The 'best' roofing material depends on your home and budget, but Vancouver's rain rules some choices in and others out. Here's how the main options stack up for our climate.
Asphalt shingles
Affordable, versatile, and reliable when you choose architectural (not 3-tab) shingles and install them with proper ventilation. The default for good reason, 25–30 years here.
Western red cedar
Beautiful and naturally rot-resistant, and it's a BC material. The catch is maintenance: cedar must breathe and be kept free of moss, or our rain works against it.
Clay and concrete tile
Nearly indestructible, fireproof, and 50+ years of life. Heavy, so your roof structure must support it, but a fantastic long-term value on the right home.
Metal and copper
Sheds water and snow effortlessly, shrugs off coastal air, and lasts generations. Higher upfront cost, lowest cost per year of any roof.
The deciding factor
Whatever you choose, the install matters as much as the material. Ventilation, flashing, and underlayment are what keep Vancouver rain out, get those right and any of these materials will serve you well.
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