Garage roofs come in many shapes and sizes and are covered by a range of different materials.
Today, many homeowners convert their garages into additional living spaces or garden offices and never use them for the original purpose.
There are over 10 million garages across the country, and just over half of them are used to store the car.
Traditional garage roofing doesn’t always hit the mark in terms of waterproofing or insulation. As a result, more and more homeowners are looking at different garage roofs for their renovation projects.
Garages give shelter to your vehicles, tools, equipment, and other items you wish to store outside your house.
Make it a point to undertake a garage roof replacement simultaneously as the roof of your house.
It might seem expensive, but garage roofs are an investment.
If it has inadequate structural capabilities compared to your house, then your garage will weaken the entire exterior quality of your property.
Know everything about garage roof replacement by reading onward.
One of the biggest oversights people make while installing garage roofs is the lack of all components.
Proper roof systems include vents, insulation, drip edges and much more. Without all components, the garage roof suffers damage easily.
This article will give you an overview to choose the perfect material that fits your requirements and budget. Are you getting frustrated by your clutter and garage organisation? Here at Garage Storage Solutions, we offer extensive professional organising and declutter service.
Garage Roof Materials
Garage roof materials have changed over the years, and some of the latest systems make a DIY approach possible for many thousands of us.
With a wide range of materials available for garage roofs on the market today, it makes sense to take your time and weigh up the pros and cons of each during the planning stages.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the options available.
Garage roofs are typically flat, although some may have a low pitch or sloping roof. Garage roofing felt roof sheets, corrugated sheets, and EPDM garage roofs are the most common, in addition to:
- Concrete
- Clay
- Slate
- Metal
- Plastic
- Fibre Cement
Garage Roofing Felt
Garage roofing felt was a popular choice for decades before the launch of more sustainable alternatives, such as rubber roof membrane, for example.
Felt is still widely available but is diminishing in popularity against its latest rivals which offer superior cost vs. value and DIY installation benefits.
Felt roofs are prevalent for one main reason. They’re cheap. When it comes to purchasing a new garage roof, many people want the most inexpensive solution to get the job done in the short term.
Generally, large felt roofs are installed by torching a roll of material onto the structure of your garage.
This is then sealed at the edges to prevent water from getting in. This makes them cheap and simple to install.
However, felt roofs have several significant disadvantages, particularly for garages in Ireland.
For one thing, they are prone to nicks and tears. When exposed to the wind and rain, these can quickly develop into significant damage and provide poor water resistance.
Because of this, felt roofs in Ireland might last as little as five years before needing major repairs or replacement.
Garage Roof Sheets
Bitumen garage roof sheets have been a popular choice for trade roofers over the years, and the best systems have lasted up to 20 years in some cases.
It is widely advisable to have bitumen garage roof sheets installed professionally, as the complex installation process must be precise for them to prove effective.
Garage Roof Corrugated Sheets
Corrugated roofing sheets are a fairly common sight on the country’s domestic garage roofs.
There have been several different types throughout the decades, including asbestos and metal, and more recently, plastic-based products have proved popular.
It is difficult to seal a corrugated sheet roof fully, and quite often, they can become damaged quickly.
Several popular garage roof materials come in the form of corrugated sheets. The most common of these are galvanised steel and bitumen.
The corrugated channels are designed to add strength and encourage rainwater to run off.
However, corrugated roofing offers notoriously poor weather resistance.
This is because so much can go wrong, including poorly driven screws, missing sealants, or damaged flashing.
Additionally, corrugated roofs have a known problem with moss and dirt build-up inside the channels themselves.
These blockages can easily result in damage to the roof itself, meaning that the level of maintenance required to keep a corrugated roof sound is very high.
Finally, corrugated sheets can only be used on pitched roofs, making them entirely unsuitable for many garages.
Epdm Garage Roof
An EPDM garage roof is ideal for projects involving part or complete renovation.
Once furnishings and decorations go inside, along with electrical supplies and appliances, it becomes even more critical to ensure a completely watertight seal.
EPDM membranes are typically installed in a single sheet, negating the need for joins and simplifying the process of waterproofing significantly, in addition to delivering the reliability needed over the long term.
The ease of application of EPDM is another reason for its sharp increase in popularity this year.
As the country’s residents have spent much more time at home with the imposed restrictions on travel, DIY has boomed.
EPDM is applied using water-based adhesives, sealant and very few tools and has proved highly effective for a wide range of DIY roofing projects.
