The wife of my recently retired neighbor had her entire roof replaced last spring after agonizing for 3 weeks trying to decide on the ‘right’ material. In the end she chose to go with standard asphalt Shingles (like her parents’ roof and most of the houses on her street) and called her choice ‘boring’. After conversing with her about the process she went through I think it’s safe to say that she had a well-reasoned choice even if it wasn’t ‘adventurous’.
Boring? Maybe. The right call? Honestly, probably yes.
There are many reasons why Asphalt Shingle Roofing is the world’s most popular type of residential roofing. This type of roofing system is the default choice for most homeowners. For some homeowners, the choice of residential roofing will seem boring. The same shingles that were on their parents’ home, the same residential roofing on most of the homes on their street. Asphalt Shingle Roofing is a very common choice of residential roofing. There are many reasons why Asphalt Shingle Roofing is so very popular. Even though the cost of the roofing system is a huge deciding factor for many homeowners, the cost of many different types of residential roofing systems is not the only deciding factor. Many homeowners are swayed by many different factors.
What actually makes shingles practical (beyond the price tag)
As a preface to our exploration of the cost of new roofing, let’s give asphalt shingle roofing the respect it is due. In our last article we said that for most homes, metal roofing would not be the best option. Here we will explore why asphalt shingle roofing is the default choice for most homes and in fact, for most homes, there is no reason to explore other options for roofing.
- Weight. Asphalt shingles are relatively lightweight. Slate is beautiful but crushingly heavy — many older homes simply aren’t built to support it without costly structural reinforcement that never shows up in the initial quote.
- Installation speed. A typical shingle roof replacement wraps up in one to three days. Tile or metal jobs can drag on significantly longer, which means more exposure, more household disruption, and often ballooning labor costs.
- Color and style variety. This matters more than people admit. You can match your neighborhood, stand apart from it, or hit a specific architectural look without ordering custom materials on a six-week lead time.
- Availability after a storm. If you live somewhere hail or wind makes regular appearances, sourcing replacement shingles quickly is genuinely useful. Specialty materials can leave you waiting weeks.
The cost reality most people gloss over
Roofing materials can have a large gap between the cheapest option and the more expensive option. Some specialty roofing such as metal roofing, slate roofing and clay tile roofing can cost from two to four times as much per square foot as a quality asphalt shingle roofing product. Unfortunately the added cost of these specialty roofing materials does not translate into added resale value. Often the added cost of these materials is lost in the higher cost of installation of these products.
A roof covered with Shingle roofing makes for a nice home for a long time, with the cost of purchase being very affordable and with great quality. Yes, the roof made of asphalt, covering with shingles, earns its popularity. For a long time, it has been the most widespread type of roof all over the world and there is a reason for that. The reasons are more than just the price, even though it is one of the cheapest kinds of roofs. Here are the most important reasons.
(On the other hand, I am ignoring the price tag of other roofing materials here. That factor cannot be separated from the other factors that determine the value of roofing materials, so I am not going to even discuss it. I will just note its absence here.)
A quick comparison: shingles vs. common alternatives
| Material | Average lifespan | Relative cost | DIY repair possible? |
| Asphalt shingles | 20–30 years | Low to moderate | Sometimes |
| Metal roofing | 40–70 years | High | Rarely |
| Clay or concrete tile | 50+ years | Very high | No |
| Wood shake | 25–30 years | Moderate to high | Sometimes |
When compared to metal roofing, asphalt shingles simply can’t be beat for the average homeowner. Although metal roofing does last longer, for most homes it is simply not worth the additional cost. While some homes look perfect with tile roofing, others simply don’t. The unique look of a well-installed and well-maintained clay tile roof is something that cannot be replicated with asphalt shingles. And, as for maintenance, there is simply no comparison. Shingles are a piece of cake to repair while most tile roofs require the services of a very expensive specialist. In the end, for a standard residential home where cost, life, and maintenance are all considered, asphalt shingles are the clear winner.
Indications that your current roof may need to be replaced soon
The worst time to discuss shingle roofing is when your roof is failing. If your roof is failing, it is rare that a few shingles will need to be repaired. Usually, a number of problems will have developed that will cost far more to repair when they become an emergency than they would have if you had planned to replace the roof while you could still choose to have it done on your terms.
- Shingles that are curling at the edges or buckling in the middle
- Granules collecting in your gutters, a sign the shingles are shedding their protective coating and breaking down
- Daylight visible in your attic, or water stains blooming on the ceiling below
- A roof already past 20 years old that hasn’t seen a professional inspection recently
One or two items on the list might require repair of a section of your roof. But if you find several items, it’s time to start looking for a new roof.
How Most People Destroy Their Roofing Investment & How to Prevent It
Many homeowners allow their roofs to deteriorate to the point where they require an urgent fix. In many cases, such an emergency can cost thousands of dollars to repair, and in some cases, could have been prevented by scheduling routine maintenance with a professional roofer on a regular basis. Typically, a homeowner would call for emergency roofing service in the middle of the night while water is pouring into their kitchen or other area of their home. This could have been prevented by clearing leaves from the gutters and downspouts and trimming tree branches that are close to the home and could cause damage in case of wind or during heavy rainfall.
The Roofing Material You Choose: The Life of Your Roof In Your Pockets! All of the above points lead to one conclusion: asphalt shingles are the choice of most homeowners due to their practicality. But before we get to the price tag, let us take a look at some of the other factors that make asphalt shingles so desirable. Here at Home Geniuse Xteriors, we can tell you that there are many things that set asphalt apart from other types of roofing. One of the things that makes asphalt so great is that it is an affordable option when it comes to roofing. Many homeowners are under the impression that they have to spend a lot of money in order to get a great roof.
However, with asphalt shingles, you do not have to break the bank in order to get a roof that will last for years to come. In fact, many people are able to get the roof of their dreams for a fraction of the cost of some of the other options that are available. This is because asphalt shingles are designed to be affordable, while still providing homeowners with the quality that they are looking for. Of course, there are many other factors that go into the cost of getting a roof. The size of the home, the type of material that is used, and the location of the home are just a few of the things that can impact the final cost of a roof. And while these factors can certainly play a role in the cost of a roof, they should not stop homeowners from being able to get the roof that they want. There are many different options available, and homeowners should be able to find one that fits within their budget. With asphalt shingles, homeowners are able to get a high quality roof for a fraction of the cost of some of the other options that are available. This makes them a very popular choice among homeowners, and for good reason.
There are some minor repairs that should be made to your roof in order to prolong its life. Some examples of such repairs include removing minor amounts of moss from your roof, repairing leaking flashing around skylights and chimneys, and repairing individual shingles that have begun to crack in various spots. These are generally minor repairs and can be very affordably made prior to becoming major, very costly problems. For example, I recently had my neighbor’s roof repapered. She had a complete inspection of the roof before she began searching for roofing contractors. The roofers found two rather soft areas of the roof where water had been leaking in for extended periods of time. Because my neighbor had wisely had the roof inspected prior to her purchasing the home, the contractor was able to include the repair of these two rather soft spots in the price of repapering her entire roof. It did not end up costing her very much at all.
Is shingle roofing right for your home?
Shingles work well in real weather, within a typical residential budget, for most homes and most homeowners. They’re a material that virtually any qualified roofer can install, or repair. And they don’t need to be refinanced in order to pay for.
Sometimes the unglamorous answer is unglamorous precisely because it’s correct. Your roof is one of those cases. See more.
