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What is the best material for church roofs in Phoenix?

Churches and other religious buildings come in all shapes and sizes here in the Valley, and often have unique roofing needs that aren’t residential, but aren’t exactly the same as commercial buildings. At KY-KO Roofing, we specialize in the repair and installation of church roofs here in Phoenix.

From traditional churches with sloped roofs and high steeples to modern churches with a Southwest flair, our technicians are roofing installation experts. If you’re thinking about replacing or building a new church roof, let’s run through your (many) options.

The best place to start with your roofing repair or replacement project is by calling KY-KO for a free roof checkup. Contact our team today to see what we can do for your organization.

Best materials for a sloped roof

Phoenix Church RoofingAsphalt shingles

Asphalt shingles are suitable for churches with a sloping roof. These are very popular for churches with high steeples or unusual roofing shapes, mainly because their lightweight design means the roof doesn’t need too much support to hold their weight. This is in contrast, of course, to tile roofs.

Asphalt shingles are waterproof and help maintain the structural integrity of churches. Their versatility is what makes them popular for church roofs and residential roofs alike.

However, their one drawback is that they don’t last as long as tile.

Tile

Tiles are also a great choice for sloped church roofing. They are made from materials such as slate or terracotta. Just like on homes, tiles a popular choice here in Phoenix because they’re built to stand up to the sun, wind, and rain we get here in the Valley.

The downside of tile roofing is that tiles are heavy. Many church roofs just weren’t built to hold the weight of tile, which may limit your options to the two types of shingles.

Fiberglass Shingles

Fiberglass shingles are another good choice for sloped church roofs. They are relatively inexpensive, yet durable. Each fiberglass shingle has a base layer consisting of reinforcing mat. The mat is joined with asphalt and mineral fillers that make it waterproof.

Best materials for flat church roofs

Modified bitumen

Modified bitumen roofing is ideal for churches with flat roofs or low-slope. The roof is made up of layers of bitumen (either coal tar or asphalt) and felt. The highly sticky and viscous Bitumen keeps water out of the surface, making it ideal for waterproofing.

Polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam is made of two components: polyol and isocyanate. The foam is sprayed directly on the surface of the church roof where it foams up and then solidifies, forming a protecting coating.

They are popular due to their great flexibility in being suitable for roofs with unusual shapes. (Read more on the benefits of foam roofing)

When Should You Replace the Church Roof?

A number of factors should be considered to know when to replace the church roofing. Some of the factors that you should consider include:

  • Age of the roof
  • The wear-and-tear on the roof
  • The type of materials

As we mentioned before, the best place to start is by calling KY-KO Roofing for your free roof checkup. Our roofers can meet with you, look at your roof, and give you an honest assessment of any repair or installation needs.