If you own a home on a lake, you’re lucky to enjoy gorgeous views and days spent on the water. However, a lakefront environment puts an added burden on your home’s exterior, including the roof. It's a must to consider factors like moisture and weather when choosing the best roofing material for your property. Selecting suitable roofing materials for lake homes can prove challenging.
A standard shingle roof may not offer the durability and appearance you need for your waterfront home. Let’s look at other roofing material options that provide optimal function and appearance for lake homes.
Factors that Impact Roofing Materials for Lake Homes
Homeowners who live on lakes need to consider many factors when choosing the ideal roofing material, including moisture and humidity, harsh weather, UV damage, and animal activity.
Moisture
Living near a lake means always having a place to cool off on hot days, but the climate tends to be more humid than other areas. The excess moisture in the air can wreak havoc on roofing materials.
For example, asphalt or wood shingles in tropical locations may rot or grow mold and mildew after being exposed to too much moisture. In colder climates, cycles of freezing and thawing cause breakage in roofing materials susceptible to moisture. When you’re choosing the best roofing materials for lake homes, look for shingles that absorb little to no water.
Weather
Lake homes often face exposure to harsh weather, such as strong winds, hail, and other storm conditions. The best roofing materials for these areas feature high wind and impact resistance. Brittle or thin roofing materials are not ideal for waterfront homes.
UV Damage
Some roofing materials become brittle with exposure to UV rays. A UV-resistant material will provide a more durable roof on your lake home by preventing cracked and chipped shingles. Additionally, a lighter-colored roof will more efficiently reflect the sun rather than absorb it.
Animal Activity
One of the benefits of living on the water (regardless of the lake’s location) is the bird-life, but these majestic creatures can also cause a lot of damage to your roof. Acidic bird droppings can erode asphalt shingles over time, and bird nests can keep water from draining off your roof correctly. If left unchecked, these issues lead to leaks, mold and mildew growth, and structural water damage.
Best Roofing Materials for Lake Homes
For a long-lasting roof, choose durable and water-resistant roofing options for your lakefront home, including the following:
Tile Roofing
Tile roofing provides better moisture resistance than asphalt shingles. Slate tile and barrel tile roofs provide better protection against humidity and better durability. Heavy clay tiles often require additional support due to their weight, and require maintenance often, but they give an elegant look to waterfront homes.
Metal Roofing
The benefits of metal roofing for your lake home depend on the type of moisture in the area. For example, saltwater lakes cause higher corrosion rates than freshwater because of the salt in the air. If your property is near a saltwater lake, choose corrosion-resistant metal roofing materials for the best results.
Aluminum is a popular choice because it doesn’t rust, but it will corrode over time if exposed to saltwater.
Composite Roofing
Lake homes need roofing materials that provide optimal durability, moisture protection, and impact resistance. Many homeowners and contractors choose composite roofing for their waterfront homes. There are several composite roofing options to choose from, however Brava Roof Tile reigns supreme.
A Closer Look at Brava Composite Roofing for Your Waterfront Home
For unmatched durability and appearance, consider a Brava composite roofing material. Our synthetic roofing products provide optimal durability and look like natural cedar shake, slate tile, and Spanish barrel roofing materials. Brava composite roofing materials are perfect for lake homes because of their:
- UV resistance. Our products don’t degrade or fade under prolonged sun exposure.
- Impact resistance. Our roofing materials boast the highest possible impact rating: Class 4.
- Wind resistance. Brava tiles are tested and approved to withstand wind speeds of up to 188MPH with ring shank nails and up to 211MPH with high wind/screw installation.
- Moisture resistance. Our roofing products absorb very little to no moisture, so you don’t have to worry about breakage caused by freezing and thawing.
- Miami-Dade County approval. Miami-Dade County has the strictest certification in the U.S., and Brava Roof Tile earned their approval.
- Natural appearance. Our synthetic products look just like the real thing, whether you opt for our Spanish barrel tile, slate tile, or cedar shake style. With authentic texture and many color options for each product, you’ll find the exact look you want.
- Recycled materials. We help protect the environment by using recycled plastics to make our beautiful roofing products.
Explore our website to learn more about how our composite roofing materials stack up to the competition.
Choosing the best roofing materials for lake homes is easy with Brava. Our products offer the durability, function, and gorgeous appearance of composite roofing.
Request a sample today or connect with a Brava preferred roofing company. You can also request a quote by filling out our online quote form.