Firestone EPDM membranes have a typical life expectancy of more than 50 years, with high performance for the duration.
This is due to the manufacturing process of this single-ply roofing membrane and the unique synthetic rubber compounds used.
Because of this exceptional performance, ease of installation, compatibility with other elements of the garage roof design and many more benefits, EPDM garage roofing is set to continue to rise in popularity in both trade and DIY markets.
Usual Garage Roofing Construction Materials
Roof systems are substantial financial commitments, and contractors understand. As a result, most homeowners will go for the most affordable flat roofing solution for their garages.
Indeed, even contractors will highly recommend EPDM or rubber roof membranes for flat garage roof replacement.
However, if your home will not benefit from the style of flat roofs because it has sloped styles, it would be wise to consider other options.
Here are the common materials contractors use and recommend for garage roof replacement.
Metal
Metal roofs have an estimated 40-50 years with efficient installation and regular but infrequent maintenance.
Usually made from stainless steel, copper, or aluminium, these roofing materials are pretty expensive.
However, the high price makes them worthwhile investments due to their long-lasting durability.
They introduce UV protection through an additive roof coating. In addition, the coating membrane can extend its lifespan by more than 50 years and introduce insulation.
Metal roofs are one of the most straightforward roofing systems to repair. Contractors spot dents and other possible damages quicker on metal roofs during a survey.
A comprehensive inspection allows them to conduct the most efficient garage roof replacement or repairs possible.
Shingles And Shakes
The efficiency of shingle roof systems has withstood the test of time.
A style even medieval architects have used, the series of shingles placed on top of each other guarantee effective water displacement during solid rainstorms.
There’s no denying that tile or slate roofs are some of the most aesthetically pleasing options out there.
One of the primary selling points of these garage roof materials is that you can match them to the rest of your property.
Though, they can also only be installed on pitched roofs. Therefore, they are virtually perfect for any sloped-style property roofing.
Different materials introduce various aesthetics for any property. The most common ones are the following:
Asphalt Shingles:
Usually cut in three and known as the three-tab shingles.
Most roadwork, highway, and commercial infrastructure projects use asphalt due to its durability. Three-tab shingles have a lifespan of 50 years. They cost about $8-10 per square foot.
Clay Shingles:
Traditional European and even American homes with sloped roofs used clay because of its durability and resistance to weathering.
Their durability and lifespan are on par with asphalt shingles. However, they are more expensive at $40-100 per square foot because of their beautiful texture.
Cedar Shakes:
The durability and resistance of cedar against the weather make them an effective roofing material for sloped homes.
They are aesthetically pleasing with an aesthetic entirely different from traditional shingle materials. In addition, it costs only $8-$12 per square foot of cedar shakes.
Concrete Tiles
Most infrastructure and some roadwork projects use affordable and durable concrete. Made from various aggregated rock, sand, gravel, and cement mixed with water, they are as strong as any roofing material once they dry up.
In addition, concrete tiles can last for 50 years with proper installation and regular maintenance.
They cost about $4 per square feet making them one of the best and most affordable options.
Plastic Tiles
These tiles are also known as composite shingles. Plastic is a highly durable product.
Plastic roofing tile manufacturers reinforce their plastic tiles with additional ingredients to increase their temperature resistance.
In addition, the process guarantees airtight insulation and improves its lifespan, extending it up to 50 years.
Consequently, the uncompromising quality of plastic makes them immune to the growth of moulds, mildew, and other lifeforms.
The best thing about plastic tiles is they are relevantly inexpensive. For example, owning a plastic tiled roof costs only $4-$6 per square foot.
Standard Garage Roof Replacement Styles
Gambrel Roofs (Barn-style)
Younger children are fond of gambrel-style roofs because the structures they seal look like animal barns.
In fact, for homes with a front roof or a combination of roofing styles, gambrel garage roofs are almost imperative to have.
Contractors construct or replace gambrel roofs with these different materials:
- Metal
- Asphalt Shingles
- Cedar Shakes
- Clay/Concrete Tiles
Hip Roofs
Hip roofs are typical to have on properties that have multiple rooms. Aesthetically, they have four sloped sides and appear like a pyramid with a flat ridge on top.
This roofing style is efficient for properties at risk of heavy rain, hail, or snow. Naturally, these properties have a garage with its hip roof.
