Which Roof Is Right For You?
So you're finally building your dream home in Prescott, and so far, it's shaping up to be everything you've always wanted and more. You're mostly finished with creating the plan for your new home, but there are still a few questions left to be answered - and one big one is which type of roofing material to use.
Choosing your roofing materials shouldn't be an afterthought. Though asphalt shingle roofing might seem like an easy go-to choice, there are other excellent options that offer their distinct benefits, all of which are worth considering. Let's check out some of the most popular residential roof types to see which one is right for you!
Popular Residential Roofing Materials
As a residential and commercial roofing contractor, we work with a wide variety of different clients and properties, which naturally means that we work with a broad range of different roofing materials. Some of these materials, such as TPO membrane and touchdown roofing, are highly specialized and mostly used for commercial applications, though, of course, there are always exceptions. Today, though, we're going to focus on the three most common residential roof types we install:
Asphalt Shingles
We'll start with the most common one. It's easy to see why a lot of homeowners and real estate developers choose asphalt shingles: they're cheap, easy to install, and despite being lightweight, high-quality ones are designed to withstand strong winds, rain, solar radiation, algae growth, and a whole host of common issues. Plus, they can be customized with all kinds of different colors and styles, and can even be made to resemble slate or wood shingles.
The biggest drawback with asphalt shingles, then, is their relatively short lifespan. The average shingle roof is expected to last anywhere from 15-25 years, though we offer special deluze lines from CertainTeed and GAF that are designed to last much longer (GAF's Timberline shingles, for example, are backed by their 50-year Golden Pledge warranty). That being said, even the highest quality asphalt shingles are likely to age out far before some of the other alternatives listed below, so homeowners planning to live in the same residence for a long time will likely have to replace their shingle roof one day.
Concrete Tile and Slate Shingles
Tile/slate shingles are a huge step up stylistically from the fairly quotidian asphalt shingle, and they're also far more long-lived. Not only does tile have an organic, high-end aesthetic that instantly adds tons of curb appeal to any home, but it's also incredibly resilient, with an estimated lifespan of up to 70 years for concrete tiles and 100 years for slate - well over double the lifespan of even the most elite asphalt shingles. That advanced durability may be due in part to tile's exceptional resistance to fire, decay, 130+ mph winds, and a whole host of other elements that asphalt tiles are more vulnerable to.
The biggest drawback for homeowners, at least compared to asphalt shingles, is price. As a mid-range priced roofing material, a tile roof can cost significantly more than an asphalt one (though one could argue that tile's advanced longevity makes it a worthwhile investment for those who plan to live underneath the same roof for a lifetime). Tile's heavy weight and relative fragility to impact damage also make the installation process longer and more complex, which can also compound costs.
Metal Roofing
You could say that metal roofing represents a happy medium between the affordable but relatively disposable shingle roof and the deluxe but pricey tile roof. Metal roofing has a lot of advantages going for it: it's sleek and beautiful, it's an eco-friendly material that's highly energy-efficient and recyclable, it's low-maintenance, and despite being lightweight, it's very resilient and resistant to fire damage, weathering, and more. Though the exact lifespan varies between brands and styles, the average metal roof can be expected to last anywhere from 40-70 years.
Pricewise, metal roofing is more expensive on average than asphalt roofing, but much cheaper than tile or slate. While metal roofs can have a reputation for being expensive, we offer low-cost options that give budget-conscious clients great metal roofing without breaking the bank.
Let's Talk About Your Roof
There's obviously more that goes into choosing a roof type than what we've covered here, but we hope this has at least given you something to think about. If you'd like to seek an expert consultation to help you make that final decision, though, now's a great time to contact Heritage Roofing. As Prescott's preferred roofing contractor for more than 20 years, we've worked on all kinds of residential roofs, and can go over your needs, aesthetic tastes, and project budget to determine which roof will suit you best.
From metal to tile shingles and more, Heritage Roofing proudly installs high-end roofs for Prescott homes. If you want to talk roof types with us, give us a call today at 928-910-2765.