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As a homeowner, you want to ensure that your property is in the best condition possible. It doesn’t matter whether you’re building a new property or trying to update and fix the old one – the roof should always be one of your main focus points.
While many roofing trends are available, the industry is now facing unique issues that may affect your decision. In addition, the right option for you also depends on the size of your house, the location, average temperature, weather, and many more things.
Changing Regulations
One of the biggest concerns comes from regulatory changes. In some areas, local authorities require new roofs to meet several industry standards for energy efficiency and durability. This has given rise to many roofing manufacturers launching more eco-friendly products to meet those specific regulations.
The goal is to ensure that consumers get the most out of their materials while also using them for the longest period possible.
Another issue with changing regulations is that some rules are often based on different ideas, so it’s difficult for roofing companies to meet all of them at once.
Many states ask that manufacturers stop using HFC-134a, which is the blowing agent used for extruded polystyrene foam insulation. In some cases, the product is being replaced with HFO-1234ze.
These are more environmentally friendly options, but they can cost a lot for companies to convert their existing equipment and production processes. Therefore, these new regulations have actually driven up the prices of materials since manufacturers need to charge more to afford to update or start from scratch.
Finding the Right Roofing Company
While there are many roofing trends, the most important thing is choosing a roofing company you can trust. But, of course, you don’t want to take any chances, so you should always investigate your options in detail.
It’s a good idea to look for a contractor that offers various materials and products. This ensures your options aren’t limited, especially if you have an unusual project.
However, this is where most people hit the wall. Finding a reliable contractor is now more difficult than ever since new companies are emerging rapidly. It also may depend on the state you’re in, so it may be easier to find roofing services in Salt Lake Area South than in other surrounding areas.
Nonetheless, it’s always important to ensure the company knows how to deal with a high-profile project like roof construction or repair. For this reason, pay special attention to their previous projects and customer reviews if available.
Broken Supply Chain
While regulatory concerns affect all roofing companies, another industry-wide issue is the lack of quality materials. The demand for better insulation has increased significantly because of new regulations and other trends like people building smaller homes with higher ceilings. However, the supply chain hasn’t evolved to keep up as quickly.
This is often because of a shift in the global economy. Manufacturers have often switched from ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) to ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE). While ETFE can meet all industry standards, it’s also more expensive.
While cost is still a concern, many manufacturers cannot use EPDM because there is a shortage in supply due to the pandemic. This, in turn, causes the cost of using EPDM to increase as well.
Preferred Materials
Another trend we noticed in recent years is the use of silicone roof coatings. It’s becoming more popular as it’s an excellent water-repellent solution.
Silicone still has a long way to go when overpowering certain roofing materials. It still isn’t number one, but it’s expected to be even more popular in the future.
It’s a good thing for homeowners as it presents an easy-to-use material. However, it’s not so great for manufacturers that use other materials since the increased popularity can affect their production process.
