Trending Roofing Styles and the Latest Industry Materials

It’s always important to stay on top of trending roofing styles. Whether you realize it or not, a home’s roof makes a strong first impression on everyone who passes by. A roof’s architectural style and the material used to cover it are important facets of a home’s overall curb appeal. Depending on the roof’s style, it may be the first thing noticed, especially if the homesite sits on a downward slope from the road. In some architectural styles, especially in contemporary homes that feature cathedral ceilings, the roof can play a prominent role in the façade. Other homes, such as those with side-facing gambrel or barn roofs commonly used in Dutch Colonial architecture, are specifically designed to downplay the roof’s prominence from the front view.

The style of your roof can affect the choice you have among today’s most popular roofing materials. In general, the more complex the roof design — with multiple slopes and dormers — the more susceptible it is to leaks in connecting areas where leaves and moisture collect. Trends in the roofing industry are making modern materials more weather- and impact-resistant, and their installation methods more efficient, so roofs can last longer into the future.

Consider this to be a little primer on roofing trends both in terms of architectural styles and in the industry’s latest roofing materials themselves.

Six trending roof styles for residential homes

1. Gable Roof

Gable roofs are the most popular residential roof, utilizing a flat slope in front and back that creates a triangular shape on the sides and provides an attic space inside. One trending design decision is adding multiple gables to a basic roof to add more visual interest.

2. Hip Roof

With four sloping sides creating a ridge peak in the middle, the hip roof is one of the most common roof styles. These residential roofs are extremely stable — good for areas with high winds — and the roof surface is especially visible, so the selection of roof material is important in adding to the home’s curb appeal.

3. Dormer Roof

Dormers are not a roof style of their own, but dormers are added to many roof designs. Dormers project from the roof line to provide windows to add natural light to attics and upper-story rooms. They also add design appeal to plain roofs. One drawback is that they often require more maintenance to prevent leaks.

4. Mansard Roof

Built with four double-sloped sides that are joined with a relatively flat roof in the middle, the mansard roof style is associated with French architecture. The roof uses a curb shape and is often adorned with dormer windows to allow light into the attic space it creates.

5. Gambrel Roof

This barn-style roof is often selected to extend attic or loft space. The gambrel roof has two slopes on either side, one steep and one more gentle. Depending on how the home is placed on the lot, a gambrel roof sloping on the home’s sides can allow for a higher front façade, or if the roof slopes front and back, the roof becomes a focal point of the façade.

6. Flat Roof

Flat roofs are popular styles in commercial roofing for buildings like warehouses and manufacturing facilities. While a less popular residential roofing style, flat roofs are sometimes seen in contemporary home construction and additions. Although they appear flat, these roofs have a very slight slope to allow runoff and prevent moisture from collecting.

Flat roofs are prone to leaks but are generally simple to repair due to the simple building materials used for this construction. These roofs are not appropriate for areas that receive heavy snowfalls or an abundance of rain.

Popular roofing material trends

Different roof styles call for different roofing materials and types of roof shingles to make the most of the home’s design and add to the life of the roof itself. Here are a few of the leading materials in residential roofing trends.

1. Architectural Asphalt Shingles

Hands down, asphalt shingles are the most popular and affordable roofing material. “Architectural” shingles add greater depth and texture to the roof, similar to more expensive slate shingles that are beautiful, but heavy, and difficult to repair. Asphalt shingles are also preferred in the roofing industry over wood shake roofs, which require flame retardant treatments and are susceptible to termite damage.

Fiberglass asphalt shingles, a trending shingle material, are constructed of a woven fiberglass base mat, covered with a waterproof asphalt coating, and topped with ceramic granules that shield the product from harmful UV rays. These days, asphalt shingles come in a very broad range of colors to match or blend with any home’s siding. They are appropriate for any of the above-mentioned roof styles, except for the flat roof.

2. Metal Roofing

Metal roofing is not a new material but has been considered trendy in recent years. Metal roofing of aluminum, steel, or copper is extremely durable and will not absorb water. It’s able to withstand high winds and is popular in coastal regions. The only downside to metal roofs is that they can be noisy and, depending on color, can conduct heat in rooms with no attic above them. Flat metal panels look great on gable and hip-style roofs. Metal shingles work well with mansard-style roofs.

3. Solar Panels or Solar Shingles

Rooftop solar panels have increased in popularity in recent years as their greater affordability makes them a wise choice to dramatically offset the cost of electricity. While they are not a roofing material exactly, they are a common sight on many home styles. Gable, hip, and flat roofs lend themselves to solar panels because they can be easily hidden on the rear slope of the roofs. Expect to see the solar panel trend continue as we see tax savings contribute to their popularity.

GAF solar shingles are an exciting new option for solar roofing in Texas that protect a home just like traditional asphalt shingles but work like solar panels to give you energy independence with an attractive look for your roof. GAF Timberline solar shingles combine innovative, extremely low-profile photovoltaic cells with high-quality asphalt shingles to give homeowners the most affordable, functional solar shingle available.

Easier to install and more discrete than panels, the entire installation of solar shingles is done with nails instead of cumbersome racks or mounts. The compact size allows them to be used in areas where traditional panels won’t fit. And here’s what makes them a popular choice for Texas solar roofs — along with their water-shedding capabilities, these shingles are warranted to withstand winds up to 130 mph and temperatures of 122 degrees. Just another day in the Lone Star State!

4. Green, Eco-Friendly Roofing

A living roof is a serious investment in planning but offers the benefits of good insulation, reduced runoff, and durability. The water absorption of a green roof prevents flooding around the home and keeps contaminated runoff out of the water supply.

A waterproof membrane and a root barrier are required to protect the roof, and you’ll need an irrigation system to supply water to the many layers of vegetation. But, hey, how cool would it be to have lush greenery adorning your home? Green roofs can add interest to many contemporary-style homes or cottage designs and work well on flat roofs.

Contact Stonewater for Solutions for All Popular Roofing Styles

When you’re ready to discuss residential roofing services, replacements, and repairs, depend on the local specialists at Stonewater Roofing. Stonewater is a local family-owned business founded in Tyler, Texas, with locations from Austin to Texarkana. Our roofing company has more than 16 years of expertise, specializing in storm and hail damage repair that produces results as if the damage never happened. We’re also your local solar power solutions experts. Contact Stonewater Roofing online for a free damage or solar assessment.