What Are The Best Shingles For My Roof

Natural Stone Slates And Composite Or Synthetic Slate Tiles

Some European structures have natural slate tile roofs that are centuries old composite or vinyl slate tile is expected to last 40-60 years.

Both genuine and synthetic slate are produced in lengths from 8 to about 24 with widths from about 4 to 16. The size options allow you to choose the best look for your homes architecture.

• Natural slate tiles are the most durable roof you can put on a building, but the material is heavy and often requires additional and costly support. Innovations in synthetic slate roofing systems, like GAF TruSlate, are cutting the cost of genuine slate. GAF TruSlate Autumn Dusk Tiles
• Synthetic composite slate and shake tiles are attractive for their lower cost and lighter weight.

Pros and Cons

The advantages of slate are:

• The luxurious good looks of genuine slate are unsurpassed
• Genuine slate is a lifetime roof for any building and enhances curb appeal and resale value
• Slate requires little maintenance
• Synthetic slate is lightweight yet strong
• This is a green roofing material due to its durability, the fairly low impact of manufacturing and that it can be reused and recycled

Consider the disadvantages too:

Grades Or Types Of Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt roof shingles are available in three primary grades:

Despite which type you go with, asphalt shingles all have a fiberglass base mat layered with a waterproof, fire resistant and UV protective asphalt and granular coating.

How To Choose The Best Shingles For Your Roof

Choosing the right shingles to fit your roof is an important decision you may need to make as homeowner. You may be building your dream home or needing to replace the roof of your current home. There are several options for roof materials, and each material comes in different styles to choose from. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, so you should give careful thought to selecting the best one for your roof.

The cost of materials and installation varies depending on the type of shingles you choose, but there are other key factors to consider when you want to choose the best shingles for your new roof. What are your design and quality options? What sets materials apart and makes them different? The answers to these questions can help you make an informed choice.

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Are Roof Shingles Nailed Down

Each type of shingle would be secured in its own way. Asphalt, composite, wood, tile, rubber, and metal shingles would be nailed down. But there is a certain way to drive the nails for each material. Concrete and solar shingles would use their own specific types of adhesives. And, slate uses nails for support, instead of being nailed down.

Choosing The Right Shingles Quality Is Paramount

Each of the shingles highlighted in this list offers the highest quality available in the class of asphalt shingles.

Grand Manor shingles are the costliest, though theyre also the strongest on the list. On the other side of the cost scale, TAMKOs Heritage series costs the least, though theyre not quite as thick as the other shingles highlighted here. However, their high availability and wide range of colors make up for this minor shortfall.

Whichever shingles you choose, always aim for something that matches the look of your property while providing the protection it needs.

Class A fire resistance is a must, as is high wind resistance if you live in an area thats prone to storms and hurricanes.

You also need to consider how the shingles will look over time, with manufacturers that offer some form of algae protection typically providing the best choices for aesthetic appeal.

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What Are Luxury Shingles

Also known as premium shingles, these are the highest quality type of asphalt shingles. Standing out due to appearance and functionality, these laminated asphalt shingles offer premium weather protection while giving a beautiful look to your home. They are functional, dimensional, come in plenty of color options, and are by far the most durable asphalt shingle option. They offer the most realistic interpretation of wood shake and slate roofing while being far more affordable than those roofing types. Their main cons are weightthey are double the weight of 3-tab shinglesand cost.

The advantage of that extra weight? Extra strength against tears and impact. Thats helpful if you live in a tornado, hurricane, or hail-prone region. This premium asphalt shingle roof type can last 25-30 years and you can expect them to be the most expensive asphalt shingle.

Whats there to love about luxury asphalt shingles? Multi-Dimensional appearance maximum durability more affordable than slate or cedar alternatives.

What Is A 3 Tab Shingle

Also known as strip shingles, 3-tab asphalt shingles get their name from the way they are cut and installed. They are the most basic form of shingle, made out of a single layer of asphalt and cut into strips. They appear flat, offering a type of slate look to your roof upon installation. 3-tab shingles are lightweight since they are made from a single strip, so they are more affordable than many other asphalt shingle types and competing roofing materials. The downside to 3-tab shingles is their limited aesthetic options and they have the potential to blow off easier than other asphalt shingles types.

Generally, the expected lifespan of a 3-tab shingle roof is 18-20 years. When considering cost, some 3-tab shingle roofing can be as cheap as $0.90 per square foot of roofing material.

