04 May

How to Choose the Right Shingle

Categories: Roofing Styles, Roofing

peak roofing how to choose shinglesIf you’re thinking, “Where do I even begin?” – no worries. This easy guide will help you navigate through this important process. While style, color, and availability factor into your decision, let’s begin with the three major types of shingles you’ll want to consider: asphalt, composite, and architectural. Other excellent roofing options include tile and slate, but we’ll get to that later.

Here are the basics.

Asphalt: Popular and Good Value
This type is sought-after for several reasons:

  • Affordable. Considering how many you need to buy, they’re quite cost-effective. They’re also just as sturdy as other options. People love them.
  • Adaptable. These babies can be modified to reflect a variety of shapes and sizes. Gotta love that.
  • Easy to install. This is yet another reason asphalt shingles are so attractive. (Of course, you need to hire professionals. This is not a job for you to try.

Also, to note: there are two main types of shingles, fiberglass and organic. Fiberglass consists of fiberglass mats. Organic is made of (you guessed it) wood, paper, and other recycled materials.

Composite: High-Quality and Durable
Like the name suggests, composite shingles are a mix of various materials, which makes them so strong. Other cool perks include:

  • Toughness. They can last 30-50 years—some for a lifetime. They also don’t crack, blister, warp, peel, or split.
  • Versatile. They’re available in lots of different styles and colors that will only fade one single shade over the years. Plus, they can replicate cedar shake color—brown, somewhat like tree bark, a color that lots of folks prefer.
  • Treatable. Additives can be applied that guard against algae, moss and UV degradation (the sun.)

Architectural: Variety and Textures
Did someone say “options?” Yep, this type has got ‘em. Here’s the topline:

  • Colorful. You can choose from quite a few good-looking shades.
  • Pattern-centric. There are lots of designs and they can replicate wood, slate, and other rich textures. (Shape shifter-ish, which is a good thing.)
  • Weighty. This is one of the differences from the other shingle options: you can select from a number of weights and they each come with warranties that last anywhere from 30-50 years.

Deeper Dive
Within these three categories, you can also divide them into four more groups:

  • Large individual shingles
  • Laminated shingles
  • Interlocking shingles
  • Thicker composite asphalt shingles (known as Class 4 shingles), which qualify for insurance discounts

These are details you’ll want to discuss with your PEAK professional and not really something you (alone) need to think about initially. The bigger things to take into consideration, once you’ve had a chance to review all your shingle choices, are your desire for customization, durability and aesthetics, as well as your geographic location. As we know all too well, Texas weather is a phenomenon unto itself.

Tile and Slate: Premium and Unique
Whether your decide upon tile or slate roofing, both are high-end and absolutely stunning. These materials can make all the difference when you have them on your home, giving it a “wow” factor like nothing else. Here are some of the key benefits:

  • Super durable. They can last from 50-100+ years. This is more than double the lifespan of more traditional roofing materials. (Hair blown back yet?)
  • Insulated. You’ll not only enjoy extra insulation, but also energy efficiencies. You’ll save on your heating and cooling bills.
  • Fire resistant. Because of how they’re made, you’ll get a reduction of heat transfer, in case of a fire. Very important.

While tile and slate are gorgeous, they do come with a higher price tag, compared to asphalt roofs. However, since they last longer, it’s more cost-effective over the years.

If you’re looking to replace your roof, PEAK is ready and waiting to sit down and walk you through all we’ve got to offer. With over 30 years of experience and our guarantee, you can count on us not only to deliver unmatched service and workmanship, but also exceed your expectations. Just give us a holler.

Jeff Riss

Jeff has 20 years of sales experience, a love of roofing, and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. He leads Peak Roofing & Construction’s team but also is known for getting his hands (and knees) dirty on a job site. His passion for customer service, integrity, and quality craftsmanship drives his success. Peak Roofing & Construction is a family-owned, locally-operated business focused on doing things the right way. His deep understanding of roofing, gutters, windows, fences and exterior painting provide a strong foundation for running the business and serving his customers.
Comments

Comments are closed.