When it comes time to replace the roof on one’s home there are many options. They range from the classic asphalt shingle to stone slate, wood shakes, and many varieties of metal. While there are many types of roofing structures, one is most used more than the others.
Asphalt shingles make up roughly 80 percent of all roofing structures on residential homes in the United States
But why?
There are a multitude of pros and cons to going with the crowd when it comes to using asphalt shingles on your home.
Let’s go through a few of the biggest:
The biggest and most common factor that homeowners use asphalt shingles more than any other type of system is affordability. While not all types and styles of asphalt shingles are the same, and we will go over that later in this article, even the higher end of the asphalt shingles are still equal to or less expensive than the lower quality of other options.
Asphalt shingles can be produced in mass at many factories throughout the US and use less costly resources and time to create than their competitors in their field. When price is the first and final factor in deciding what will make up your next roof, the answer is always asphalt shingles.
Within the realm of asphalt shingles, there are options, many, many options. People love choices, some matter more than others, but choices are just the same! The first step is to decide which style of shingle one would want to go with.
The most basic, bottom grade of asphalt shingle is the 3-tab. These are most commonly seen in new tract home construction and are seldom used in a reroof scenario. These shingles give the roof a flat look and have an even color pattern when first installed. Though not the most aesthetically pleasing style, they are the most affordable , and for some that is the only concern.
The most commonly installed style of shingle is the architectural. These provide many advantages over the more cost-effective 3-tab shingle without increasing the overall project cost drastically. These styles of shingles can last a bit longer than their counterparts with a life expectancy of 20-30 years while the three tabs are closer to 10-15 years of life expectancy.
When getting into the variety of architectural shingles out there the list can become a bit overwhelming when it comes to features. Some brands have impact resistance, which is a great feature that makes the product more resistant to damage caused by impacts from debris and hail.
These are an excellent option if you live in an area that experiences hail frequently as it can help you not have to replace the structure as often as your neighbors may have to. Also great if you live near any public golf course, especially if those golfers are of the same caliber as I.
One of the newer features which some of the larger manufacturers are offering is UV-rated shingles. The idea is that there are ceramic-coated granules on the shingle matt (all of which come in lighter colors, no black shadow in this bunch) that reflect those pesky and destructive UV rays back out into the wide world and help keep your attic space and conversely, your home, cooler.
I have yet to see definitive proof that these claims work as the technology is newer and the results just simply are not yet in.
In addition to new-age ceramic-coated granules, most reputable manufacturers also have copper or some other anti-mildew streaking incorporated into their shingles.
Atlas Shingles
The brand we use the most, Atlas, has a partnership with the 3M company Scotch Guard and offers a lifetime warranty against this streaking. It is important to note that this is brand-specific, so please evaluate the offerings of your local roofing contractor before assuming theirs also has this technology.
Another big choice one has to make when considering these asphalt shingles is the color and oh boy, let me tell you. There are as many variations, patterns, and color options as one may want. This comes down to personal preferences and will depend mainly on the homeowner’s taste and plans.
While one may think the green shingle they have decided on is great and works perfectly for what they want, if they are planning to put the home on the market in the coming months the general public may not love it.
That is, to say if this is your forever home and you are so inclined, please feel free to express yourself. However, if this is a stepping stone to the next property, town, or state, there is nothing wrong with going with the classics. There is a reason we sell more black shingles than any other color after all.
Designer Shingles
On the highest rung of quality when it comes to asphalt shingles, there are designer shingles. These shingles come with thicker matting, more impact resistance, and can withstand more wind speed.
3-tab shingles are warrantied up to 60 MPH in a storm, the architectural is typically around 135 MPH*, while the designer slate style can be a bit higher. This is great, in theory. Please check all warranties for a disclaimer that if a named storm is coming through, the warranty might as well blow away too.
Installation
Installation can also be a factor in these types of projects. Although the look of a natural stone slate roof is unmatched, it can take a month to fully and properly install in some cases. Standing seam metal roofs are my personal favorite, but again, you’ll have contractors there for a few weeks. Asphalt shingle? One to three days. In and out. A quality installation crew of 8-10 people that know what they’re doing, can comfortably install 2,000 square feet of roofing in a single workday.
With all that said, this style of roofing is as popular as it is because it ticks that giant, bolded, outlined, and underlined box for most homeowners, and that is price. Any of the options above are going to be cheaper (usually) than the other materials out there. Then why go with anything else? Well, there are a few drawbacks..
Even the best shingle will begin to deteriorate and need to be replaced in 30 years. A mid-range metal roof with proper maintenance will last twice that. Even with new technology like UV resistance, you’ll never have the same insulation as can be achieved with metal or slate.
Time and the sun will fade anything, including that high-end shingle roof. This is not the same for some metals or slate. Lastly, they are simply more prone to damage than the higher-end materials. They simply are not as weather-resistant as some of the other options.
At the end of the day, your choice of roofing material will be just that, your choice. For over 4/5ths of American homes, the choice is asphalt shingles. That many people can’t be wrong…right?
