Types Of Roof Shingles
So, if you were to take your best guess…how many roofing shingle types do you think there are? If you guessed 18 you’re are right on the money! Each of these different shingles we’ll touch on all have different benefits, costs, materials, and aesthetics.
When you are replacing the roof shingles on your home, there are a couple different things you should start to take into consideration. For example, price will undoubtedly be a factor, probably the first one you think of. With price in mind you are going to want to perform a solid cost benefit analysis when it comes to your needs and the type of lifespan you want this roof to have.
If you are investing in a roof, believe us when we say: this is an investment you only want to make once during the lifetime of your home ownership. Just to give you some ballpark figures, the average asphalt roof has a lifespan of 15-20 years!
Most Common Types Of Roof Shingles Homeowners Choose To Have Installed On Their Home:
Three Tab Asphalt Shingles
If affordability and value is what you’re after, then the asphalt shingle roof is just what the roof doctor ordered. Asphalt shingles are the most popular choice among homeowners in Colorado Springs who are either choosing to have the roof put on their new home or replacing their existing roof. In the asphalt shingle category, you have 3 main types. First you have the popular 3-tab design. Second you have the fiberglass asphalt. And lastly, you have architectural shingles. The 3-tab design is the most affordable, but it comes at a cost…they are thinner and wear out quicker than the fiberglass or architectural designs.
Asphalt shingle roofing is the most popular roofing material in Colorado Springs:
- Easy Installation
- Easy On The Wallet
- Many Different Colors Available
- Lasts 15-20 Years
AVERAGE COSTS – 1,800 SQ. FT:
$4,286 – $6,429
The average cost for a 3 tab asphalt shingle roof replacement costs anywhere from $4,286 to $6,429 on a single story 1,800 sq. ft home. Final Installation costs can vary depending on the slope and size of your roof. Asphalt roofing materials by themselves will cost you around $0.80¢ to $1.50 per sq. foot or $85 to $150 per square of asphalt shingle roofing materials. Architectural shingles are a tad more expensive to install at around $1.40 to $5.60 per square foot
Architectural Shingles
The Architectural shingle is way more durable than the asphalt shing. These shingles are sculpted in appearance and actually have an extra layer that contours them to be a bit more designed. Architectural shingles are more expensive than asphalt shingles to install, usually $1.50 – $5.50 per square foot. Many people agree however, the extra price is worth it! They have a luxurious design and even though they are more expensive they tend to last twice as long! We’re talking about a roof that will last 30 – 50 years as long as it is regularly maintained. Even though you can probably install some new shingles yourself…we highly recommend hiring a Colorado Springs roofing pro for the job!
Metal Roof Shingles
One of the main reasons people opt for a metal roof is because of how stylish they are. They are shiny and they do come in a multitude of colors. Metal shingles are also easy to install considering the other more complex options that are out there. Another awesome feature about metal roofs is that they are light weight. This is extremely helpful for those who have roofing systems that can’t support a lot of weight. Furthermore, as long as they are properly maintained, they can last up to 100 years in some cases. Talk about a lifetime warranty! Metal roofing shingles are also in the middle of the price range between asphalt and architectural shingles at approximately $2.80 – $3.85 per square foot.
Though some homeowners are handy enough when it comes to installing metal roofing, we highly suggest hiring a local professional to complete the job.
Even though we more you’re more than capable of being able to work on your roof yourself, we recommend reaching out to a local roofing contractor for some extra eyes on your situation.
The 5 most common metal roofing materials include:
- Aluminum Metal Roofs
- Copper Shingles
- Steel Roofing
- Tin Metal Roofing
- Zinc
Wood Shingled Roofs
Wooden roof shingles are actually made from various types of wood. The wood is then split in a couple different sections. Inside the wooden roof category are two different styles. One is call the wood shake, while the other is called roof shingles. So, what’s the difference? Wood shingles are your perfectly cut, perfectly shaped shingles, whereas wood rakes are hard split and have a more rustic look. How much does a wooden roof cost? A wooden roof will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $4.25 – $9.50. Now what about lifespan? Depending on the type of wood you use, you should expect your wooden roof to last 15-50 years as long as proper maintenance is performed.
Wood Shake Roofs
Wood shake roof shingles are usually made from cedar and come from trees that are 200 to 300 years old WOW! They are made from splitting logs, which gives them that rougher look they’re known for. Even though they last longer than the regular asphalt roof, they are kind of expensive at $6 – $10 per square foot and aren’t all that environmentally sustainable. However, if you take care of it regularly, you can expect it to last 30 – 40 years!
Solar Shingles
Solar shingles are probably the most modern and “futuristic” shingles you could install on your roof today. They have so many benefits as far as saving energy and producing energy, you could almost go on all day about it! These types of shingles are designed to generate power directly for your home. However, as you could expect…they are a bit pricey. For solar shingles that really get the results you’re looking for, you could expect to pay $21 – $25 per square foot. The most optimal place for solar shingles to be placed is on the south side of your home, having the shingles on either the east or the west is not all that efficient. When properly maintained, you can expect these shingles to last up to 25 years!
Slate Tile Roofing Shingles
Slate tile shingles are a stone roofing material installed as a shingle. Although standing alone they are very thin, they are also very heavy and durable when the whole roof is made out of them. Slate has a certain style about it that almost anyone can appreciate…but if you’re looking for color options, this may not be the best one for you. These roofs also have arguably the longest life span at up to 150 years! That does come at a steep cost however, you can expect to pay about $8 – $14 per square foot. Even though they are expensive all those who have made the choice to buy it, have bought it because they know it will be around well after they’re gone.
Rubber Roof Shingles
Rubber roofs are definitely one of the more unique products on this list. In this case rubber is taken and formed into shingles that then get placed on your roof. The biggest selling point of these shingles is that they are simple to install and don’t require much maintenance at all. However, they are a tad more expensive than asphalt roofs which is why they still get edged out. You can expect a rubber roof to last 15 – 25 years when taken care of.
Composite Plastic Roof Shingles
Composite plastic shingles are actually made from recycled plastic! This is a very environmentally friendly roof replacement option because it allows materials that would otherwise be thrown out and wasted to serve a new purpose. What’s awesome about these roofs is that they don’t break the bank either! Averaging just $4 – $6 per square foot makes these shingles a very affordable option for many people. Although they can imitate the appearance of stone or wood tiles…they can’t imitate the life span. All that affordability gets you is a roof that lasts only 7 – 20 years before needing a replacement.
Tile Roofing Shingles
Tile roofing shingles are one of the most durable types you can install. However, that’s only the case when they are installed properly by a true professional. If they are placed on a mortar bed, they are known to slip off after just a decade! Although tiles are not all that expensive to buy, what will cost a premium is the installation. If you are considering replacing your current roof with a tile roof, we recommend having your roof strength tested as well to make sure it can handle the weight. As far as lifespans go with tile roofs, you will find that they are right in line with metal roofs, lasting nearly 100 years or more. In the tile roof category, you have 8 subgroups. Check them out!
- Bituminous Tiles
- Ceramic Tiles
- Composite Tiles
- Interlocking Concrete Tiles
- Copper Tiles
- Metal Tiles
- Polymer Sand Tiles
- Slate Tiles
