Many consumers who are out shopping for a brand new home or are planning to build are faced with a multitude of choices. Everyone has their “must have” list which often includes features such as granite or quartz countertops, stainless appliances, stone fireplace, hardwood floors…the list goes on. These are the nice-to-have visually appealing features. What about the “bones”? What is the best roofing material you should be looking at?

Most people have a budget to work with that will no doubt limit your ability to have it all. It really comes down to priorities. People often don’t think about the foundation structure, insulation, windows, and roofing… beyond the fact that they will have one. These items are often an afterthought because they are not visual in the sense that a granite counter makes a kitchen look rich.

Those folks who do take notice of the less visual items in a home are those who have “lived and learned”, that is to say they have had failures and shortcomings and don’t want to experience them again. If you drive through a new development of mid-priced family homes being built you will see that virtually all will have an asphalt single roof. Asphalt shingles are the lowest cost sloped roofing materials in North America. It will go virtually unnoticed because that is what is installed as standard by all builders, unless the homeowner is building custom and requests the upgrade… a particular roof type or look.

From the builder’s perspective, a roof is not a priority selling feature, like a custom countertop, and the roof just needs to look nice and be inexpensive, like the other builders roofs. Those homeowners in the know, especially those who have experienced hail damage or premature expenses for roof replacement, will want a better roof. The most common residential roof in the UK is concrete as it is the lowest cost permanent roof offered in that marketplace. Asphalt is generally not used on homes due to its less than permanent nature. It would seem they place a higher value on the “bones” than we do in North America.



What is the best roofing material?

So what is the right roof? Well…that depends. A permanent roof will cost more upfront and that is the single largest deterrent. Think longer term though, how good it looks and it all makes sense.

If you are planning to stay in your home for the long run then it makes sense to put on a roof with a lifetime warranty (but make sure it’s transferable…just in case).

Does the area you live in get hit with damaging hail periodically? Then you want a hail resistant roof. Those will be roofs rated as Class 4 Listed. So what does this mean? A Class 4 roof is the best rating for impact, tested to more rigorous standards, meaning that it will be better at resisting damage from hail. The “Listed” designation is an important one and you want to make sure that the Class 4 product you buy is Listed. This means that the product is under a follow-up program by an accredited 3rd party testing laboratory, a requirement for virtually all insurance companies if you want the maximum discount available for installing a hail resistant roof.

Over the long term, when you take into account the cost of roof replacements, a permanent roof often costs less per year to own, especially when you consider potential insurance premium savings. The added benefit is a much nicer, richer looking crown on your castle and a wise investment in your home.

Euroshield rubber roofing offers a lifetime warranty, is Class 4 Listed for hail and comes with a 2” hail warranty, plus it’s recognized by most insurers. It comes in classic slate and shake profiles and is one of the lowest cost permanent roofing products available. Our roofing systems are Eco Friendly Green Roofing products, made from up to 95% recycled materials, the primary ingredient being rubber from recycled tires. Learn more about our products Beaumont Shake, Rundle Slate and Ranchlands Shake.