Emerging Trends in Roofing: What Homeowners Need to Know

Discover the latest roofing trends, from sustainable materials and energy-efficient solutions to smart roofs, green roofing, and drone inspections. Upgrade your home with innovation and style!

The residential roofing sector has steadily evolved in the past few years. Currently, several roofing solutions offer sustainability, efficiency, innovation, and style.

These trends help keep up with the changing demand of homeowners according to variations in the environment.  

So, if you want to upgrade your home’s roof anytime soon and embrace the latest trends, here is everything you should know!

Trends in Roofing 1: Sustainable Roofing Materials

The new-age homeowner is highly eco-conscious. They are ready to invest more in new roofing technology that impacts the environment less and reduces their carbon footprint.

These generally include opting for recyclable materials, materials extracted from renewable resources, or those that help waste reduction.

Some common innovative roofing materials that support sustainability are:

  • Slate Roofing: They last up to 100 years and can be reused time and again.
  • Recycled Shingles: They are built from the waste from consumers using them. These are extremely durable and eco-friendly.
  • Metal Roofs: They are generally built from recycled materials and can be recycled again after a homeowner disposes of them. This ensures that they don’t reach the landfills anytime soon.
  • Road Asphalt Tiles: They are created using old materials, reducing unnecessary wastage.

Trends in Roofing 2: Energy-Efficient Roofing Solutions

The next top trend is using innovative roofing materials that help homeowners save energy and utility bills. These roofs also diminish environmental impacts by preventing HVAC systems from overworking.

Nowadays, there are several new roofing products available that offer top-class energy efficiency. Some of them are:

Solar Shingles/Tiles

Solar shingles or tiles (not solar panels) are available in thin sheets and create electricity from sunlight.

You don’t have to replace your existing roof to have these, and they are low maintenance. So, the installation and long-term maintenance charges are low. However, upfront, they cost more than solar panels, around $21,000-$25,000 for 1,000 square feet.

Solar tiles are more durable than panels, making them a superior option. They also have a low profile, which helps them blend easily with your existing roofing.

These reduce dependency on non-renewable energy resources, ensuring greater long-term savings and lower utility bills. Embracing solar tiles can also boost your home’s resale value.

Metal Roofs

Metal roofing is renowned for its significant energy efficiency. They are available in various materials, such as steel, copper, tin, aluminum, and others.

Metal roofs naturally reflect sunlight and UV rays, preventing the interior from overheating. This keeps your home cool even during scorching hot summers, so your HVAC system won’t overwork trying to maintain your comfortable indoors.

Moreover, metal roofs are also recyclable, making them a sustainable option. They’re also more long-lasting than common options like asphalt roofs. This offers homeowners plenty of peace of mind as they won’t have to invest in a replacement any time soon.

Cool Roofs

Cool roofs have been popular for quite a while. These new roofing products for residential structures have reflective paint or coatings that prevent your roof from absorbing sunlight and heat.

A common cool roof option is white asphalt shingle roofs. They use special pigments that reflect near-infrared and other invisible radiation, which constitute almost half of sunlight. Thus, the house structure and home interiors don’t get heated, unlike traditional options.

Trends in Roofing 3: Unique Roofing Colors and Designs

Not all homeowners want the same old classic neutrals for their roofing solutions. Modern homeowners are trying out new and unique colors as well, including copper, blue, and plum. So, they often seek roofers who seek unique customization services.

Some popular trends in colored roofing include choosing:

  • Lighter colors for improved sunlight reflectivity.
  • Natural tones, including cool blues, earthy browns, and tans.

Many homeowners are also experimenting with the shape of the roof, such as V or butterfly-shaped roofs and dome-shaped roofs.

Trends in Roofing 4: Flat and Low-Slope Roof Innovation

While flat and low-slope roofs were mostly popular among commercial structures, they’re also garnering attention in the residential section. Several homeowners want to give them a shot because of their reliability and versatility.

The most common options are:

  • Modified Bitumen Roofing: It is highly durable and cost-efficient.
  • EPDM Rubber Roofing: They are budget-friendly and can be easily installed.
  • PVC and TPO Roofing Membranes: They are lightweight in nature and have energy-saving features.

Trends in Roofing 5: Smart Roof Technology

Another new roofing technology is smart roofs. These integrate sensors and devices to track the roof’s condition with devices including leak detection sensors, temperature and humidity monitors, and energy efficiency.

You can also integrate the system with existing home automation systems. So, if there’s any slight issue, you will get alerts about it instantly.

Trends in Roofing 6: Green Roofing Solutions

Green roofing solutions, including vegetative roofs and living roofs, are also quite popular among homeowners. They involve growing vegetation and plants on the rooftop. These types of roofing enhance your home’s insulation.

They also help beat urban heat island effects, where cities experience extreme summers compared to rural regions. This happens because the high volumes of buildings and pavements absorb and retain lots of heat, keeping the surroundings hot.

Green roofing solutions also support water management as they absorb rainwater, causing minimal runoff. They enhance air quality and your roof’s longevity but are expensive upfront.

Trends in Roofing 7: Drone in Roof Inspections 

Another cool technological advancement in the housing roofing industry is the implementation of drones and aerial measurements in roof inspections,

Contractors use high-resolution drones to obtain HD images of the roof to assess its condition effectively. They also use aerial measurement reports to estimate more accurately.

They no longer need to put their staff at risk or bring heavy and bulky ladders or scaffolding. Such technologies make assessments faster, which especially speeds up the process of insurance claims in the event of damage.

Conclusion

These aren’t the only or the end of emerging roofing trends. The roofing industry is steadily moving forward and embracing all sorts of innovative ideas.

If you want to upgrade your roof, ensure you rely on a roofing company that’s well-versed with the latest trends and offers the best services. Don’t know who to choose? Contact us at LA Roofing Materials, and we’ll connect you with the best roofers of all time!