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Originally Posted On: https://5estimates.com/best-roofing-shingles/

 

Looking for the best roofing shingles to protect your home and give it a new look? We put together a guide to help you choose the best shingles for your roof replacement.

If you’re considering replacing your roof, it can prove overwhelming navigating all the choices. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place for help.

A bathroom remodel, kitchen renovation or a new roof are three of the most expensive home repairs you could pursue. As with most home renovation projects, there’s a direct correlation between quality and cost. With roofing, this typically means a longer-lasting roof.

It’s seldom a good idea to go for a cheap roofing job. You may save money up-front, but it will cost you dearly in the long run.

What Are the Different Types of Shingles?

There are many types of roofing materials on the market. Asphalt shingles are some of the most affordable roofing materials around.

They’re the most common material chosen by homeowners for roof replacement. Asphalt shingles are also popular among new home builders.

Here’s a list of The Most Popular Types of Shingles:

• Asphalt Shingles
• Slate Shingles
• Metal Roof Shingles
• Wood Shingles
• Architectural Shingles
• Solar Shingles

A less popular, nevertheless common, roof material is metal. Metal shingles are stylish and available in many different colors.

Manufacturers make wood roof shingles using many different types of wood layered into thin sections. Meanwhile, wood shakes are the most coveted roofing material. Manufacturers make them using cedar trees that can range in age from 200 to 300 years old.

In today’s eco-friendly environment, solar shingles are becoming increasingly popular. However, this roofing material is still catching on. Composite plastic shingles are another eco-friendly material that’s gaining popularity.

Slate shingles are another well-known roofing material. They’re thin, but their combined weight can add up. Nevertheless, they’re naturally attractive.

Rubber shingles are another common roofing material. They look like asphalt but cost somewhat more.

Tile shingles are among the most durable shingles. However, they do require some upkeep. After about ten years, they tend to slide out of place.

Asphalt shingles are cheaper than luxury materials such as slate or tile. They’re certainly less expensive than metal shingles.

However, more expensive roofing materials do have certain benefits. For example, asphalt shingles can’t compete with slate or tile in looks and durability.

Likewise, a metal roof cost more up-front compared to asphalt. Still, a metal roof can last 60 years. Meanwhile, an asphalt roof may only last around 20 years.

Nevertheless, asphalt shingles are the most popular roofing choice because of their low price. However, they’re thin and have an organic paper base. As a result, they wear out faster than other roofing materials.

Top 10 Best Brands of Roofing Shingles 

You can narrow your roofing material search down with a few tips about the best roof shingles on the market. Consumer Reports conducts reviews of various products, including the best roofing shingles brands.

It’s been ten years since the consumer group reported on roofing materials. The company assessed asphalt roofing shingles because it’s currently the most popular choice in the nation.

The report reveals that it’s easy to distinguish the thicknesses of various roofing brands. The report states that some brands’ shingles are so thick that you can easily see they’re three times more durable than other brands.

Longevity is the most important feature of a roofing shingle. Resultantly, Consumer Reports conducted a test that replicated the load and conditions asphalt shingles endure over time.

The consumer group focused on the weak spots in shingles because that’s where they typically incur damage. The magazine used various devices to simulate intense hail to tell which ones will bend, crack or dent. They also conducted a test to see which shingles will stand up to the ultraviolet rays of the sun.

The report reveals that standard single-layer asphalt shingles can only stand up to around 60 mile-per-hour winds and moderate hail and debris impacts. Multilayered asphalt shingles, however, can withstand winds of 110 mph. 

The Winners Are…

Consumers Reports used a carefully calibrated machine to apply force to the shingles. The tests simulated everything from intense winds to fallen trees.

The magazine also tested the thickest sections of the shingles. This area is where the shingles overlap. Ultimately, the test revealed that the top 10 shingle brands were:

1. Atlas – Pinnacle Pristine
2. GAF-Elk – Royal Sovereign
3. CertainTeed – XT 25
4. Atlas – StormMaster Slate
5. Tamko – Heritage
6. Owens Corning – Oakridge
7. Owens Corning – Duration
8. Owens Corning – Berkshire Collection
9. IKO – Crowne Slate
10. IKO – Cambridge

GAF – Elk and CertainTeed – Presidential Shake also made it onto the list.

Which Roof Shingles Last the Longest

Good roof shingles can prove pricey. You’re not saving money if you must replace your roof every few years. However, if you choose the right shingles, they may last for as long as you own your house.

In addition to choosing the right shingles, it’s also important to hire the right roofing contractor.

Different roofing materials require different amounts of labor to install. Accordingly, the labor cost for installation will vary depending on which materials you choose.

Asphalt Shingles: Most homeowners and developers in the US choose asphalt shingle roofing materials. Asphalt shingles can last between 15 to 40 years, depending on the quality. Some high-end asphalt shingles can even last half a decade.

Wood Shingles: Manufacturers make wood shingles from natural materials such as cedar and yellow pine. They’re a highly attractive shingle. Typically, they’ll last 25 to 30 years.

Wood Shakes: On the other hand, wood shakes are thicker than wood shingles. They stand up better to the environment and the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Wood shakes might last 35 to 40 years.

Metal Shingles: In areas such as the West Coast, metal rooves are becoming increasingly popular. Metal rooves are highly resistant to fire. Also, a metal roof can last well over 75 years.

