Fire-resistant roofing comes with a number of benefits. The most obvious, of course, is the fire resistance, which means that the home’s roofing system will be better able to withstand fire hazards, and even slow or stop the spread of flames should a fire happen.
But there are other benefits to be had, too—like lowered insurance premiums, increased resale value, environmental benefits, and more. Read below, and we’ll show you how roofing materials are tested for fire resistance, and all about some of the biggest benefits you’ll get from building a fire-resistant roofing system.
Enhanced Fire Protection
One of the largest benefits of fire-resistant roofing materials is of course, enhanced fire protection. To start, it’s important to understand how roofing materials are tested for fire resistance. Most manufacturers use UL 790 (ASTM E108) certifications and testing methods—and with this, there are three tests that roofing materials must undergo in order to get a fire resistance classification. Those three tests include the Burning Brand Test, the Intermittent Flame Test, and the Spread of Flame Test.
As you can see, roofing materials that rate highly on any of these tests are more likely to fare better in certain conditions. For example, in wildfire-prone areas, roofing materials rated with strong resistance against burning brands are less likely to catch fire should a flaming stick land on the roof.
High ratings against the spread of flames are crucial, too, because this means a roofing material will be slower to catch fire—and will burn slower, giving first responders and firefighters a chance to evacuate occupants or put out the fire before it can do more damage.
Insurance Savings
Another good reason to go with fire-resistant roofing materials is that they can save you money on your homeowners’ insurance premiums. That’s because insurance companies tend to view fire-resistant roofing systems as a lower risk—and that means they may offer discounts. Be sure to check with your specific insurance provider since rates and discounts will vary from region to region and from one provider to the next, but in general, homeowners can expect to save between 5% and 35% on premiums after replacing the roof.
Long-Term Durability
In general, roofing materials that are highly fire-resistant also tend to be more durable against other types of damage, too. Consider metal roofing, for example. Metal doesn’t burn easily—and it’s also strong against things like hail and wind damage, as well.
Similarly, Epilay’s line of synthetic underlayments all have higher fire resistance ratings than asphalt roofing paper, and they’re all more durable against wind, moisture, and other elements, too.
Sustainable Options
Just as fire-resistant materials tend to be more durable, they also tend to be more sustainable. The durability is part of the reason why these materials are so sustainable: Longer-lasting materials produce less waste since fewer replacement materials need to be manufactured, and since they have a longer useful life. Often, as is the case with metal roofing, at the end of the roof’s lifespan, the metal can be recovered and recycled, too.
With that, many new roofing options are both sustainable and fire-resistant. This includes things like recycled rubber tile, recycled metal tile, and more.
Increased Property Value
New fire-resistant roofing is often seen as a premium feature for potential buyers and tenants. First of all, new roofing is always a great selling point since it assures buyers that they won’t need to worry about roof replacement any time soon. Fire-resistant roofing is another selling point that goes above and beyond, assuring buyers that the home has safeguards in place against fire hazards—and that they can potentially save money on insurance premiums, too.
On average, new roofing can add about $15,000 to a home’s resale value—and fire-resistant roofing with premium materials can boost that number by a little bit more. For example, up to $23,000 on average if you choose fire-resistant metal roofing.
In Conclusion
Fire-resistant roofing materials offer a lot of advantages, not the least of which is extra protection against fire hazards. With that, you can also save money on insurance premiums, boost the resale value of your home, and more. Before installing a new roof, choose materials wisely to create a system that offers excellent fire resistance. Contact us today to learn more.
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