Pros 3-tab shingles are affordable and can last a couple decades in the right conditions.Cons Fewer aesthetic options, potential blow-off issues and a shorter lifespan.

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What Are Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are the most popular roofing material currently used on homes across the United States. There are many different types of asphalt shingles, all of which are easy to install, accessible, and surprisingly economical to produce. Their cost and lifespan allow them to compare favorably against many competing roofing types.

Designed to protect your home against weather and moisture, they require minimal maintenance and come in hundreds of styles and colors. Read on to learn more about all the different asphalt shingle types and see which is right for you and your home.

Home Architecture And Style

The visual design of your home will have a big impact on the shingles you choose. For colonial style homes, you may want to match the existing shingles to maintain the historic ambiance of your home. For more contemporary houses, choosing shingles such as slate, tile or metal can completely change the homes appearance.

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Do You Want Warm Or Cool Colors

Dont automatically assume that a dark roof and light siding are going to go together. Helping you avoid mismatched colors is one of the primary reasons we put this guide together. For example, if you have a beige house and slap a bluish-gray roof on it, you might clash because your house is warm and your roof is cool . Generally, warmer colors and cooler colors are going to work best together.

Take your landscaping into consideration as well. For example, cooler colors could accent nicely if you always plant bright colored flowers and have hanging plants. While landscaping made up of more naturally occurring plant life like pine trees and bushes, warmer colors will look incredibly nice in juxtaposition.

A Few Maintenance Tips

• Inspect your roof every two or three years, though not more often since every time you walk on the roof you cause some damage
• Inspect the attic. Check that the insulating wool is dry, as well as the wood. Humidity may be due to inadequate attic ventilation.
• Check that the plastic cement under the flashings is in good condition.
• If you see cracks or a joint without caulk, use a caulking gun with a tube of plastic glue to do the necessary waterproofing.

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Breakdown Of Costs By The Material Type And Installation Expenses

Heres the raw data on the cost of each type of roof for the material and installation. In most, there is a range of costs because both materials and installers are available in good/better/best options. You get what you pay for!

All costs below are listed on a per sq.ft. basis:

Schedule Regular Inspections With A Roofing Contractor

The old adage is that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The speaker very well may have had the roof in mind. An experienced roofing contractor can spend an hour on your roof every year taking care of minor issues that left unattended, might result in hundreds of dollars of interior damage to your home. The contractor can also provide you with advance notice of when to start budgeting for a new roof and help you choose from the many types of roofing materials available today.

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A History Of Asphalt Shingles

The first shingles were originally just single shingles unlike the wide multi-shingle sheets on the market today. Over the years, the backing material, granules, and construction of asphalt shingles has changed considerably, but the basic premise has remained the same. Their resistance to wind and hail damage has been greatly increased over the years as have the styles available to create a high quality roofing material.

Like most building materials, the composition of asphalt shingles was largely natural materials at first before moving to more manmade versions later. In the 1920s, due to increasing costs, the original cotton backing soon became too expensive and other materials like wool, jute , and wood pulp were experimented with. In testing done around the time, most of these bases showed no significant performance differences so for the next couple decades there were a variety of backings used depending on the region and manufacturer.

The 1920s saw huge growth for asphalt shingles due to a campaign by the insurance companies to address the growing fire risks in Americas cities. Wood shingles, while popular and affordable created significant fire risks, whereas asphalt shingles provided fire resistance and affordability. With the advent of the great depression and asphalt shingles availability as an affordable roofing material, they only saw further growth through the post war building boom and following decades.

The Lifetime Of Your Shingles

Very few homeowners want to invest in new roofing shingles that they will have to replace in only a few years. As such, its essential to ensure that youre buying high-quality materials and having them installed by a reputable roofing company.

Most roofing types last for at least 20 years, but some can last up to 70 years before they need replacing. To be sure youre buying the best type of roofing for your home, consider the estimated lifetime, price, and style of your options.

Finally, to help you choose the optimal roofing shingles for your home, you may want to consult a professional roofing company for advice.

If you reside in or around the Englewood, CO area, reach out to Roof Evolution for assistance in choosing new shingles and having them professionally installed. We have more than two decades of experience serving the Englewood area and are happy to apply our expertise to your roofing needs.

