Choosing a Shingle

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What roofing material is right for me?

This is a tough question to answer since there are many factors involved in choosing a material. Style of roof or pitch of the roof is very important. Budget is a factor, but look is also important.

First and foremost you want to choose a material for your roof based upon the style or pitch of your roof. Your roof pitch is essentially how steep the roof is. This step is the most important. You need to determine which products are on the market and have been developed for your style of roof. There is no “one size fits all” roofing material. A very common mistake is using shingles on a very low slope or flat roof (Shingles should not be used on pitches of 2/12 or less and can be used on 3/12 with special precautions.)

The second most important factor is budget. This can be the nerve wracking part of your decision. Budget doesn't mean “I want the cheapest roof.” Cheapest now, or cheapest in 50 years are two different things. You have to ask yourself: “How long am I going to occupy or own this building?” “How much money can I spend now on this roof?” The answer to these two questions will determine your budget. In other words spending less now may mean replacing your roof again sooner.

If you’re planning on selling your building in 5 years there is no reason, other than resale value and curb appeal, to install a roof rated for 80 years. The simple formula is this: Cost of roof installation divided by the rating of the materials in years. In the long run it is cheaper to spend that little bit of extra money now so you won’t have to bear the brunt of a complete replacement again for a very-very long time. However if you simply can’t afford the upgrade then it’s important you don’t spend more than you can afford.

What options are available for a Shingle roof?

3-tab Shingle was the standard for many years however is becoming less and less common. Fewer Shingle manufacturers are now manufacturing 3-tab shingles. 3-tab shingle warranty range from 20-30 years.
Standard Architectural Shingle is now the standard for most residential shingle roofs. A standard Architectural shingle is two pieces of shingle laminated together to add a 3 dimensional look. Architectural shingle warranty's are typically 30 years, however some budget manufacturers offer 25 year warranty's There are also upgraded warranty's available 40 and 50 years.
Luxury or Designer shingles, sometimes called premium architectural shingles offer a rich look to any roof, especially steeper roof slopes. The styles are numerous made to look like cedar shake or slate and the warranty's are typically 50 years or Lifetime.

Which shingle manufacturer is best?

Some manufacturers are better than others. Not all shingles are made the same. Simply judging the shingle quality by the warranty period would be a flawed method of determining the quality of the shingle. Some things to consider when choosing which manufacturer is right for you include...

Organic or Fiberglass reinforced. Fiberglass reinforced shingles are considered the standard since they have replaced the organic shingles. Many manufacturers no longer make organic shingles. However organic shingles do have some benefits during extreme cold weather installation, which is not encouraged by Reliable American. Both are asphalt based, the difference is the "matt" or structure of the shingle.
Class A or Class C fire rating. Certainly you would want a shingle which has an Under Writers laboratory (UL) fire rating. Most quality fiberglass shingle manufacturers have a class A rating, but not all. Most organic shingle manufacturers have a class C rating. Class A is the best shingle fire resistance rating currently on the market.
Warranty exclusions and inclusions. What is more important than the duration of the warranty, is what is actually covered. A good quality shingle manufacturer warranty would cover defects such as granule loss, blisters, curling, seal failure etc.. However there are some shingle manufacturers that, while they do cover these defects, they do not consider these defects to be a problem unless they are a direct result of leakage. Would you consider a shingle that is curling or has lost al its' granules to be a problem, even if it is not leaking? Read and understand the shingle warranty document before choosing a shingle.

Now that you've decided what types of material are available for your roof, then narrowed the decision down to the quality of material you find fitting; it’s time to choose how you want your building to look. The look of your building can be very important especially if it is your home. Think of a color scheme and go with that scheme. Don't introduce too many colors.

In the end you should choose a material that makes you feel comfortable and confident. You don’t want to install an improper material. You don’t want to install a material you can not afford or a material that doesn't match your home’s existing quality. Lastly you want to make certain the material you choose will be pleasing to your eye every time you drive up to your building.

The best shingle in the world is useless if not properly installed. Therefore it is extremely important to hire a licensed, certified and properly insured roofing contractor to install your new shingle roof. Learn more about hiring your contractor.

Written on December 12, 2003 by Thomas Kral, the founder of Reliable American, Inc. (Updated January 03, 2010)

Contact Thomas for your free shingle roof estimate or to further discuss your shingle roof options.

Learn more about the Reliable American Shingle Roof System.

Member of the National Roofing Contractors Association