Get matched with top roofers in Lake View, IA

There’s no single best roofing material for flat roofs, but EPDM is considered an excellent option because it lasts longer than TPO roofing and built-up roofing, and it’s the most adaptive to extreme temperatures and variations in temperature. EPDM can also be highly energy-efficient at both ends of the climate spectrum, with black EPDM helping to reduce heating bills and white EPDM helping to keep your building cool in extreme summer temperatures.

While the terms are often used interchangeably, wood shakes and wood shingles have notable differences, primarily in their manufacturing and appearance. Wood shingles are machine-cut on both sides, resulting in a smooth, thin, and uniform product. In contrast, wood shakes are typically hand-split or sawed on only one side, giving them a more textured, natural, and rustic appearance. Due to these manufacturing differences, shakes are generally thicker, heavier, and less uniform than shingles. They are also more expensive. Homeowners seeking a more rustic aesthetic often choose shakes, while those preferring a more uniform look may opt for shingles. Both are installed in an overlapping pattern to create a durable, weather-resistant roof.

The common formula for measuring a roof is length x width equals square footage. Professional roofers measure the length and width of your roof, including dormers, and determine its pitch and rafter sizes. If a roof surface is a triangle, they’ll divide that square footage by two, then add up the square footage of each surface to get the total for the roof.

Thatched roofs are expensive for two main reasons: high labor costs and low supply of available roofers. The labor is more intensive for a thatched roof than other roof materials, so your contractor will work longer and charge more for the installation. There are also few professionals with the specialized skills and experience to install thatched roofs. Since the supply of available professionals is low, the cost of compensation is high.