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What is the least expensive material for a roof replacement?

For the budget-minded homeowner, this is the first question, and with good reason. There are multitudes of roofing materials available, but logic tells you that going with the cheapest may not be the best idea. In addition to saving money upfront, you want to choose something that is going to last beyond the first hailstorm, right? After all, you don’t want to pay for another roof replacement for a long, long time! 

If you drive the streets of Coppell, TX, or any city in America, you’ll notice that asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material. Why? Because it is an affordable material and is still durable. But within the category of asphalt shingles, there are three choices to make your roof replacement: 

• Three-Tab: This is installed in a single layer without any overlap and has a lifespan of up to 15 years and typically holds up well under wind speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.
• Architectural: These asphalt shingles are installed with some overlap, providing a home with a slight dimensional look that can last up to 30 years and withstands wind speeds up to 120 miles per hour. 
• Luxury: These are the most expensive asphalt shingles with a lifespan of up to 50 years, withstanding all types of weather better and longer, and they are more fire resistant. This is the top-of-the-line in asphalt shingles and you won’t be looking at another roof replacement probably for the rest of your time in that house.

How often does a roof need to be replaced?

As you can see by the lifespan of the three different asphalt shingles, you may need a roof replacement in 15 years (or less) or you may not need another roof replacement for 50 years.  The average time most asphalt shingle roofs in Texas need to be replaced is between 12 and 15 years.  

What is the best roof for your money?

Metal roof replacement is said to be the best for the money by most roofing contractors. It is more expensive than asphalt shingles, including the architectural or luxury shingles we described above. Going with a corrugated metal roof replacement doesn’t mean your home will look like Grandpa’s old barn either! 

The metal used for roofing homes in Texas today comes in a wide choice of colors so that you can match your home’s architectural style. It has a lifespan on average of 50 years, but some have lasted 75 years or longer. It is installed in flexible sheets, available in different thicknesses, getting heavier with each increase in thickness. Other advantages of a metal roof replacement include: 

1. Strength: A metal roof replacement can withstand winds up to 150 miles per hour and provide better protection in a lightning strike. 
2. Insect Resistance: A metal roof replacement is insect resistant, including termites.
3. Energy Efficient: With a proper ceramic coating, a metal roof will keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. 
4. Recyclable: The metal used for a roof replacement typically is made from recycled metals and can be recycled again with the next roof replacement. 

What type of roof is the most cost-effective?

Again, metal wins! This is your most cost-effective choice for a roof replacement because of the extreme durability it provides. Even though it has a higher cost for installation, it will last two to three times longer than the best asphalt shingle.

Why is commercial roof washing important? 

The roof of your business is the first line of defense against mother nature and the climate, and here in Texas, that climate changes by the minute some days! With that in mind though, it is important to realize the exposure and stress that the roof endures every day. With a regularly inspected and maintained commercial roof, washing is one of the most important things you can have done for several reasons: 

1: Performance Improvement

To get the most out of the energy efficiency and lifespan of a commercial roof, washing it on a regular basis will keep the surface temperature lower, a big plus during Texas summers. This keeps the building interior cooler too, and this all helps ease the workload on the HVAC system too, which helps keep the utility bills down.  

2: Moisture Removed

Moisture is the number one enemy of the roof and regular commercial roof washing will keep the roof clean of debris like fallen leaves, limbs, and other materials that stick to the roof and hold moisture in.  This minimizes and even eliminates the possibility of roof membrane blistering, ponding, and splitting, which lessens the chance of roof leaks.  

3: Fire Hazards Minimized

A commercial structure that stores or manufactures combustible materials is an automatic fire hazard.  With regular commercial roof washing, the roof surface is clean and this minimizes the potential of being a fuel source.

4: Roof Damage Revealed

The usual inspection prior to a commercial roof washing allows you to discover any possible roof issues that can become an expensive, massive roof repair or replacement. 

5: Keeping Building Code Current

For any structure that contains a food-related business, commercial roof washing will help keep the structure within the building code standards. 

7: A Clean Roof Equals A Great Appearance 

First impressions are the cornerstone for any business and with a commercial roof washing, your business will have a ‘ready to do business’ appearance for your clients and potential clients, as well as vendors and visitors. 

What do professionals use for commercial roof washing?

