All About Roofing Shingles

When looking out for the roofing material options available for you, choosing roof shingles is always an essential part of the process. To get the right kind of roofing shingles for your building, it is crucial to understand a couple of things. This usually ranges from knowing the companies who produce the roof shingles to knowing each type of roof shingle’s durability measures.

In this article we will try and break it down for you to allow you make informed decisions when choosing the roofing materials that meet your needs.

What companies make roofing shingles?

Before you get into trying to understand who makes the best roofing shingles, it is essential to know the companies in the market. This goes a long way in helping you understand the vast array of choices you have to choose from. It also helps you understand what can be your next viable option if one company does not deliver on your expectations. Some of the companies who produce roofing shingles are:

• Atlas
• CertainTeed
• IKO
• Owens Corning
• GAF-ELK

These companies dabble in producing different types of shingles, giving you a wide variety to choose from, based on your needs.

What are the longest lasting roof shingles?

Durability is a crucial metric when choosing roof shingles, and we understand your concern. Roof repairs can be costly, and no homeowner wants to think about the unnecessarily incurred costs every few years continually. Depending on the material used to make the roof shingles, the durability varies as follows:

Metal shingles: these tend to last for 75 years or more. With an added advantage of being fire-resistant, they can be an excellent option to go for if you’re planning to have your house be handed over down your generation.

Wood shakes: made to be thicker than standard wood shingles; they can perform well and are more environmentally friendly. They have been known to last between 35 to 40 years.

Wood shingles: these are made from standard wood material such as cypress. They are generally very attractive and have been known to last for 25 to 30 years.

Asphalt shingles: this is a common favorite for homeowners, and their durability is dependent on the quality of the material used. Has been known to last for 15 to 40 years, with the best lasting for 50 years.

Clay shingles: loved for their beauty aspect, they can last up to 10 years or more, depending on how well they are maintained.

What is the most popular roof shingle color?

When it comes to picking out the color for your roof shingles, most people are fixated on simply picking a color that will make their house stand out in the neighborhood or one that will blend in. However, there’s more to it than that. It is important to consider whether the color you choose will match the rest of the color palette for the house or, in hindsight, what effect the color will have on the house temperatures.
The latter is based on the fact that dark colors have been known to absorb more light and give off more heat, which might be both good and bad, depending on the season in play. With that being said, some of the most popular roof shingle colors are:

Black and Gray shingles: these tend to be popular in colder climates since they help prevent snow accumulation on the roof.

Blue and Green shingles: these tend to blend in well with your surroundings, especially if you are living in a coastal town.

Brown and Red shingles: these tend to settle in well in tropical areas. The red is particularly a good choice if you’re looking to be bold in your color choices.

Beige and Golden shingles: These are a perfect fit for areas where autumn is filled with earthy colors since they complement each other.

That being said, the three things you should have in mind when picking out a color are:
The color palette for your home – ensure the colors are able to blend in well together.

The location of your home – its surroundings and the neighborhood you are in; do they complement each other or do they contrast.

The resale value of your home – not everyone might be okay with your unique color choices.

What are the top-rated roofing shingles?

Consumer reports asphalt shingles as some of the top-rated roofing shingles. This is based on tests conducted on their durability and how well they maintain their appearance over time. However, the development of algae on roof shingles has seen an increase in algae-resistant shingles’ popularity.

These shingles are preferred over normal shingles since they discourage algae formation, helping to cut down on the maintenance costs that come with that. Algae resistant shingles reviews have shown that clients can save money, making this option a cost-effective one.

Roof shingle rating comparison

Due to their popularity, consumer reports asphalt shingles are the only shingles they carry out tests on. However, they also go ahead to give additional information on a faux slate and composite tiles.

An overview of their findings is as follows:

Asphalt shingles

They are lightweight and tend to be lightweight, waterproof, and easy to install. The prices range from 65 to 350 dollars per square. They are available in three categories, each depending on the thickness of the material. These are
Standard; the cheapest and thinnest.

Architectural: slightly thicker, resembling wood shakes.

Multilayered architectural: the thickest of the three and most expensive.

Faux slate shingles

They tend to weigh almost similar to asphalt shingles, so you don’t have to worry about additional reinforcements. The prices range from 310 to 500 per square. Since they can be made from a variety of materials, it is important to understand that the faker the slate, the more slippery it gets.

That means that in colder climates, you should install snow guards to prevent accidents from occurring. They are also bound to crack when under too much pressure.

Metal roofing

They are made from a variety of metals, shapes, and textures. The prices range from 850 to 1440 dollars. They reflect light well but can be noisy, especially during rainstorms. Since they are as slippery as slate, having snow guards in place could be a good thing. They have been known to last for 50 to 100 years.

Looking at roof shingles reviews and Roof shingle ratings comparison can go a long way in helping you decide on the best roof shingles to have for your home. The reviews should serve to help you understand the options available in the market. Once that is done, you are free to make your own decision to consult with a professional.

Remember to always have in mind the location of your home when choosing your roof shingles. When it comes to installation, the prices of a roofer vary on years of experience. You should determine who makes the best roofing shingles, thus, you need to be careful when choosing who to contract.

To get a good constructor, you might choose to use word of mouth or look for certified contractors on the shingle company websites. This will allow you to get people who have already established a name for themselves in the industry.

Hopefully, the tips outlined above will act as a roofing buying guide as you go about picking out the best roofing shingle for our home.