If you are new to Colorado, you’ll realize quickly how fickle the weather here can be, and how hard it can be on your roof. The typical lifespan of a roof is anywhere between 15-30 years but with hail and wind damage, you could be looking at much more frequent roofing projects. Doing research on roofs and all the different roofing materials can be very hard and confusing. To try to make it easier, we have compiled a pros and cons list, of the commonly used shingle types and how they can be both beneficial as well as the disadvantages of each shingle type. There are four commonly used roofing shingles. The decision making process is always hard when is comes to the investment of your home, so I hope this makes is a little easier.
Asphalt Shingles
- Pros
- Very cheap compared to other types of shingles as these are the most common.
- Comes in many different colors and designs.
- These types of shingles are very lightweight for your roof, structural reinforcement will not be needed.
- Weather resistant
- Appropriate for any style of home
- Cons
- Can Decay with sudden weather changes
- They must be installed in the appropriate weather conditions, they will not hold up if installed in low temps.
- Periodic maintenance routines are recommended
- They may be blown off by high winds.
- Susceptible to hail damage
- Can scar or be damaged by heat.
Wood Shake Shingles
- Pros
- Esthetically pleasing
- Very durable
- Resistant to severe storms
- Energy efficient
- When aged, it turns to a beautiful grayish silver tone
- Provides natural insulation up to two times that of asphalt shingles
- Lasts 10 times longer than asphalt shingles
- Cons
- They are expensive compared to asphalt.
- Regular maintenance will be required.
- Moss, mold, and mildew are all possibilities with wood shake.
- Cedar treatments that will prevent fungal growth are pricey.
- They are also illegal in Boulder, Colorado and many other areas are following suit.
Metal Roofs
- Pros
- Life span of the shingles is about 20-50 years.
- Paint finished metal roofs have a 30yr warranty.
- They are very lightweight and only 50-150 lbs per sq/ft.
- Very fast and easy to install.
- Fire resistant
- Maximum shedding of rain and snow off the roof. Surface is hard and slippery allowing weather to fall right off.
- Heat conduction- Metal reflects radiant heat from the sun minimizing midday heat gain-increasing energy efficiency.
- Cons
- Typically quite expensive
- Noise-rainstorms and hail can be very loud. The noise can be controlled, by using sound deadening insulation and solid plywood sheathing.
- Painted metal can chip. Peel, or fade.
- Dents from hail can occur.
- Some metal roofs cannot be walked on; can be slippery when wet.
- Expansion and contraction on hot days can cause a wavy effect.
- Many people assume that the roofs will attract lightning but in most documented instances the lightning strikes the trees or other high objects near the roof.
Slate Title
- Pros
- Aesthetics- very attractive.
- Comes in a variety of colors
- Longevity-Lasts longer than any other kind of roofing material
- Fireproof
- Resists rots and insects.
- Cons
- Leaks are very easy because of insufficient sealing.
- Most companies will not repair
- Very heavy for the roof-there may need to be a structural engineer hired to advise where to beef up the wood in the attic to accommodate the extra weight.
- Very fragile-walking on tiles will break them.
- The tiles will last just close to forever but the tiles that break are close to impossible to replace and match.
- Tiles are very expensive.
Obviously there’s a lot to think about when you are looking at making changes to your roof. The key components to keep in mind are materials, esthetics, durability, and cost. Now that you have a better understanding of what each material has to offer, finding a shingle to fit your needs will be much easier.