The Style Guide: Roofing Shingles

Suburbia is often filled with images of look-alike brickwork, polished minivans, and sidewalks littered with jogging moms, bicycles, and the occasional roaming Fido. While it is a safe-haven of friendly neighbors and newspaper deliveries, it’s also where house décor can go to die.

Sure, the insides of suburbia homes are lavish with the latest in Pier 1 decorations, but the outside is destined to mimic the brickwork of every other house on the block. While your siding may be a luscious robin’s egg blue compared to the horror of your neighbor’s mint green, those seem like minor differences when in light of so many similarities.
End the dread of suburbia; put Mr. Smith next door to shame with his cookie-cutter exterior designs. Forget about adding new landscaping or spending your Saturday painting; instead, start at the top and work your way down!
Roofing Style
Since your primary concern for your roof is safety, it’s easy to forget how stylish your roof can be. And being stylish doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice safety—there’s always a happy compromise between the protection you need and the good looks you desire.
Depending on the style of your roof, your roof material options may be limited, as some options are limited to a single style. Metal roofs, for instance, are best suited for bungalow, ranch, contemporary, and cottage styled homes. If that description fits your home, consider a metal roof for its eco-friendly benefits: insulation, solar reflectance, and energy-efficiency.
Slate roofs, while heavy-duty, are unsuitable for places high in temperature, and tile roofs are energy-efficient but can be quite costly. While these options are aesthetically-pleasing, they may not be as budget-friendly as the more traditional material for roofing: shingles.
The Basic Two
Shingles are the go-to option for 75% of American homes, and it’s no wonder why: in addition to being weather-resistant, they typically last for several years. They are made out of a variety of materials to best suit your home, and can add a wonderful affect to the look of your roof.
There are two main distinctions of any shingle type: architectural and traditional. It’s important to consider what you’re looking for to determine which type of shingle best suits your needs.
The architectural roofing shingle, for instance, can last for over thirty years, although it is more expensive than traditional shingles. These shingles, also known as dimensional, laminated, or composite shingles, are constructed with a heavier base mat. This allows them to have a multi-dimensional look that adds to the aesthetics of your home.
Protection-wise, architectural shingles are also better resistant to wind, rain, and hail. While the cost may also be marginally higher, the protection and good looks brought by architectural shingles to your home will also help increase its curb appeal and value.
By contrast, traditional roofing shingles, also known as three-tab shingles, are not nearly as costly. However, you do get what you pay for: these shingles are less weather-resistant and don’t have the same aesthetic makeup as architectural shingles.

Wood, Asphalt, Laminate…Oh my!
In addition to choosing the basic type of your shingles, you also have options on material. For traditional three-tab shingles, the most common material type is asphalt. These shingles are reinforced with fiberglass or paper, and can last right around twenty years. While these are undoubtedly the most cost-efficient option, they are also the least eco-friendly.
Wood shingles are another option. These shingles can be purchased in either redwood, southern pine, or cedar; the cost of these shingles also depends on the wood chosen, with cedar being the most costly. These shingles, while beautiful, are less common due to their Class C fire rating. Before choosing this type of shingle, it’s recommended to check your building’s codes.
Finally, there are the architectural options, collectively known as laminate. These shingles are designed with aesthetics in mind, but also outrank traditional shingles in safety. A wide variety of colors and styles are available for laminate shingles, and can mimic the sleekness of slate tiles without the risk of elevating indoor heat. In addition to being versatile, these shingles are also eco-friendly and can typically be recycled or easily repaired.
What’s Your Style?
There’s a variety of factors that can play into redesigning your roof: climate, environment, needed protection. In addition to your budget, you’ll have to consider how much time you’re willing to put in to your roof: is this a weekend project, or will you need to hire us to do this during the work week?
Whatever the decision is for you, it’s best to consider all of the options…as long as you keep in mind that being practical doesn’t have to be boring, and suburbia doesn’t equate to sameness!