After they have swept the roofing surface free of any loose debris and dirt, most professional commercial roof washing services use a combination of sodium hypochlorite, aka chlorine bleach, sodium hydroxide, and TSP (trisodium phosphate). This combination is sprayed on after wetting the roof with clear water, and then using a push brush, they’ll cover the entire surface.  Once that has been completed, they will rinse the roof with clear water. 

Another method used that is chemical-free and the first choice for many commercial structure owners is done with the same process as described above.  This process typically costs more because the chemical-free products aren’t as strong, so the process takes longer to remove all the algae, lichen, and moss. 

Is power washing a commercial roof safe and worth it?

Any experienced commercial roof-washing contractor knows when to use power-washing methods and when not to use that method. While power washing is the fastest way to blast the algae, lichen, and moss off of a roof, when it isn’t done correctly, it can cause more damage than it is worthwhile. 

Should a rinse be done after a commercial roof washing?

As we described in the process typically used for commercial roof washing, yes, a rinse is included.  After the wash and rinse steps, the contractor will do another inspection of the roof to check for any possible damage they caused as well as any pre-existing damage exposed after the wash. 

What is the difference between pressure wash and power wash?

The key difference between the two is temperature. Power washing is done with highly pressurized steam and pressure washing is using the power of the water. If not done correctly, either can damage a roofing surface.

What are cool roof requirements?

There are two ways to meet the requirements of a cool roof installation:

• Meet or exceed the minimum solar reflectance and thermal emittance values. 
• Meet or exceed the minimum SRI requirement. 

When a cool roof installation meets these requirements, it can reflect more sunlight than a conventional asphalt roof, meaning it is absorbing less solar energy. With the temperature lower on the roof, it makes the attic and interior of the home cooler, using less air conditioning. 

How much energy does a cool roof save?

A cool roof installation provides an average energy savings between 7% to 15%  in cooling costs. This reduces the inside temperature and the amount the air conditioning system works. This, in turn, saves money, as much as 25% of the typical energy bill. 

Are there other benefits of a cool roof installation?

In addition to lowering the need for air conditioning, which lowers the cost of power, and makes the interior of a home cooler, other benefits include: 

• Peak Energy and Grid Stability

Cool roof installation creates solar reflective walls which reduces the use of the air conditioning even at the hottest time of the day. This reduces the stress on the energy grid and minimizes power shortages, blackouts, or brownouts. 

• Combat Climate Change

Cool roof installation directly reduces greenhouse gas emissions by lowering the demand for air conditioning. This results in fewer carbon dioxide emissions from the power plants. Cool roofing reflects the UV energy back to the atmosphere which mitigates global warming and can save as much as $600 billion from CO2 emissions reduction.

• Urban Heat Island Mitigated

In the city, the temperatures during the day are up to 7°F warmer and up to 5°F warmer at night compared to the surrounding rural area. This is caused by heat-absorbing materials like paved streets and sidewalks, and roofing materials. This is referred to as the urban heat island effect, and with a cool roof installation, the solar radiation is immediately reflected back into the atmosphere, dropping the temperature on the urban island, and making homes more comfortable. 

Are there negative aspects of a cool roof?

In addition to the higher cost of a cool roof installation, the other negative is the possible increase in global warming. This happens because the cool roofing surfaces create a chain reaction in increasing the amount of sun the roof would traditionally receive. 

How much more expensive is a cool roof installation?

While it isn’t possible to provide an exact quote on a cool roof installation when compared to the cost of a conventional asphalt roof installation, it is pennies on the dollar higher. The ROI is in the monthly savings with the utilities. 

How long do cool roofs last?

The average residential asphalt roofing can have a lifespan between 15 years and 30 years, dependent on the quality and type of asphalt shingle used. Because the materials used in cool roof installations have a higher durability rate, they can last up to 50 years when properly installed. 

What is the difference between a cool roof and a green roof?

Both serve the purpose of lowering monthly utility expenses and keeping the interior comfortable and cooler. However, a cool roof installation is less expensive on the household budget than green roofing for one major reason:  Cost.  

Once a cool roof installation is completed, the upfront cost and routine maintenance of keeping the roof clean are the only expenses. 

With green roofing, the first expense is a required engineering structural inspection. This is needed to ensure the structure can withstand the additional weight. The installation process is another expense, followed by the maintenance and upkeep of the greenery planted.