Roofing Shingle Experts
When choosing the right roofing material for your home, your decision needs to be justified. Weight, longevity, safety, look, price— these, plus more, are all important factors you need to consider. You need roofing shingle experts to guide you.
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Shingles are the most popular roofing material on residential homes in the United States. The most common of which is the asphalt shingle, which you can see as you look around.
The fact is, asphalt shingles have a $7 billion market share in the roofing industry as of 2018. That’s 80% of total homes, with the rate still projected to rise steadily in the coming years.
But why are asphalt shingles so popular?
Asphalt Shingles
Learn more about asphalt shingles from us, roofing shingle experts, as we give you several reasons why they remain the top choice for most homeowners:
- Environmentally friendly
There is a global demand for more ecologically favorable roofing solutions as reflected in the latest energy codes across the states. Good thing asphalt shingles make the cut, as they are partially made of recycled materials.
More than that, the shingles themselves can be repurposed to form other asphalt-based products when they reach their roofing end of life. Examples of those are roads, parking lots, biking trails, pavements, and even new asphalt shingles. That reduces overall waste from roof tear-offs that usually stacks up in our landfills.
Asphalt shingles are made of a paper, organic cellulose, or fiberglass base mat, then saturated with asphalt on either side. After that, small, opaque granules made of crushed rock and ceramic are applied and kept in place by a special adhesive and sealant.
The fiberglass base is the most eco-friendly (and inexpensive) of all types, being made from recycled substances.
- Waterproof and durable
It’s asphalt that makes each shingle waterproof and strong. The granules that cover it provide enough weight against strong winds. To keep them from growing molds and algae, roofing shingle experts spray them with copper sulfate.
The most affordable asphalt shingles can easily last 15 years. With proper maintenance, the material’s life can be extended by 5 to 10 more. The most expensive brands even put a 30-year warranty on their products, provided they’re installed by roofing shingle experts.
- Heat and UV light reflective
The granules mentioned above are what cause heat and light from passing through the shingle and damaging it. They keep the surface temperature lower and thus keep the whole roof cooler during hot weather. This saves homeowners at least 15% on energy bills.
As roofing shingle experts, we recommend energy star-rated asphalt shingles not just for homeowners to comply with state energy codes but to help them save on future HVAC bills.
- Fire resistant
All quality asphalt shingles have a Class A fire rating, which means superior fire and spark protection. This is especially true with those with fiberglass base matting.
Asphalt shingles are also coated with a fire-retardant substance for superior protection.
- Lightweight and easy to install
Asphalt shingles weigh an average of 5 pounds per square foot. New installations by roofing shingle experts are easy because any kind of roofing structure can easily support its weight. This is also why re-roofing (or adding another layer of shingles) on top of it is possible.
The weight of roofing material is significant especially in our region as we are prone to climates that already dump heavy snow on our roofs.
- Aesthetic and versatile
Asphalt shingles offer great aesthetics with their wide selection of beautiful colors. Light to darker grays are popular, but there are also dark to soft greens, navy to pale blues, dark browns to sandy hues, and much more. There are no siding colors asphalt shingles can’t match.
You may notice that the granules on the shingles are not a single color, creating a visually appealing transition effect when installed on roofs.
When it comes to design, there are three to choose from: the three-tab, the dimensional, and the luxury shingles.
The three-tab shingle mimics the look of slate via a single flat layer design of three tabs per shingle. In reality, it’s one shingle you’re looking at and not three. It’s the most popular and inexpensive type of asphalt shingle.
The dimensional, or architectural shingle, has two strips laminated together in one shingle, just like how wood shakes would look. It’s more durable and more wind-resistant than the three-tab.
Luxury, or premium shingles, offer a prestigious slate look with their bigger and thicker shingles. Being more durable, they’re also the priciest among the three.
- Budget-friendly
Above all, asphalt shingles are affordable. We roofing shingle experts know that this is the top reason why many prefer this roofing type. When done by roofing shingle experts, they simply give high value for every buck.
The most common asphalt shingle, the three-tab, cost $2 to $3 per square foot. On the other hand, luxury organic asphalt shingles cost an average of $9 per square foot. That’s still reasonable.
Roofing shingle experts like us love asphalt shingles, that’s why we always provide expert installation to all our beloved customers.
But before you make your final decision on roofing material, know that asphalt shingles aren’t the only type of shingles available. It is our obligation as roofing shingle experts to present to you many other roofing alternatives you might be interested in. Each one has its appeal and advantages.
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If you’re interested in longevity, then metal shingles are among the best. A metal shingle system can last for 70 to 100 years.
Another perk of a metal shingle system is its ease of maintenance. You, or a roofing shingle expert, only need to regularly clean gutters of debris and leaves to keep them functioning optimally. Leaks are fixed by sealing fasteners.
Metal shingles may be made of aluminum, steel, or copper. They can come in different designs that look like wood, slate, clay, or even asphalt and can come in so many colors. They give homeowners the modern look they desire.
But metal also comes with a heftier price. It has a $10 per square foot minimum price but can go up to double that for more prestigious options.
Still, people who can afford it find metal shingles worth the investment. It’s less hassle, the color lasts longer, it’s more energy-efficient, and they won’t grow molds.
Wood Shingles
The most sustainable of all types of shingles is wood. It’s a natural material that’s easy and toxic-free to produce. They’re biodegradable and recyclable.
Another impressive trait of a wood shingle system is its weather resistance. Wood provides natural insulation, thereby leading to cost-efficiency. It needs yearly maintenance, though, but it will give a home solid protection for 30 years.
The impression that wood shingles are the most fire-prone has long been disproved, especially by roofing shingle experts. All wood shingles are treated with fire-retardant substances to make them roofing quality grade. The treatments also make them resistant to biological growth (like fungi or molds) and insect infestation.
Our customers who choose wood shingles list its rustic look and character as their primary reasons. They can have it oiled, stained, or painted for that wow factor. As they weather over time, they look even better.
Clay tile is a type of roofing that has been used for centuries in the US. We can see the evidence of its durability with terra cotta tiles on many historical buildings we still have today.
Being a baked product, clay tiles hardly lose any color as they age. They don’t burn, rot, or deteriorate even with salt spray or desert heat. They don’t curl with age or get infested with insects.
A hundred years is a safe estimate for the clay tile roof’s lifespan. Its more modern counterpart, the concrete roof tile, lasts a reasonable 30 to 60 years.
If you’re interested in clay or concrete roof tiles, the key is to get the highest grade— basically, the type with the least moisture. And we, roofing shingle experts, have access to the best brands direct from the manufacturers.
That saves you some money, as clay or concrete tiles are by no means cheap. Aside from the cost of the material itself, roofing shingle experts need to reinforce the roof structure as there is quite some weight to bear with clay and concrete.
Based on all these types of shingles, which one appeals to you the most? Finding the right shingle for your home might be confusing when presented with so much information. That’s why you need honest and experienced roofing shingle experts to guide you through selecting the right material.
Many roofers are offering shingles. But to maximize all of the benefits any material brings, you need a roofing shingle expert. We may give you the lifespan of each material, but your system will not achieve those expectations with faulty installation and maintenance.
Rochester Hills Roofing is not just any ordinary roofer. We are roofing shingle experts composed of continuously trained personnel adept at working on most types of shingles (including the ones we discussed here). And we have so much more information and expertise to share, particularly on the best roofing materials for our type of weather.
So if you’re interested, make that call and book a free onsite estimate now. We are eager to show you all the great roofing possibilities that fit right into your budget.
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Rochester Hills Roofing
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