Types of Roofing

Our Types of Roofing Materials

Increase home value and protect what’s inside with a long-lasting roof

Whether you are installing a new roof on a new house or replacing an older roof that is no longer doing its job, there are many choices in terms of the types of roofing materials available. Some of the different options include asphalt shingles, tile roofing, slate roofing, and more.

Factors that determine what type of roofing is best include the slope and complexity of the roof, as well as the style of the house, local climate and the cost of different roofing options.

At GF Sprague of Greater Boston, you can trust that you’ll have the best roofing in no time!

Contact us today for your free estimate. We provide quality roofing services, including roof repair, roof replacement and installation in Newton, Needham, Wellesley, and the surrounding areas of Massachusetts!

 


Slate roofing

Slate roof installation by roofing company.
Slate is king of roofing materials but finding someone who can install or repair it may be a challenge.

Most roofing slate used in the U.S. comes from slate deposits in Vermont and Pennsylvania.

Expensive to manufacture and tricky to install, this “stone” roof is among the most expensive available. When properly installed and maintained, a slate roof can last for 75 years or more.

 

 


Asphalt & asphalt fiberglass shingles

Asphalt shingle roof replacement.
Manufacturers have created asphalt shingles that imitate the look of wood and slate.

Although these terms are used interchangeably, most roof shingles used today are technically known as asphalt fiberglass shingles. The fiberglass mat embedded in the shingle provides an extra measure of strength and tear resistance.

These shingles are the most popular type of roofing for sloped roofs because they’re affordable, easy to install, durable, and available in a wide variety of colors. Premium grades of “laminated” asphalt fiberglass shingles are typically warrantied for 50 years.

 


Wood shingles & shakes

Wood shingle roof replacement.
Wood shingles and shake roofs are beautiful, but expect more maintenance compared to an asphalt roof.

Wood shingles and shakes usually come from red cedar, Alaskan yellow cedar or Eastern white cedar. These evergreens produce wood that is dimensionally-stable and naturally resistant to rot and insect attack.

The main difference between shingles and shakes is that shakes are split from the log and have a rough, random texture; shingles have a smoother surface because they’re sawed. A wood roof is expensive, and requires extra skill to install. That’s why most people avoid installing this type of roof unless they’re dealing with an historic house.

 


Copper RoofingCopper Panels

Crafted and installed by expert coppersmiths, copper roofs create an attractive accent that few craftsmen are skilled enough to do. A copper roof provides great durability and weather resistance. Copper roofing is also lightweight and low maintenance.

 


Rubber roofing

Rubber flat roof installation.
Rubber membrane roofs are often used to seal flat roofs over garages and porches. Credit: EPDM Roofing Association

Although rubber has been around for a long time, rubber roofing is fairly new. That’s because it’s taken a great deal of chemistry research to develop a thin rubber membrane with the durability and waterproof qualities required of a roofing material. Rubber roofing is sometimes referred to as EPDM roofing. EPDM is an abbreviation for ethylene propylene diene monomer, the highly engineered compound used to manufacture most types of rubber roofing. Rubber roofing is used primarily on flat or low-slop roofs. A “membrane roof” usually refers to a rubber or EPDM roof that is installed in a flat roof or a low-slope application.

 


Metal roofing

Metal roof installation by roofing company.
Metal roofing styles range from standing seam styles to shingle look-a-likes.

Metal roofing is a huge category that includes factory-formed and finished roofing panels as well as roofing panels that are cut and formed at the building site. Metal roofing has a long history of use on houses, farm structures and more. Its main limitation is that it’s not suitable for use on complex or curved roofs. Like corrugated roofing, many metal roofs can be installed directly over a worn-out older roof without tearing off the old roofing material.

 


Flat roofing

Because any flat roof is inherently prone to leaking, it’s important to hire skilled installers whenever flat roofing is repaired, replaced or installed.

This roofing category is often grouped with “low-slope” roofing because many of the roofing treatments are the same. The most common flat-roofing materials used today include single-membrane systems like EPDM or rubber roofing, thermo-polyolefin (TPO) roofing and PVC roofing.


Choosing the right roofer is just as important as using quality materials

GF Sprague is a full-service roofing contractor, specializing in everything from new roof installations, roof repairs and maintenance to total roof replacements. It doesn’t matter what type of roofing system we are working with, we always ensure quality workmanship, excellent customer service and a long-lasting, durable roof over your head.

Our roofers work throughout the Greater Boston area, including Wellesley, Needham, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Weston, Boston, Brookline, Quincy, Watertown, Cambridge and many parts of Massachusetts. Call us at 1-781-455-0556 today to schedule an appointment for a roofing estimate.

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