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When it’s time to replace your roof, you want to make sure you pick the best shingles for your roof. If you’re not familiar with the different types of shingles that are available, you may be wondering what your options are and which will be right for your home. Each type has its pros and cons, so we’re going to take a look at the more common ones so you can pick the best kind for your roof.

The Best Shingles For Your Roof

Before you decide which shingles are the best ones to go with, you need to know what you’re looking for and what the different types of shingles offer. The most common choice is asphalt, as they are fairly affordable and simple to install. They come in a wide range of colors and can fit any style.

Tile, metal, and slate are all stylish alternatives to the traditional asphalt shingles, but they are more expensive. On that note, asphalt shingles do come in a variety of looks these days and get be a great choice for most homeowners. Slate is a popular choice for older homes, such as Gothic and Victorian houses from the 1800s. In Florida and the Southwest, the Mediterranean and Spanish-style homes are popular, so you often see homes that have tile roofing. Tile is ideal in these regions because it helps reflect heat.

As you can imagine, because asphalt tiles are such an affordable option, they are the most popular choice. Some other common types of shingles include:

Asphalt Shingles 

Pros: Inexpensive, easy to install, easy to replace, looks great on most homes

Cons: Can be vulnerable to wind uplift (especially if installed improperly), can crack

Slate Shingles

Pros: Thin material, long lifespan, looks great on Victorian homes

Cons: Heavy overall, difficult installation means higher labor cost

Wood Shingles

Pros: Relatively affordable, lightweight, rustic aesthetic

Cons: Easily damaged by water without proper drainage

Metal Roof Shingles

Pros: Comes in a variety of options: copper, steel, aluminum, tin. Very long lifespan, modern appearance

Cons: Can be very expensive

Solar Shingles

Pros: Each is a tiny solar panel, so you can use them to power your home, advanced technology

Cons: One of the most expensive options

Tile Shingles

Pros: Helps block heat, reducing energy costs, pest resistant, long lifespan

Cons: Heavier weight

Rubber Shingles

Pros: Lasts long with low maintenance, environmentally friendly, repairs are easy

Cons: Installation can be tricky

How To Determine What the Best Shingles For Your Roof Will Be

There are more than a dozen popular types of shingles and roofing materials available on the market. Choosing the best ones for your roof can certainly be overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re looking for or if you’re unfamiliar with the many varieties of shingles on the market. When it comes to picking the best shingles, there are a handful of things you’ll want to think about before deciding on the right shingles.

Lifespan

One of the biggest things to think about when picking out shingles is how long they are likely to last you. No matter what type of roofing materials you choose, they will all need to be replaced at some point. The lifespan of your roof is impacted by several factors, such as weather conditions and climate.

Various roofing types have different estimated lifespans. Regular maintenance and mild weather can keep your roof in better condition. Depending on the material you can expect:

Asphalt: 20 years

Fiber Cement: 25 years

Wood Shake: 30 years

Metal: 50 years

Tile: 50 years

Slate: 100 years

Cost

With most home improvement projects, the cost can often make or break things. If you are working with a smaller budget, you’ll likely want to look into asphalt shingles. Keep in mind that, not only will you have to pay for the materials, but you will also have to factor in installation and labor costs. For a new roof, most homeowners can expect to spend anywhere from $4,500 and $10,500.

Many people consider the  DIY route after considering the expense of some roofing projects. Usually, this is because they feel that they can’t trust a roofing company to give them an honest estimate, or they think that they can do it just as well themselves. In almost all cases these are the farthest one can get from the truth.

Even if you are a skilled craftsman, or have even done roofing before, there are still a number of reasons that you should leave it up to a professional. If you’re on the fence about using a roofer, hopefully, we can set your mind at ease. We’ll also give you some tips on finding the best, most reliable roofer in your area.

Why You Need a Professional Roofer & Why You Need To Stop Trying To Do It Yourself

If you are considering a homebrew or DIY roofing solution, you should be aware of some of the drawbacks of a self-service job. Some can be more significant than others, depending on your situation and what is important to you.

DIY Can Be Incredibly Costly

A large portion of people that attempt a DIY roofing job do it because they see an estimate, look at supply prices, do a little math, and think they’re getting taken for a bunch of extra money. While a portion of the estimate for a roofing repair is obviously for materials, a large percentage of it helps subsidize other costs.

Sure, you may be able to get a great deal on a pallet of shingles, but once you have them, do you have all of the tools and expertise to install them? If you have a two-story or larger home, you may need special scaffolding or expensive ladders to be able to safely mount your roof. Expenses like these can easily outstrip the cost of basic materials. 

Insurance May Not Pay Out

If you are attempting to fix an issue caused by an event that your homeowners’ insurance may normally cover, you should be very careful of their reimbursement requirements for situations involving roofing repair. 

In many situations, the insurance company may only deal with the roofer regarding the repairs and the cost estimates. Even if they do not deal directly with the roofer, they will often require some proof of job completion by a qualified party. This means that if you fix your own roof, and you aren’t a licensed and insured roofer, the adjuster may decide not to pay your claim.

Potential For Future Issues

One of the reasons that insurance companies will generally not cover DIY roofing repair, is the potential for future issues. This can be from any number of reasons like the roof problem was not fully identified, located, diagnosed, or repaired initially. 

If the repair was completed, but not done up to proper industry standard and building code requirements, it could lead to the leak reappearing or causing more damage. If the roofing repair was a DIY job, and it results in more damage to the home, it is nearly assured that the homeowners’ insurance policy will not cover the costs of repair due to negligence.

Getting It Done Safely

Let’s face it, most of us could never safely complete an entire roof repair job solo in any sort of reasonable time frame, even in the prime of our life. You get that great deal on materials and happen to have all the tools you need, and now the final hurdle of getting your roof fixed comes: getting help.

Even if you happen to have a few friends or neighbors that might be available to help you out on a weekend, you have to worry about their safety too. This means making sure they know how to safely navigate a roof while doing necessary work. If anything happens to this ad hoc crew, the homeowner is liable, and it’s their insurer that’s going to cut checks for injury claims.

What You Need To Look For When Hiring a Professional Roofer

Ask Those Close To You

It’s the age-old word of mouth reference, and it’s worth its weight in gold. Ask your nearby family and friends if they’ve ever needed roofing work, who they used, and if they’re happy with the process and results. 

This is a great way to get information on local companies that have a history of working with people you know. This is also perfect for finding out who not to work with because once someone is dissatisfied they will not forget it.

The Internet Never Forgets

Look at the online reviews, such as via Google, for any companies that you’re looking at. Look at the good reviews as well as the bad. It’s important to use a service like Google since the company cannot delete unfavorable information.

Ensure Licensing & Insurance

This is often just a formality to prove that they have the required coverage and are operating within the law. The business licensing and insurance information are often already printed and listed on an info sheet or pricing guide, customers need only ask for it.

Ask For Referrals

If you feel close to picking a company, ask them for a list of referrals. Many companies will have a list of customers that have been agreed to be contacted to serve as a referral, should someone want it. A referral should give an honest first-hand account of their experience with the company.

Have Your Roof Inspected

Once you have decided on a company, have them come out and perform an initial roof inspection. This will often be done free of charge and can be scheduled at your convenience. This will show a baseline of everything that may need to be addressed with your roof.