Living in a Sarasota beach house is the dream of many homeowners, but requires a home built to withstand the salt water, sand and sunshine. Your roofing structure bears the brunt of the elements – and should be designed with the unique challenges of coastal living in mind.
If you are looking to put a new roof on your Sarasota beach house, here are some factors to consider.
How Beach House Roofing Materials Stack Up
Whether you live on Siesta, Lido or Longboat Key, living on the beach is a special experience few will ever know. However, there are some things to be concerned about. For instance, many Gulf-front homeowners dream of soaring windows which allow for vast, sweeping views of the beach and water. However, the consistent salt spray makes cleaning those windows an ongoing chore. Your roofing materials will also react a bit differently out at the beach than in suburbia.
- Asphalt shingles are tough and resilient – not mention more affordable than many other roofing material options. The dark grey textured tiles will hide dirt and sand, and last up to 30 years if the conditions don’t get too crazy. However, of all your choices, asphalt shingle may begin to break down more quickly if the weather is extreme. You can lose granules after severe storms, or see the shingles curl up due to constant moisture. Shingles also bake in the sun and can become cracked. Give that your beach house may not have any trees to offer periodic shade, you should begin to look for signs of deterioration after the first decade or so. Here’s a Hint: Covering the shingles with a UV sealant will not only help to extend the lifespan o f the roof, but will help the shingle to reflect hot rays up and away from the home.
- Metal roofing is an excellent option for a beach house. While the material can get dented if struck by heavy debris, overall it is considered an exceptionally resilient material which can last 50 years or more. Aluminum in particular is lightweight, easy to maintain, and looks perfect on a coastal design. Galvanized steel is not much more costly than other choices, and can last over sixty or seventy years, barring catastrophe. This beach house roofing material is made of alloyed steel with a zinc coating. The coating will protect the steel from rust and rain, and will need to be reapplied every 20 years or so. Metal allows water to roll off easily, and also reflect the sunlight to keep the interior of the attic and home as cool as possible. Even though this roof is energy efficient, long-lasting and beautiful, some may shy away because they are fearful of the roof being too loud during rainstorms. This is a myth, however. In actuality, because of how it is constructed, a metal roof conducts less sound than its tile or shingle counterparts.
- Slate and stone are the most long-lasting and durable roofing materials which you can put on your home. They can easily last for a century or more, and because they are installed in their natural state, handle the weather without an issue. The weight of slate and stone will help in a wind event as well, although you may have to reinforce your roof with extra framing to hold the extra weight of the materials.
These days, building your roof to current hurricane codes is more important than the materials used. Trust your local roofing professional to help you choose the best material for your style, budget and lifestyle. Call Avery Roof Services today to discuss your beach house options!
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