors available – grey, green, purple, black and red. Colors can even be combined to create an even stronger mottling effect – grey/black, grey/green being popular. Requires open copper valleys.

INSTALLED COST:
$900-$1,300 per square (100 square feet of finished roof) is an average.

 

Slate Substitutes

CHARACTERISTICS:
Made from various materials including plastic, rubber, clay and fiberglass.

ADVANTAGES:
Lighter than slate so it requires no additional structural support, less expensive than slate, lasts about 30-40 years. Easier to install.
Synthetics made from post consumer products are an environmentally friendly choice.

DISADVANTAGES:
Many substitutes look like a synthetic product.

MAINTENANCE:
Needs no cleaning. Check for sun damage annually.

SELECTION ADVICE:
Look for variation in color to get the most natural look possible. Requires open copper valleys.

INSTALLED COST:
$700-$900 per square (100 square feet of finished roof) for recycled rubber or plastic and $200-$300 per square for asphalt slates.

 

Terra Cotta

CHARACTERISTICS:
Natural clay, kiln-fired terra cotta tiles.

ADVANTAGES:
Will last as long as you own your home, beautiful, weathers well.

DISADVANTAGES:
Real clay tiles are more expensive and the labor to install them also costs more.

MAINTENANCE:
Needs no cleaning. Check for cracked or broken tiles annually, particularly near the roof plate and at the intersection of roof planes.

SELECTION ADVICE:
Choose tiles that are carefully manufactured with no carbon residue, or black core. The natural clay will create a variation in color that is one of the reasons that real terra cotta is more desirable.

INSTALLED COST:
$700 per square and up (100 square feet of finished roof) is an average depending on the complexity of the roof design.

 

Wood Shake and Wood Shingles

CHARACTERISTICS:
Naturally rot resistant wood like western red cedar and treated southern yellow pine.

ADVANTAGES:
Lovely natural look. Can last 30-50 years if installed and preserved and maintained properly.

DISADVANTAGES:
Not as durable as other roofing materials. Does not weather well. Needs to have a good finish and preservative applied. Expensive to install. Can be a fire hazard.

MAINTENANCE:
Periodically check the roof for moss or lichens as well as cracked or broken shingles.

SELECTION ADVICE:
Wood shingles are smoother than shake shingles which are more rough hewn. Choose based on the formality of the style of the rest of the home.

INSTALLED COST:
$350-$400 per square (100 square feet of finished roof) is an average.

 

Standing Seam Metal

CHARACTERISTICS:
Reflects UV rays, relatively lightweight, cools down quickly, available in a variety of styles and colors.

ADVANTAGES:
Easy to maintain, most have a class A fire rating, warranties are 20 years and more, resists insects, mildew, and rot, extremely energy efficient – particularly reducing cooling loads which is the greater concern in Nashville.

DISADVANTAGES:
Low R-Value so better insulation is necessary, must protect against corrosion, expands and contracts with temperature changes so must be installed with this in mind.

MAINTENANCE:
Periodically check for corrosion and have roofer remedy this as soon as possible. For painted metal roofs, make sure to buy material that has a 20 year guarantee so you aren’t repainting.

SELECTION ADVICE:
Make sure all the flashing and fasteners are compatible with the metal you choose.

INSTALLED COST:
$600-$800 per square (100 square feet of finished roof) is an average.

 

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