Pittsburgh Roof Installation

When it comes to roof installation, Pittsburgh homeowners have a variety of options to choose from. Every type of roof has its own unique benefits and drawbacks. The one you pick should not only compliment the look of your house but be durable and well suited to the environmental conditions of the area, as well.

Options for Roof Installation in Pittsburgh
When building a new home or replacing the roof on an old one, you have four basic types of materials to pick from. The most common, by far, is the asphalt shingle. Asphalt is a cost effective and popular choice for Pittsburgh roof installation and is the number one type of roofing material in the country. Asphalt shingles are well suited to southwestern Pennsylvania because they provide good insulation from the cold.

The biggest drawback of asphalt as a roofing material is that it doesn't last as long as other materials. There is also an environmental issue; since asphalt must be replaced more frequently than other roofs, landfills receive massive amounts of shingles every year. An asphalt roof will generally perform very well for 20 or 25 years, but then its quality begins to degrade and repairs or partial replacement are often necessary.

Metal roofing, though not nearly as common, is a pretty good choice for Pittsburgh area roofs. It will cost more than asphalt (sometimes as much as 2 or 3 times as much), but it can easily last for over 50 years. Metal roofing is extremely durable and will require few repairs over its lifetime, but it is not without its drawbacks. Aside from the price, metal roofing provides very little insulation from the cold. This problem is often solved by installing a metal roof directly over an existing asphalt roof, thereby retaining the insulate qualities of the other material, but creating a new surface that will last a long time (and weather the elements quite well).

Cedar roofing provides a significant amount of insulation, but is also more expensive than asphalt roofing. Though cedar is naturally more insect and weather resistant than other wood species, it will not last very long unless it is well maintained. Anyone familiar with what happens to wood when left outdoors will know that it takes a lot of upkeep for it to remain in good condition. While cedar is probably not the best choice for a Pittsburgh home, its rustic and rugged good looks make it aesthetically appealing. Cedar's a great idea for a cabin but falls short for a primary residence.

Stone roofing such as slate or tile is incredibly durable, and can last over 100 years. It looks great, provides excellent insulation and performs extremely well in a moisture rich and sometimes freezing climate. In Pittsburgh, some houses are lucky enough to already have a slate or tile roof. Unfortunately, both are very brittle and can easily crack under moderate weight, making them difficult and expensive to work on. They are also quite expensive to install.

Pittsburgh Roof Installation Prices
For asphalt roof installation, Pittsburgh prices start at around $2,000 for very small jobs, but are usually $5,000 or more. Slate and tile roofing installation are usually in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. Metal roofing and cedar roofing vary in price, but generally cost somewhere between asphalt and stone.