If you're familiar with Austin, Texas, you know that it's growing by leaps and bounds! Among other things, there's an increasing need for living spaces, and thus a need for construction materials, including contemporary roofing materials.

If you're a property manager or landlord for apartment complexes, you know that the Central Texas climate calls for special roofing materials when either building new or re-roofing older buildings.

In this article, we'll discuss the best roofing materials both for the climate and value. If you need more detailed information, be sure to ask Austin Roofing.

Contemporary Roofing Materials

There is a greater variety of contemporary roofing materials than what is reflected in the following paragraphs. However, we're focusing on those that seem particularly appropriate for multi-unit properties as well as the Austin climate.

Composite Shingle Roofing

This is one of the most common and least expensive roofing materials. It's found on homes throughout North America.

Composite shingles are made from a mixture of different commonly used roofing materials, including recycled asphalt shingles, fiberglass, tar paper roofing, slate, cedar shake, laminate, wood, and other materials.

This combination of materials makes for strong and durable roofing material. The fact that many of the materials have been recycled also makes them an environmentally friendly product.

Composite shingles have several benefits too, including:

• These shingles thrive in the heat : It seems that a little melting of the shingle adhesive helps the shingles re-seal and protect your home.
• They're durable.
• They're wind resistant.
• They're also fire resistant.
• And impact resistant
• And they're fade resistant!
• They're low in cost.
• And they're environmentally friendly.

With this laundry list of benefits, it's no wonder these shingles are used so widely!

Clay Tile Roofing

Few roofing materials are more in keeping with the overall look and style of Austin than terracotta clay tiles (or clay tiles of any kind for that matter). Many Austin homes have stucco exteriors with clay tile roofs.

These Mission-style homes show off the city's Spanish and Mexican heritage.

Unlike other roofing materials, clay tiles have a distinctive round or wavy shape both for aesthetics and to drain off rainfall. Both the substance and the shape have an insulating effect that makes homes more comfortable in hot weather.

Other advantages of clay tiles are:

• A clay tile roof is expected to last over 50 years.
• These tiles are very durable and weather resistant.
• The color comes naturally from the earth and doesn't fade.
• Maintenance is relatively low.
• These roofs are energy-efficient due to their insulating properties.
• They are environmentally friendly.

Clay tiles are expensive & top of the line beautiful! They do require a periodic power-washing for organic growth. Still, the ease with which individual clay tiles can be replaced gives them an advantage!

Concrete Tile Roofing

Concrete tile roofing is quite similar to clay tile roofing. However, where clay tile roofs have been in use since ancient times, concrete tiles are a much newer phenomenon. They are a popular one, though.

Concrete tiles cost about 30 percent less than clay tiles but they are nearly twice as heavy . However, unlike clay tiles, concrete tiles can be shaped and colored to imitate other roofing materials, like cedar shakes and slate.

Both concrete and clay tile have their advantages and disadvantages which causes us to say at this point, we're calling it a draw. Both seem pretty darn good!

Metal Roofing

Metal roofing has been growing in popularity pretty much everywhere lately and it's no wonder why. While other roofing materials claim benefits such as durability and wind-resistance, metal roofs seem to outdo them.

Typically, metal roofing is made from zinc, aluminum, copper and steel alloys. High-quality metal roofing has standing seams : panels that have seams that fit together and cover the fasteners of each panel. This "concealed fastener" design greatly reduces water getting in over time through "exposed" screw heads and their holes :)

These come in both single-lock and double-lock versions: Single-lock panels attach in a single long joint along the long ends, while double-lock panels have a second bend in the long joint for extra strength.

Here are some benefits of metal roofing :

• This material has an expected lifespan of over 50 years.
• Much of it has been recycled and is recyclable.
• It's fire-resistant.
• Its interlocking panels provide wind resistance.
• It's easy to maintain.
• It's energy-efficient: Metal panels reflect the sun, keeping homes cooler.
• It's lightweight: The panels can even be installed on top of existing shingles if desired.

As you can tell, metal roofing has many advantages. If you are considering a metal roof, Austin is well suited for one.

Comparisons Among Roofing Types

While asphalt shingle roofs are still widespread, probably due to their low up-front cost, they might not be the best value, especially not for apartment complexes and the long-run.

Clay tile has a great historical context as well as natural beauty. Plus, it offers very good insulation from the summer heat.

Concrete tiles offer many different looks, are durable and long-lasting.

Metal roofing, the Belle of the Texas Ball, has a lot going for it, including excellent overall value. We've noticed that a lot of apartment and condominium communities have used this material. The choice is yours, but here's a helpful article comparing the different types of roofing we've discussed here.

By the way, we didn't mention it here, but slate is actually the longest lasting roofing material. Unfortunately, it's also very expensive!

You're Covered!

Austin now has nearly a million people. That's close to double what it was 30 years ago--and people continue to arrive. So, there's ongoing demand for quality roofs. Fortunately, new and innovative contemporary roofing materials are abundant.

If you're a good apartment manager, you know many different factors bear on the choice of roofing material to use for your properties.

Choose wisely and let us know if we can help or advise you when making the selection. We are roofers, after all. And we'd love to help you out!

- The Team @ Austin Roofing and Construction