About three-quarters of American homes are covered by composite asphalt shingles. They are cheap and easy to install, but they do have some drawbacks, mainly that they are bad for the environment and have a shorter lifespan than other roofing materials. If you choose composite shingles, you better be ready to put down the cash for a succession of roof repairs in Denver.

Even older than the asphalt shingle style are wood shake shingles. They last even longer than composition shingles. Wood looks more natural and smoother. Although they are made from trees, they are friendly because they break down unlike petroleum products. If they are well maintained they will last a long time, but wood shakes are always a fire hazard.

Metal roofs are popular with those trying to save money on energy bills. Metal roofs save you money on air conditioning bills because they reflect money in hot environments. If you choose a painted ceiling, you need regular painting maintenance. However, metal roofs last a long time and do not need Denver roof repairs very often. Metal also does a good job of protecting your home from the weather.

An older and more environmentally friendly roofing material is tile. The tile is made of clay or sometimes concrete. These are naturally fire resistant materials. Clay is just dirt, so it doesn’t have a problem with decomposition. The main drawbacks of tiles and concrete is that they are heavy and brittle materials. They provide good protection, but can break and need a solid roof to support the heavy weight of these roofing materials.

Flat roofs have completely different roofing materials. Some are basically a giant asphalt shingle. It uses hot asphalt with stone inlays. These are not very friendly because they use a lot of smelly tar, which is a risk to installers and the environment.

Green roofs that use dirt on top are very good for carbon consumption and global warming. Basically, they can have a garden on their roof that also provides insulation. Engineered rubber roofing is made from recycled materials, but can be hard to find at your local Denver roof repair company.