If you only plan to stay in your home for around 30 or 40 years, you’ll probably never need a roof again if you choose metal roofing. Alternatively, if you’re a new home buyer, you may never have to worry about a new roof with metal roofing materials.

Clay Shingles: Clay roof tiles are very popular in the Southwest. However, because of their beauty and durability, homeowners across the nation choose this material. Clay tiles can last over a decade (10+ years) if you take care of them properly.

GAF Shingles vs CertainTeed Shingles

GAF and CertainTeed are two of the top-selling shingle brands in the US. For homeowners and builders alike, these two brands receive top marks in several ways. For instance, people go for these top two brands for their:

• Cost
• Quality
• Styles
• Warranties
• Premium features

In most cases, one of these two brands will complement your roofing project nicely. If you’re on the fence between these two brands, it helps to understand a few facts about these leading roofing shingles.

CertainTeed is well known for its top-quality building materials. So much so that Pro Remodeler crowned the company as having the best roof shingles in its class. The award-winning covering material was CertainTeed’s Landmark Roofing Shingles in Weathered Wood.

CertainTeed has a reputation for manufacturing premium roofing materials. However, the company only relatively recently launched the Landmark Series of cost-effective asphalt shingles.

GAF, meanwhile, is the largest manufacturer of residential roofing shingles. Most of the company’s shingles are excellent. However, GAF’s Camelot line is exceptional.

One Small Caveat

Price competition is something new for CertainTeed. Historically, the company did just fine by selling top-of-the-line shingles.

They still dominate this category. However, as competition heats up in the roofing industry, CertainTeed has decided to offer a more cost-effective product.

GAF, on the other hand, as always played on a level with budget-friendly brands such as Owens-Corning, IKO and similar brands. Nevertheless, you can always count on GAF for a quality and reliable product.

In some ways, however, CertainTeed edges out GAF. For instance, the company’s line is typically thicker than its closest rival. Resultantly, it stands up better against wind, impacts and cracking.

There is a downside to CertainTeed’s product, however. If you choose the wrong installer, the shingles may pull away from your roof easily. Accordingly, if you decide to choose CertainTeed, it’s a good idea to choose an installer who has experience working with the brand.

How to Choose the Best Roofing Shingles

There are a lot of factors that go into choosing shingles for your roofing project. Most likely, your budget is one of the largest factors. Accordingly, you want the best price on roofing shingles as well as the best value.

Typically, it can cost from $5,000 to $28,000 to replace a residential roof. Factors such as the square footage, your choice of shingle and local labor costs all influence the total price of installation.

For example, the average American home is around 2,000 square feet. Imagine that you have a 2,000 square-foot home. In that case, a new roof may cost between $7,700 and $60,500, including labor.

Across the United States, the cost to install a roof varies. On average, however, a new roof costs about seven dollars per square foot. This price usually includes all the various services involved in the installation, such as

• Construction waste disposal
• Dumpster fees
• Installation
• Permit fees
• Roofing materials
• Two layers of old roof removal
• Warranty

If you have special requirements, this will also affect the price of your roofing installation. The complexity of your roof will also contribute to the cost of the project.

The underlayment will also affect the cost of your roof. Also, the slope of your roof plays into how much it will cost to have your new roof installed.

Every Roofing Job Is Different

Of course, each contractor has a different way of pricing projects. Therefore, the contractor that you choose will also affect the cost of your project.

On average, a new roof can range anywhere from $6,000 to $17,000. A metal roof may cost between $5,000 to $27,000. Meanwhile, the most popular roofing material – asphalt shingles – may cost $4,000 to $6,200 for a full installation.

Then, there are high-end roofing installations. A tile roof may cause from $20,500 to $34,000 to install. Meanwhile, a slate roof may cost about $12,300 to $21,000 for a full roof installation.

Choosing the Right Roofer for the Job

No matter how much you spend on roofing materials, the project will only turn out well if you hire a great contractor. Finding a good contractor is the hardest part of home renovation projects for most homeowners. Nevertheless, it’s essential to find an honest, trustworthy professional contractor.

Talk to friends and family members to find a great local contractor. By asking for word-of-mouth referrals, you’re less likely to end up dealing with an unscrupulous service provider.

You’re also more likely to find a trustworthy service provider if you stick to contractors in your community. Also, local contractors are familiar with municipal regulations. They also have established relationships with local suppliers and laborers.

As you search for a contractor, look for a service provider with a manufacturer’s designation. This accreditation indicates that a service provider has exceptional skills.

Resultantly, a brand is willing to stake their name on the credibility of that particular contractor. GAF, for instance, only awards the top 2% of roofing contractors in each market the status of Master Elite Contractor.

You should also check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB keeps a record of consumer reviews about local service providers.

The organization also sponsors an accreditation program. A business must maintain fair and ethical business practices for an A+ rating with the BBB.

Get Started Planning Your New Roof Today!

5Estimates.com can help you find a contractor who will help you choose the best roofing shingles for your home. We can help you receive quotes from reputable local contractors easily.

Our platform is passionate about helping homeowners. We do our absolute best to find the right company at the right price for your unique needs.  For instance, our local contractors can answer any of your questions, from “What’s the best color for roof shingles?” to “Which roofing material brand offers the best value?”

Bookmark 5Estimates.com and visit every time you need an expert contractor. After answering a few quick questions, you can sit back and relax and have the right contractors come to you.