Roofing in New Jersey

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If you're considering installing new roofing in New Jersey, you may be somewhat confused by the wide array of choices in materials, colors and styles. From the common asphalt shingle to the more exotic cedar wood shakes, clay tile, slate and even various metals, today's New Jersey roofing materials are undergoing quite a revolution.

According to a survey conducted by the National Roofing Contractors Association, the popularity of asphalt shingles is falling, while at the same time, homeowners are choosing metal and clay tile, as well as slate and wood shakes. By far, however, metal is the latest material of choice for New Jersey roofing projects.

And it's no wonder. Metal offers many advantages, including greater fire protection, increased durability, superior wind resistance, and improve heat reflection. Add to this impressive list the fact that metal is completely recyclable, and it's easy to see why homeowners are choosing metal for the roofing in New Jersey counties such as:

Another important reason for the shift from asphalt to other more natural alternatives is history. Going all the way back to the 1700s, metal roofs in particular were quite common. As our world becomes busier, people increasingly view their homes as a refuge from the stresses of their active lives, and are more apt to choose historically accurate building materials to create a warm and inviting oasis reminiscent of earlier times. So resurgence in the popularity of metal as a New Jersey roofing material seems logical and very natural. And as many homeowners have discovered, metal offers the look and durability they want without the high price tag of wood shakes, slate or tile. Given that many metal roofs last well beyond the average of 20 years for asphalt, the opportunity to never replace the roof again is also highly appealing.

Metal roofs are not without their drawbacks, however. They can be very slippery, which is great for snow, but not so great if someone needs to climb onto the roof for routine maintenance. The sounds of rain and hail are certainly louder. And it may be more difficult to find an installer for a specialty roof. Also, metal roofs in New Jersey and elsewhere across the country cost about twice as much as fiberglass-asphalt shingles, depending on the type of metal used. But that may not be the case for long as the cost of asphalt roofing is rising along with petroleum costs, their main ingredient.

If you make the decision to choose one of these newer specialty materials for your New Jersey roofing project, be certain to choose an experienced contractor like Global Home Improvement, because metal and other types of roofs require more difficult installation than asphalt.