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If you are about to replace your roof, you may be thinking of having a different type of roof than what you have now. If you are contemplating this, there are many different things that you need to take into account, including how the roof will look, how energy-efficient it will be, and how much it will cost. Before you rush into making a purchase, here are some of the most important things to consider.

Select Right Roof 1

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First, your roof needs to look like it belongs on your house. This may seem obvious, but it is surprising how many people make the wrong aesthetic choices. For example, if you have a Victorian-style house, then putting on a clay tile roof will look completely out of place. Take a tour around your neighborhood, and see which roofs are the most appealing. Also, take a look at a few architectural and home improvement magazines – these have lots of good advice and the photographs will let you visualize what the roof will look like on your house.

Next, think about the climate where you live. For example, if you are in Colorado, you are going to get huge amounts of snow every winter. In this case, it may be a good idea to choose a metal roof, since the snow will slide off this easily. Not only does this mean you will avoid the expense of having to have the snow cleared from your roof, it can also help you avoid dangerous build-ups that could lead to a collapse. However, if you are in a desert environment, you want something that will keep your house cool, so either a metal roof or a clay roof is a good choice in this case. If you live somewhere cool and rainy, such as Seattle, then a dark roof is a possibility, since this will absorb light and heat your home. On the other hand, in Seattle metal roofing is also an option, since this will provide benefits on hot, sunny days, and you can insulate your attic to keep your house warm when the weather is cool.

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You may also want to consider putting in a solar roof. You may be reluctant to do this because solar panels are unattractive. However, you can install solar shingles instead, which are completely unobtrusive and look very like regular asphalt shingles. Installing these can cost up to $20,000, but government incentives can slash this cost in half in some states. Solar shingles can generate up to 12 watts of power per square foot, so you can expect to reduce your electricity bills by up to 60%. Also, since these are likely to generate more energy than you need during peak sunshine hours, it is worth checking with your local electricity utility to see if they will buy back power from you. One last thing to keep in mind is that solar cells generate DC power, not AC, so you will need to get an electrician to install an inverter in your home to do the conversion.