Roof Materials for Your
Log Home
by Mercedes Hayes
Your roof is a great opportunity to make a dramatic
statement to the world. This colorful creation
is going to sit atop a unique, custom home, and
no matter what material you choose it's going
to look awesome. There are more choices on the
market today than ever before, and an extra investment
will probably make a bigger impact here than elsewhere
in your home. Even asphalt shingles have taken
on a new personality. Here are some varieties
modern technology has made available to us (my
cost estimates are very broad, and only meant
for comparison's sake).
Asphalt (or Composition) Shingles:
(also known as three-tab shingles) The most commonly
used shingles, these are made from a mixture of
asphalt and fiberglass. The ceramic granules protect
the asphalt from the sun's UV rays. We tend to
buy them according to life expectancy, which starts
at 15 years for the thinnest shingles, 25-30 years
for the next level. Their lifetime depends on
the environment and how well the roof is vented.
This roof will cost around $50-$150 per 100 square
feet.
Laminated Fiberglass Shingles:
Also called architectural or dimensional shingles,
this shingle is still made from a mixture of asphalt
and fiberglass, but is built much thicker, giving
it a more three-dimensional look. Architectural
shingles make the roof look more textured, are
larger than a standard shingle, and come in an
amazing variety of shapes. They are usually guaranteed
for 40 years and could easily cost twice as much
as standard asphalt shingles.
Metal Roof: Metal is one of
the more sought-after roofing materials for log
homes. Usually made of steel, aluminum or copper,
the most commonly discussed metal roof is the
standing seam - sometimes called vertical panel
- roof. You can also get metal shingles that resemble
cedar shakes, slate, or tile. There are several
advantages to using a metal roof, not the least
of which is its fire resistance. These roofs are
also remarkably lightweight, and stand up to hurricane-force
winds. This roof will generally cost about $100-$600
per 100 square feet (very big range of materials
and composition). Life expectancy is anywhere
from 30-50 years up to 100 years.
Cedar Shakes and Shingles: The
difference between a Cedar Shake and a Shingle
is that, generally, the shingle is sawn on both
sides and the shake is hand-split on one (or both)
sides. The shake tends to be thicker. Cedar looks
picture-perfect when installed, and will age to
a beautiful gray, given the right environmental
conditions. However, it is prone to moss and mildew,
and the shingles have been known to curl. To combat
their inherent vulnerabilities, many brands are
treated to prevent mildew, and others are treated
for fire retardancy. The average life expectancy
is about 25-30 years and could cost $400-500 per
100 square feet.
Concrete Tiles: You'll find
a lot of concrete roofs in Europe. Needless to
say, they are incredibly durable and fire-resistant,
and because concrete takes stain so well, you
can find it in up to 50 colors. Of course, this
is a hefty solution for a hefty home: figure out
about 1000 pounds per 100 square feet. Concrete
roof tiles come in several profiles, and have
a life expectancy of about 80 years and can cost
around $200-400 per 100 square feet. There will
be extra expense for beefing up the rafter system
to support the weight.
Clay Tiles: When you mention
clay tiles, most of us think of the half-round
shapes on Spanish Mission buildings. Think no
more! Clay tiles are flat, interlocking, rectangular,
slabs... and of course barrel-shaped. You can
get them in solid colors or blends, textured or
smooth. Figure about 1000 pounds per 100 square
feet. They have a life expectancy of about 50
years, and can cost $400-$500 per 100 square feet.
Slate: Complex, durable, and
beautiful, slate has a life expectancy of 60 -125
years, and more. Your standard slate is about
1/4" thick. The slates are overlapped so
that the bottom edge of the slate is actually
covering two additional layers, and less than
half of the slate is exposed. This standard thickness
will weigh about 750 pounds per 100 square feet.
Modern variations of slate roofs are: Rubber Slate
(post-industrial waste) and Engineered Slate (marble
dust and polyester resins). A real slate roof
can cost up to $1000 per 100 square feet installed.
One of the things I've noticed over the years
is that lighter colored asphalt shingles have
a tendency to streak as rainwater washes down
the roof. Even my dark green roof is streaking
in one spot, although the green masks the darker
stain. Before you decide on a color, do yourself
a favor and drive around the neighborhood; look
for other houses with similar shades. Then you
can make a decision as to what's more important:
how your roof will reflect or absorb the heat,
or which one looks better over the years.
Mercedes Hayes is a Hiawatha
Log Home dealer and also a Realtor in New Jersey
and Pennsylvania. She designed her own log home
which was featured in the 2004 Floor Plan Guide
of Log Home Living magazine. You can learn more
about log homes by visiting http://www.MercedesHayes.com.
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