The roofing material for your garage roof is just as important as the roofing for your home. Not only does a good matching garage roof improve the curb appeal of your house, it also makes sure everything stays dry, including all your equipment, cars, tools, old clothes, cardboard boxes, plastic storage tubs, or whatever you need to keep in your garage…
Roofing Materials for Your Garage
There are so many different kinds of garage roofs, from gambrel roofs, to reverse gable style roofs, to hip roofs. Gambrel style roofs are that “barn style” roof that has a lot of storage above. Reverse Gable style roofs are that classic standalone garage look, with the two sides of the roof sloping up to form a triangle on two sides of the roof. Hip roofs have a classic pyramid look where the roof slants upward to a central point. As long as your roof has a pitch of 2:12 or higher, these materials will work for you.
Steel Roofing: Long-lasting and beautiful, steel roofing comes in a wide variety of colors as well. Steel roofing can last for a lifetime, which means once you install it, you can relax in the knowledge that your garage roof won’t need to get added to your to-do list again.
Asphalt Shingles: Asphalt shingles are the most popular roofing material in America. They come in a large variety of colors and styles, so you can match your garage’s roofing to your home’s look easily. Even if you have another roofing material on your home, shingles can be an economical alternative material for garage roofs.
Rubber Shingles: Rubber shingles are incredibly durable and long-lasting. They can hold up to the worst heat and the most intense cold. Our Euroshield® rubber roofing system is made out of 95% recycled car tires which means not only is it sturdy, it’s an excellent eco-friendly option for your roof. Rubber shingles won’t crack due to temperature changes, which we all know Michigan is famous for. During installation, they lock together to create a roof that is incredibly resistant to moisture, not bothered by high winds, and durable.
Anatomy of the Material for Garage Roofs
You’d think a garage roof is much simpler than a house roof since it’s just a garage, but if you want your roof to properly shed water and last as long as it should, it’s important to have more than just some new shingles. Your garage should have all these parts:
- Decking
- Underlayment
- Vents
- Gutters
- Flashing
- Insulation
Some elements such as insulation may not be as important in an unheated garage, but vents to release built-up heat and moderate temperature fluctuations are still really important. Without proper decking or underlayment, your roof may not be sturdy or watertight. Gutters and flashing make sure that water doesn’t slowly rot away your garage. Each part of your roof works with the others to create a watertight seal on your car, tools, and everything else you might be storing in your garage.
Material Costs for Garage Roofs
Some roofing materials are obviously more expensive than others, and you may not want to invest in more expensive materials on a garage. Asphalt shingles are a good alternative to other roofing systems, especially if your garage is detached or situated behind your home. There is a range of asphalt shingles you can choose from in a variety of price ranges to suit your needs and budget. Materials like steel roofing and rubber shingles can save you money and effort in the long run because they are incredibly durable and last for a lifetime.
Read more: Roofing Contracts and Warranties
Things to Consider Before Reroofing Your Garage
Before you begin your garage roofing project, and even before you gather the materials, make sure you have a plan that includes all the details.
Attached Garage: If your garage roof is attached to your house, not only will you want to consider the look, but insulating the roof will be important to make sure your heating and cooling costs for the whole house don’t get out of control.
Flat Roof Garage: If you have a flat roof garage right now you may want to convert it to a pitched roof. There are limited finishes for flat roofing, but pitched roofs have far more material options, the shed snow better, and you may be able to increase the storage space in your garage at the same time. It’s important to have a professional design for any load-bearing projects such as a new pitched garage roof.
Sagging Roof: If your roof is sagging, you may have improper or damaged support, and you may need to install a completely new roof from the deck up. Sometimes it’s tempting to let that garage roof go just a few more years, but the longer you wait, the more damage can build up.
Let us know if you need some help getting your garage roof in as good a shape as your home roof. We can’t help with organizing what’s in your garage, but we can definitely help to make sure it stays dry!
About Weather Vane Roofing
We provide roofing, siding, insulation, windows, and gutters. Making your house beautiful and efficient is our main goal. We use the latest in technology and products to provide eco-friendly and cost effective solutions for your home and business. With locations in Lansing, Owosso, and Brighton/Howell we are Mid-Michigan’s roofing experts. Let us transform your house into a home.
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