The Most Common Albemarle County Roofing Styles

Your roof single-handedly protects your home, and your family from the elements. It’s part of what keeps you warm, safe, and snug, and it can seriously impact your energy efficiency and comfort. Choose the right Albemarle County roofing style and you’ll enjoy years of security and enjoyment with only the most basic yearly maintenance.

Need a new roof installed? Whether you’re building your dream home or retiring your current roof, understanding the common Albemarle County roofing materials and styles is the best way to achieve premium results. From metal roofs to energy-efficient solar, these five roofing styles are by far the most popular for local residents.

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingle roofing is by far the most common Albemarle County roofing material. It’s easy to install, relatively affordable, and easy to spot-fix if problems occur. Property owners who use shingles can choose from a variety of colors and styles. There’s plenty of room for customization with shingles.

One of the biggest benefits of asphalt is that the material is suitable for nearly any climate or temperature. Though the Piedmont plateau doesn’t experience extreme temperature changes, intense heat in the summer and high humidity can sometimes cause roofing to break down over time. Asphalt shingles withstand this heat better than some other roofing materials.

Choose asphalt shingles when you’re on a tight budget, when you want easy customization, and whenever you need an easy-to-install or fix roofing solution.

Metal Roofs

The delightful sound of rain on a tin roof–an iconic countryside memory for many Americans. Although they’re fairly new in the history of the country, first popping up in the mid-19th Century, metal roofs are already making a comeback from a slight dip in popularity. Metal roofs are also becoming an increasingly common and popular Albemarle County roofing material due to its longevity and protection.

The term “metal” is ubiquitous here; it doesn’t refer to a single material or style. Rather, it’s an umbrella term that encompasses all of the following:

• Corrugated metal roofing
• Galvanized steel roofing
• Raised seam metal roofing
• Roofs made from aluminum, copper, zinc, or tin
• A long list of other metal combination products

Corrugated roofing is the most affordable, while materials like zinc and galvanized steel are more durable, but also more expensive.

The biggest benefit of metal roofing is that it increases heating efficiency. Expect an additional 20 to 25 percent of your current heating needs to come from radiant solar heating (e.g. sunlight heating up your roof) rather than your furnace.

Clay Tile Roofing

Clay tile roofing can be immensely beautiful when it’s installed correctly. Benefit-wise, clay provides excellent durability, longevity, reliability, and even a boost to both heating and cooling when seasonal temperatures change.

With the first assumed usage dating back to approximately 10,000 B.C., it’s easy to see that humans have relied upon clay for a long time. Early iterations of the clay roof were unfortunately fragile. Though they provided excellent coverage, they would often crack or even melt in heavy rains–potentially destroying a hut or home.

With so many disadvantages, it might seem surprising that we still rely so heavily on it for residential or business roofing. But today’s clay is a far cry from the clay used in ancient civilizations.

Centuries ago, clay roof tiles were mostly made from water and clay baked in low-temperature ovens. Today’s clay tiles are baked in kilns at much, much higher temperatures that make them stronger and more resistant to wear.

Wander through any southwestern town and you’ll find at least one or two clay tile roofs. But clay’s innate ability to be cut and molded into any shape is making the clay roof grow in popularity as a common Albemarle County roofing option. From fish scale tiles to raised seam clay roofs, this diverse solution works best for those who are less concerned about budget and more concerned about overall appearance and performance.

Solar Roof Options for Albemarle County Roofing

Last, but certainly not least, is the solar roof.  As most people would assume, the most significant benefit to installing a solar roof is the energy savings. It is possible for homeowners who use minimal amounts of power to rely entirely on a solar roof, going off-grid altogether. However, most Albemarle residents use it as a back-up while staying on the grid.

So–just how much could installing a solar roof save you? According to GreenTech Media, your new roof should pay for itself in approximately 6.5 years. More advanced solar roof tech, like Tesla’s new solar roof, could potentially pay for themselves even faster.

Given that the average solar roof lasts 10 or more years, that’s a sound investment.

Not sure about installing a full solar roof? You can have solar panels installed in sections, too, adding additional panels over time. This is ideal for people who want to live greener, but may not have the budget to go all-in at the same time.

The integrity and reliability of your roof is important. Ensuring that your roof lasts as long as possible starts with making the right decision about style and the materials used. These five popular Albemarle County roofing options may help you to determine which type of material is best for your new roof. But this is not a decision you need to make alone. Contact your local roofing company for a consultation that addresses all of your most important questions.