Does your home need a new roof? Then you might want to bring it up to style with one of these trendy, modern roofing ideas.
Modern roofing systems have been refined over a period of centuries. Until the mid-19th century, the primary roofing materials were clay tiles or shingles made of wood or slate. However, new materials such as asphalt shingles have opened up new roofing possibilities since then. Today’s roofs can be attractive, practical, and environmentally conscious all at once.
Ready to learn about today’s top roofing trends? In this guide, we’ll break it down. Keep reading to learn the best roofing ideas to upgrade your home!
Why Roofing Ideas Matter
Roofing doesn’t just refer to the top of the house that you can see. It also means that structural elements holding up the roof, the exterior surface of the roof, the trim that connects it with the rest of the house, and the underside of the overhang. This is a pretty big part of your home as a whole.
Roofing doesn’t just protect your house from the elements – it also can add lots of style to a home. There’s a vast variety of roofing materials you can now choose from, including wood, metal, rubber, ceramic, asphalt, and concrete. Every material works best for different applications and styles.
The roof can also help add wind resistance, soundproofing, energy efficiency, structural integrity, and other factors to a home. You can choose from different colors, designs, and shapes to get the look you want. And different roofing ideas have different features in terms of longevity, cost, ecological soundness, installation methods, maintenance needs, and performance, as well as appearance.
When you replace your home’s roof, you’ll likely have to work with some constraints. You’ll need to think about your climate, community regulations, and the weight of roof your house can support.
But with so many different roofing options, you’ll easily be able to choose something you like, even within these constraints. Let’s get into some of the top trending roofing styles right now.
Environmentally Friendly Roofing
Many consumers now want things to be eco-friendly around the house as much as possible. The roof can make a big impact on how environmentally friendly your home is. You have a few different options if this is a priority for you. Let’s take a look at what they are, and you can view here for ideas on where to get your environmentally-sound roofing.
1. Metal Roofing
Metal roofing is completely recyclable, and it’s ideal for generating solar power or collecting rainwater. Metal roofs are also long lasting, easy to clean, and can be put on top of the existing roof, saving money on installation and protecting your home from the elements even further.
2. Recycled Shingles
Some manufacturers make their shingles out of mainly recycled materials. These shingles are durable and can be recycled again once their lifespan is up.
3. Slate
Slate roofs are the longest-lasting, most durable kind of roof, and they’re also very eco-friendly. With a high-quality slate roof, it can be almost a century before a replacement is needed.
4. Green Roofs
Green roofs are typically seen on urban apartments with flat roofs, or on businesses. However, the trend is growing (get it?) among eco-friendly homeowners, too. If you have roof access, you can even use your roof like a park, or for growing food.
Energy Conscious Roofing
An energy-saving roof helps save the environment, too, but it’s also friendlier for your wallet. These roofing choices provide extra insulation so your home can hold in more heat or cold as needed, and keep the elements out.
Any type of roof can be made more energy conscious with extra insulation. Another way to make energy-conscious roofs is with the addition of solar panels.
Traditionally, solar panels are mounted to the roof using rails and clips. Some materials work better for solar panel installation than others. But now, you can also boost your home’s efficiency by installing solar shingle roofs, with shingles that collect and use solar power for your home.
If your neighborhood has restrictions that don’t let you install traditional solar panels, the solar shingle roof is a great choice.
Colorful Roofing
Today’s designer roofing trends tend to feature bold colors. Many homeowners are turning to unexpected shades including bright white, bold red, and vibrant blues. People are also drawn to metallic choices such as stainless steel and titanium, not to mention the beautiful, gradual patina of copper.
When Pantone named Ultra Violet the 2018 Color of the Year, the stage was set for such bold color choices. However, it’s important to be careful with the color you choose – you should make sure you’ll be happy with it for the next several decades.
To pick the right color, look at your home at different times of the day and in different types of weather before choosing, since these factors will affect how the roof looks. Consider your climate, too. A white roof can help things stay much cooler in hot areas than a black roof.
You can use online visualization software to see how your home would look with different roof colors and materials. Roofs tend to last longer than siding, so you’ll want to coordinate the roof to your home’s masonry, more than to the trim or siding, which can easily be repainted.
Which Roofing Ideas Will You Try?
Roofing ideas for your home are as varied as the home styles themselves. But if you want your home to be on trend, we recommend trying out one of these interesting, modern roofing styles.
You’ll probably only replace your home’s roof once, maybe twice, so it’s a big decision. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be bold or daring and try something you’ve never done before.
Looking for more roofing ideas? Check out our guide to roofing materials here.