Contractors use the following materials for hip roofs:
- Asphalt Shingles
- Cedar/Wood Shingles
- Metal
- Clay/Concrete/Plastic Tiles
Sloped Roof In Winter
Sloped roofs such as gambrel and hip roofs are efficient in displacing rain, hail, and snow. Garage Storage Solutions features an innovative wall storage system with heavy-duty sliding wall components such as hooks, garage shelving and stylish, durable steel cabinets designed to hold your gear securely and neatly in place.
Reverse Gable Roofs
Garage roof replacements involving reverse gable roofs are complex as they are expensive. Additionally, contractors often charge higher because of the additional labour.
However, their double-ended peak at either end of the house allows debris, rain, and snow to slide off effectively.
Most construction materials used for reverse gable roofs are the following:
- Asphalt Shingles
- Plastic Tiles
- Metal
- Concrete Tiles
Flat Roofs
The primary solution contractors propose for home or garage roof replacement; flat roofs suit all garages.
However, homeowners have to consider the aesthetics of the property. Consequently, entirely replacing a sloped garage roof with a flat one will significantly impact the property’s curb appeal.
However, flat roofs in both homes and garages appear modern and industrial with an aesthetic appeal of their own. This makes them the best choice for commercial properties.
Flat roofs use the following materials often during construction:
- Asphalt
- Metal
- TOP
- PVC
- EPDM
But How Do Tile Or Slate Roofs Perform From A Technical Standpoint?
Proponents of slate roofs often talk about how easy they are to repair. After all, all you need to do is identify the broken or damaged slate, remove it, and replace it with a new one.
However, these people miss an important point.
Although slate roofs are easy to repair, the downside is that they require frequent repairs and maintenance to keep the elements out.
Over the life of your garage roof, this can turn into a massive hidden cost.
As you can see, each garage roof material has its pros and cons. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at why fibreglass is the best choice out of them all.
Why Fibreglass Is The Perfect Garage Roof Material
Installing the proper garage roof is one of the best investments you can make for your home or other property.
When choosing a garage roof material, there are several considerations to keep in mind.
These include cost, performance, upkeep, longevity, aesthetics and strength. For garage roofs in Ireland, fibreglass offers the best balance of these.
Let’s take a look at how.
Water Resistance
Long term and reliable water resistance is the top priority when selecting a garage roof material. As we said, one element of this is keeping your valuables safe from the elements.
However, selecting a roof with reliable weather resistance is also essential for preventing structural damage to the building itself.
Investing in the right roofing solution can prevent the need for costly repair work to your garage.
Fibreglass roof systems offer unparalleled weatherproofing and are resistant against common roofing problems like leaks and water ingress.
Affordability
When choosing a garage roof material, the important thing is not just the initial cost of materials and installation.
Instead, it’s vitally important to calculate the cost to install and maintain a roof over the lifetime of the building.
This includes factoring in things like the service life of the roof itself, maintenance and repairs. This might seem a little bit counterintuitive, so let’s take an example.
Say you’re choosing between two different options for your roof. Option A costs half as much as option B.
However, option B will last three times longer. As such, when you factor in the service life of your roofing system, option A will cost you one and a half times as much in the long term.
For a real-world example, let’s say you’re considering whether to invest in a felt or fibreglass roofing system.
Felt roofs can last as little as five years, while fibreglass systems generally last well over twenty. As such, fibreglass roofs are often much more affordable over their lifetime.
This is without even factoring in service costs, like repairs and maintenance. As such, due to their long service lives, fibreglass roofs often work out as the most affordable option in the longer term.
Besides this, improvements in fibreglass technology have significantly reduced the initial cost of fibreglass roofing over the last number of years.
Durability And Low Maintenance
Finally, one of the major selling points of fibreglass roofs is that, once they are installed, they require very little maintenance.
When installed by a professional, problems with fibreglass roofs are rare due to their strength and durability.
On the rare occasion that well-installed fibreglass does develop a problem, like a crack or a leak, repairs are often straightforward, as affected sections can generally be treated without the need to remove or replace them.
For example, RES-TEC systems can be repaired without the need even to sand down the affected area.
This can be contrasted with the regular repairs and maintenance needed for other standard garage roof material options.
Conclusion
Garage roof replacement is an expensive commitment.
However, it is worth undertaking to provide the best protection for your vehicles and guarantee the exterior protection integrity of your property.
To ensure the best roofing installation possible to ensure durability and extend the roof’s lifespan, only hire the best roofing service contractors for residential roofing. Can I find garage storage cabinets to match my style? Absolutely! Even the cabinets in the garage should reflect your unique tastes and style. Garage Storage Solutions offers stylish storage in a variety of materials and finishes.