Residential Roof Types

Your roof does more than protect your home. Having a carefully and professionally assessed and installed roofing system can save you thousands of dollars in energy costs over your roof's lifetime. As a full-service roofing contractor, we'll assess your home's needs and work with you to develop a roofing system that protects your investment. Our residential department has extensive experience in the industry's current coverings including asphalt shingles, slate, wood shake, tile, synthetic and metal systems.

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roofing material used in our area. They can come in a myriad of colors to complement the look of your home, while also offering the versatility to be used on various angles and slopes to accommodate any design you have.

Advantages

Most cost efficient way to keep your home protected since they can be mass produced and installed quickly
Roof repairs can be easily made and typically a color match can be found
Low maintenance

Considerations

The look and design of asphalt shingles are commonly similar on most homes
Highly susceptible to wind and hail damage
Tend to be less durable than many of the other steep-slope roofing materials (i.e. slate, wood shakes, tile), with the average lifespan of an asphalt shingle roof ranging from 15-30 years, depending upon the type of material you choose. Quality installation increases lifespan and minimizes maintenance.

Slate Shingle

Made from naturally occurring stone, slate roofs are the oldest types of roofing material with an unmatched record of durability, beauty, and protection.

Advantages

Aesthetics - naturally occurring stone creates a unique addition to your home
Known longevity - In fact, many slate roofs actually outlast the building they are installed upon. It's not uncommon for a slate roof to have a useful life of 150 years or more!
Low maintenance
Durable against wind and hail

Considerations

Repairs are costly and it's often difficult to find a perfect color match due to natural weathering of the existing slate
Expensive material and highly labor intensive to install
Weighs significantly more than an asphalt roof, which often means houses need additional reinforcement to support the roof deck.

Wood Shake Shingle

In terms of curb appeal, few roofs come close to the attractiveness and beauty of a wood shake or wood shingle roof, which are primarily manufactured using cedar.

Advantages

A natural, wood look can improve the exterior aesthetics of your home
Wood shake roofs offer excellent longevity, typically lasting twice as long as an asphalt shingle roof
Provides nearly twice the amount of insulation than asphalt shingles
Durable against wind and hail

Considerations

Expensive materials and installation
Regular maintenance often recommended to seal the wood to increase the lifespan of the roof
Can shrink and expand with temperature changes

Clay Tile

Clay tile is a unique way to add color and design to your home.

Advantages

Clay tile roofs can often last more than 100 years
Since the clay is molded into shape and then baked, the tiles can come in a wide array of different designs, profiles, textures, and other finishes
Long-term durability against various environmental factors such as hail damage, fire resistance and wind.
Low maintenance
Built-in ventilation to keep energy costs low

Considerations

Expensive materials and installation
Regular maintenance required
Weighs significantly more than an asphalt roof, which often means houses need additional reinforcement to support the roof deck
Some tile not suitable for colder climates

Synthetic

Synthetic roofing is a relatively new offering in our industry. This category of material refers to manufactured products that mimic the look of more traditional shingles, but the main components are often made of recycled plastics and/or rubber. Synthetic shingles can be made to look like slate, clay tile, wood shake and more.

Advantages

Lightweight and can be installed over existing roof deck with little modifications
Manufacturers claim durability, although since synthetic roofing has only been around since the mid-90's, it's difficult to gather a large sample of roofs to actually measure the durability in real-world conditions
Long warranties (up to 50 years)

Considerations

Relatively new product into the industry
Many roofing contractors are not familiar with the installation process because it's not a high volume product
Installation process can be more costly

Metal Roof Systems

There are three different types of metal roofing systems: architectural metal panel, structural metal panel and metal shingles. Metal roof systems offer a unique look with numerous benefits.

Advantages

Longevity
Energy efficient with typically high roof reflectivity
Environmentally friendly

Considerations

Tough to color match if you build an addition or make a repair (metal roof color will fade over time)
Noisy during thunderstorms
Expensive
Installation can be meticulous, so choosing a professional with experience in metal is essential