If you own a vacation home on the lake or in the woods, then you want to use building materials that need little maintenance so you don't have to spend your spare time on home improvement chores. One such consideration is the roofing material to choose when the house needs a new roof. Common choices are tile, metal, and asphalt shingles. Here's a look at how each would work for a vacation home or cabin.
Tile Roofs Last A Long Time
The advantage of a tile roof is that it lasts for a long time. A disadvantage is the cost since tile roofs are expensive. Also, a tile roof may not be suitable when it comes to style since a different type of roofing material may match a cabin or rustic lake house better. However, tile roofs are a good match for a luxury vacation home, and if you choose tile, you'll have a roof that is durable and resists damage from bugs, fire, and storms.
Asphalt Roofs Require Maintenance
Asphalt shingles are an affordable roofing option, and for that reason, asphalt could be ideal for a cabin or small house on the lake when you want to control cost. A disadvantage of asphalt shingles is that they have a shorter lifespan than tile or metal roofs. However, you should still get many years of life from the roof as long as you keep up with maintenance. Asphalt roofing is made to stand up to storms and resist fire, but the shingles can become loose or crack. Animals like raccoons and squirrels can also damage the shingles. When a shingle is damaged, the roof may start leaking.
A leaky roof in a home that's abandoned for weeks or months at a time is not good since water damage goes unchecked and mold might grow in the house. However, as long as you check the roof occasionally and hire a roofing contractor to make repairs to damaged areas when needed, an asphalt roof might be the perfect choice for your vacation home.
Metal Roofing Is Durable
Metal could be an ideal roofing material for a vacation house. Metal costs more than asphalt, but it also has a longer life. Metal roofs have an attractive appearance that is suited for cabins and lake houses. You can even have a metal roof installed that has a rusted appearance if you want a rustic look for your home. Metal roofs come in colors such as bright red, green, and blue so you can complement your siding color and contrast or match the color of the surrounding environment. You could also choose white so your house stays cooler in the summer when the house is vacant and the air conditioner is off.
Metal roofs are tough and durable so they aren't easily damaged by animals, storms, or fires. They need little maintenance, so metal could be a good choice for a vacation home you don't visit too often.
Choosing a roof you like based on appearance and longevity is important, so talk to a roofing contractor about your options and get a recommendation for what would be the ideal roofing for your vacation home.
One day when we were all sitting in our living room, I thought I felt a drop of water fall onto my arm. At first, I figured it was my imagination, but when the second one fell, I knew we had an issue. Although it wasn't raining that day, it had rained the day before, so I started looking for the source of the problem. After looking in my attic, I could tell what the problem was, and I knew I had to fix it. I started looking for ways to stop the water immediately, but it just wasn't working for me. Fortunately, roofers came out, fixed the problem, and showed me what I needed to do to clean up the mess. Read more on this blog.