What is the best type of shingles to put on my roof?
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Any type of shingle has pros and cons, costs and benefits. Some shingle types are restricted to roof slopes greater than 4/12. In high-fire danger zones, wood shakes and shingles are not permited or are a bad choice.
A good value is an asphalt-fiberglass composite shingle, expected to last 20-30 years, and supplied by many manufactures. Some asphlat-fiberglass shingle types are more brittle than regular asphalt shingles and tend to crack. The attached link rates many shingles according to durability. You will also want to look at the aesthetics and co9lor choices.
Shangles. They are a composite that comes in any color, look like shake shingles, go up fairly easy and last forever.
Roofing: Fiberglass dominates
Man hammering shingles on a roof.
Laminated fiberglass shingles now command a large part of the roofing market. These shingles are meant to mimic the appearance of wood or slate, yet they cost much less than the real thing. That’s an appealing combination for some homeowners; for others, laminated shingles may be more than their budget or rafters can bear.
Also known as "architectural" or "dimensional" shingles, laminates are fairly thick, so that when installed, their depth creates a three-dimensional surface that appeals to many homeowners. But laminates generally cost more than the traditional fiberglass shingle, the three-tab type, which imparts a flatter look to the roof (see photos below). Both types are made of fiberglass sandwiched between asphalt and ceramic granules, hence their description as asphalt shingles. But three-tabs are made from a single layer rather than the double layer of a laminate and generally weigh less.
Some roofers may claim that heavier shingles outperform lighter ones, but our tests don’t support that. They do show that the very lightest shingles were among the worst performers. But some shingles weighing less than 300 pounds per 100 square feet bested products weighing more than 400. And the heaviest shingles were not the best performers in either shingle type.
Heavyweight shingles could actually be a problem if you choose to apply your new shingles over the old ones, a decision we cover below, along with other factors to consider.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Consider the kind of roof the house already has. Slate, tile, and metal roofing can last for decades, even centuries. Chances are, you won’t have to think about replacing any of those materials totally unless you have to repair major damage or you’ve tired of trying to fix chronic leaks.
Wood and fiberglass shingles need periodic replacement. When your roof reaches that point, you can consider moving up to metal or slate--if your budget can handle the staggering cost of the replacement (see Shingle options). Otherwise, it’s probably best to stay with the material already on the roof. For most households, that will mean replacing fiberglass with fiberglass.
Laminated shingles.
TWO LOOKS Laminated shingles (left) are thick and have a more three-dimensional look. Three-tab shingles (right) are flatter and more uniform.
Three-tab shingles.
Weigh aesthetics vs. your budget. Laminates offer what many people consider a richer and more pleasing appearance than three-tab shingles. If looks run a distant second to cost in your priorities, choose a three-tab shingle. Think twice, however, before sacrificing the aesthetics of a laminate for the savings of a three-tab shingle. The cost difference is relatively small, especially considering how seldom you have to buy roofing. For an average-sized house, laminate shingles are likely to run only about $1,200 more than three-tab.
Choose lightweight shingles if you are leaving the old roof in place. Providing your old shingles are undamaged, your roof is strong enough (most are), and your local building department allows it, you can probably nail a second layer of shingles directly over the existing one. The resulting roof doesn’t necessarily confer better protection from the elements, but it may be less expensive since you will have eliminated the labor and disposal costs to strip off the old shingles. You’ll likely need to choose a shingle that weighs less than 300 pounds per 100 square feet to avoid putting undue stress on the roof structure.
Consider performance differences among shingles. As the Ratings show, the best shingles we tested were all very strong and resilient--the attributes that best allow any roof to stand up well year after year. But even the top performers varied in how well they resist some threats. Scores in those attributes might affect your choice. For example, if you live in an extremely windy locale, you might favor one of the shingles that did well in our wind test, which gauges the propensity to lift in a gale. If temperature extremes are the norm where you live, consider a shingle that scored especially high in standing up to very hot weather. If your home is close to a lot of trees--or if hailstorms are a regular occurrence--impact resistance may be an especially important criterion.
Consider the warranty. You can expect a fiberglass-shingle roof to last 25 years or more, but tornadoes, blizzards, hail, and other calamities can ruin any roof before its time.
Fiberglass shingles have a two-part warranty. The first, and, in our view, more important, part provides full reimbursement for materials and installation costs for most hazards. Warranties do cover wind damage. The second part typically provides prorated reimbursement for materials and ranges from 20 years to the life of the house. Many warranties are transferable (with restrictions) if you sell the house. Our advice: Go for the longest full-reimbursement period you can get.
Tough call ya have here. I agree Fiberglass, certainly over any other medium, and it need not LOOK like Cedar Shakes.
I think more important a question might be where are you? How much investment can you afford? How long do you plan to live there?
Manufacturers usually state things such as 15 year/20 year, etc...BUT add fine print disclaimers with regard to location and natural occurrences...IE: SUNLIGHT 12 hrs a day at temps as high as 100 degrees perhaps, for 6 months a year.
The fiberglass, laminate or not, is GLASS in essence, and designed to last longer than Asphalt, but if you have no intent to still be there 25 years from now, it really doesn't much matter.
So I guess what I'm inferring is that "BEST" is relative and subjective, depending on so many other factors. Obviously the industry will make claims of BEST even if it's wax coated cardboard shingles.
Another very valid issue is installation. Who does it, no matter the material, and how they,,,and the manufacturer back up the work and product.
On more then I'll say thanks. Depending again, on where you live, IE: Florida/Oklahoma, the time span for the longevity of any roofing material, might only depend on the next Hurricane, or Tornado.
Steven Wolf
Basically, you might want to take a short visit to a home repair store such as Lowe's. By doing this, this will give you an ides of type of shingles that you would like on your roof. Or, you also can phone some roofing companies to get some suggestions from them.
how old are you, how much money do you have to spend, how long are you realistically going to stay in that house, can it wait till you're ready to sell? ( so it will still look new ) in the south ? consider installing an ice house roof w/ radiant barrier! many questions to help determine the answer!
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