It’s tempting to put off the responsibility of keeping up with roof maintenance, but it can have disastrous results. If it’s put off for too long, you can start to see leaks, tears and other problems that can lead to more damage in other areas of the home. Fortunately, there’s a way to make sure you don’t have to take on major roof repairs too often, and all it takes is a little bit of planning.
When getting a new roof, there are many things to consider. For starters, you’ll want to choose the right type of roofing for your home and your budget. But another thing to consider is material quality and membrane thickness. These decisions can go a long way toward making your roof last longer, resulting in less roof maintenance and roof repair you’ll need to handle farther down the line.
It may seem like a thicker roof membrane is obviously going to last longer, but that isn’t always the case. There are many factors to consider when it comes to choosing the best roofing membrane for your home. Thickness is an important factor, but there are other important facets of roofing materials to be aware of as well.
Thickness vs. material
Membrane thickness is not the only marker of durability when it comes to roofing. One of the most important things to consider is the type and quality of the material used for the roof membrane. This will play a big part in how quickly the roof wears down.
For example, a roof with a TPO membrane shows wear by “chalking.” This is the process of the surface wearing away, and you can see it in the powdery chalk-like residue left when wiping your finger over the top of the membrane. Some TPO-membrane roofs chalk more than others, with the higher quality materials chalking less. Materials with less chalking will equate to less surface wear over time, and may even last longer than a thicker product that is made with lower-quality material.
In addition to material quality, there are other things to consider for roofing membranes. For example, there are differences between brands that may have an impact on overall roof durability. In fact, there may be instances where products of the same thickness wear differently between different brands. And even within the same brand, there may be specific product lines that have enhanced features focused on durability that outweigh the impact of thickness alone.
Ask a professional
The bottom line is that there’s no hard and fast rule that using a thicker roof membrane equates to a better roof. The best solution is to consult a roofing professional to decide which material will be right for your roof membrane based on your budget and the other needs of your home. When you’re ready to get started on your next roofing project, contact the pros at Dowd Roofing Co. today. With more than four decades of experience in roof maintenance and roof repair, we’re proud to be the best choice for all your roofing needs.