Philadelphia Roof Installation

Whether you are building a new home or replacing existing roofing, in Philadelphia, roof installation is a key factor in how well your house will function. Due to the dramatic variations in temperature and weather that happens annually in southeastern Pennsylvania, it is important to make sure the roof you choose will work well under both below freezing and triple digit conditions (though, more the former than the latter). You also want to make sure that your roof will be built to last. Each material has its pros and cons. Finding the right one to suit your particular needs is an essential part of building or replacing a roof.

Philadelphia Roof Installation by Material
Asphalt shingles are the most common material used for new roof installation in Philadelphia and around the country in general. Though asphalt provides insulation from the cold and is easy to work with, most people choose it because it is far less expensive than most other materials. The downside to asphalt roofs is that their life span is significantly shorter than that of other materials, which forces the homeowner to repair and replace asphalt shingles more often. In fact, environmental concerns are popping up around the use of asphalt shingles because so many of them are shipped to landfills every year. Despite these drawbacks, asphalt covers the roofs of over 80% of American homes, and, especially important in the north, it does a good job keeping heat in during the winter and holds up well under snow.

Due to the example set by old barns in rural Pennsylvania, metal roofing has gained an unwarrantedly poor reputation. The technology used in today's metal roofs has brought them well beyond the performance of these antiquated structures. Modern versions are quiet in the rain, resistant to rust, and can easily last over 50 years. Though metal roofing itself doesn't provide very good insulation, its lightweight construction makes it easy to install directly on top of the existing roof, keeping the original roof's insulate qualities intact. For winter time in Philly, residents will be happy to see that snow and ice often slide right off of metal roofs, relieving any issues that that extra weight could cause.

Cedar roofing is generally not thought of as a good material for a primary residence in any environment that receives moderate precipitation coupled with dramatic annual temperature changes. Though cedar is more bad weather friendly than many other species, it is still wood and will require a lot of attention to reach its full life expectancy. If you've got a fishing cabin outside of town, cedar's rustic and unique look fits perfectly. If you want a low maintenance, high performance roof over your house, cedar might not be the best choice.

Last, but not least, come stone and tile roofs. Each is incredibly durable (often 100+ years) and each is incredibly expensive both to install and to repair. Both are very attractive and will easily raise the market value of your home. If you have the funds to afford a slate or tile roof, you will not be disappointed with the performance.

Prices for Philadelphia Roof Installation
For asphalt roof installation, Philadelphia residents should be prepared for a bill in the low to mid thousands closer to the city (where roofs are generally smaller) and up to $10,000 in the suburbs and surrounding areas. Slate and tile roofing installation starts at around $10,000 and gets increasingly expensive the bigger the job gets. Cedar roofing and metal roofing prices lie somewhere in the middle, but also vary depending on the size of the job.