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How To Choose The Best Roof Shingles For Your Home

Replacing your roof is one of the most important purchases a homeowner can make. Based on this, it is important to understand the various options available. Asphalt shingle roofs are the least expensive and most popular option, followed by metal roofs, cedar roofs, slate roofs and clay roofs.

When talking to roofing contractors, you may be presented with many options to choose from, including style, colour, lifespan and type of warranty, and of course, price. Even for asphalt shingles alone, there are also many different brands from various manufacturers, with each brand carrying shingles that falls into three categories: Basic Shingles, Mid-Grade Shingles or Premium Shingles. The main difference between categories comes down to the thickness of the shingles, the style of the shingle and the lifespan of the manufacturers warranty.

The Top 5 Roof Shingle Brands

May 14th, 2021 | 6 min. read

The roofing material you choose for your replacement has a significant impact on the entire roofing project. It impacts the cost, installation, warranty options, and more.

If youre like most homeowners, youre probably going with the commonly seen asphalt roof. But did you know there are actually different brands of asphalt shingles?

If you didnt, youre not alone. There are plenty of asphalt shingle brands to choose from, but the question most homeowners have is, whos the best?

The truth is, its hard to say one roof shingle brand is better than the other because they all make great products. But there are some that stand out to roofing contractors and offer homeowners like you more varieties to give your roof the exact look you want.

Thats why were going to give the top roof shingle brands.

Since 1990, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners in the Nashville area get the beautiful roof they deserve while staying in their budget. We provide you all the information you need to make the right decision for you and your situation. And after were done with your roofing project, were proud to offer you a lifetime warranty on our workmanship.

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Why Are Asphalt Roofing Shingles Popular

Asphalt shingles are less expensive than other types of roofing materials, which explains their popularity. Asphalt roofing shingles are engineered to beautify and protect your home. Asphalt models offer protection against water infiltration caused by wind-driven rain or ice dams. This material is especially popular with homeowners and contractors for the following reasons:

• Inexpensive: The inexpensive cost of shingles made of asphalt beats the price of other materialslike steel, natural stone tiles or genuine wood shakes.
• Low Maintenance: Has fewer maintenance issues than stone tiles or wood shakes.
• Quick Installation: Quicker and easier to install than other types of roofing materials.
• Massive Variety: Asphalt is widely available in a huge assortment of colors, pattern designs and sizes.

Slate Tile Roofing Shingles

Slate roofing shingles are a stone roofing material that is installed as a shingle. Slate shingles are thin but very heavy when the whole roof is made out of them. Slate has a natural beauty to it that many people appreciate, but the shingles do not really vary in color or looks. Slate roofing shingles cost on average $8 to $14 per square foot or $800 to $1,400 per square to install. Slate tiles are more difficult to install but when done properly they will give you one of the longest-lasting roof options available. Slate shingles come with an expensive price tag, but that does not mean that slate is not a great roof type option if you can afford it. Many people decide slate roofs are worth the cost to install since they will last more than a lifetime from 60 to 150 years.

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Which Colors Accent Your Homes Architecture

The shape and style of your home and roof should play a big factor in which color shingles you use. For example, if you have a large roof with many peaks and valleys, a black roof is going to take over the look of your home completely. A light grey or textured shingle is going to make those structural elements of your roof pop and accentuate the design and architecture of your home.

Find A Great Roofing Contractor By Asking The Right Questions

Now you know the top 5 shingle brands. Like I said earlier, one roof shingle brand isnt better than the other, and they all make great products.

Remember, to get an enhanced warranty, you have to hire a roofing contractor that is certified by all 5 or at least some of the brands. Because of this, you should always ask a roofing contractor what certifications they have.

But that’s just one question you need to ask a roofing contractor to ensure you’re making the best hiring decision.

That’s why you need our checklist of 16 questions to ask a roofing contractor. Not only does the checklist contain the questions, but it also gives you the right answers a reputable roofing contractor will give back.

To ensure you make the right hiring decision, get the checklist of questions to ask a roofing contractor.

The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided high-quality residential roof repairs and roof replacements in Nashville and surrounding areas since 1990. Were certified by the main shingle manufacturers to offer you the best products and warranties possible.

If youre local to Nashville, dont hesitate to contact us for any of your roofing needs.

Here’s your Checklist of 16 Questions You Need to Ask a Roofing Contractor, so you’re able to make the best hiring decision.

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