The Best 8 Roofing Shingle Options for Your Home

In addition to maintaining the structural integrity of your roof and keeping out water, shingles also increase the value and curb appeal of your home. The type of shingles you choose will affect how your roof can stand against hail, rain, wind, and other weather-related events. At A&J Reliable, we can help you learn more about the various types of shingles. 

Below, we’ll explain a few of the most common types of roofing shingles. 

Asphalt Shingles 

These are the most reliable, affordable, and most popular types of shingles on the market today. Over 70% of roofing materials in single and multi-family residential new construction and roof repair/replacement are asphalt shingles. 

There are several varieties of asphalt shingles. Some of them are designed to accommodate unique roof designs or regional weather conditions. 

Some of the most common asphalt shingles are: 

  • 3-tab roofing shingles 
  • Architectural roofing shingles 
  • Impact-resistant roofing shingles
  • COOL roofing shingles 

Specialty Asphalt Roofing Shingles 

In addition to the shingles mentioned above, you can also get some asphalt shingles in bolder colors/styles that mimic other materials such as wood shake or tile. These offer the affordability and practicality of asphalt shingles with a more refined appearance. 

Alternative Types of Roofing Shingles 

You may have restrictions against using asphalt shingles in some cases, whether due to local building codes or HOA rules. In this case, you’ll want to consider some of the following alternative types of roofing shingles. 

Tile Roofing 

These shingles are made of concrete and can be used on roofs of historic properties/homes in the American Southwest. They are heavier than asphalt shingles, which means the roof’s structure must be reinforced to hold up the extra weight. 

Slate Tile Shingles 

Slate tile shingles are individual thin pieces of slate. When installed together, this type of roof is quite heavy. The roof must be designed/reinforced to hold the weight of the slate tile shingles. This makes installation complex, which is why they’re one of the more expensive options on the market. 

Wood Shingles 

Wooden shingles have been used for centuries as a roof option. Most of the time, these shingles are made from redwood or cedar. They are cut into precise shapes with a much smaller exposure than wood shakes, giving them a unique look. 

The exposure on wood shingles is 5”, which is a good bit smaller than wood shakes but only slightly smaller than asphalt shingles. 

One of the significant disadvantages to wood shingles is that they cannot achieve a Class A fire rating, as they are more likely to sustain damage in the event of a fire.

Wood Shake Shingles 

Wood shake shingles are also made from redwood or cedar- but they are not cut precisely, so they look more rustic. Since they are made of wood, they cannot achieve a Class A fire rating because they are more likely to be damaged by fire. 

Metal Roofing Options 

In addition to the above shingle types, there’s one more type of roof that we’ll discuss here, and that’s the metal roofing. Metal roofing has become quite popular in recent years- but they take longer to install and will cost you more due to system requirements, labor, and materials. There are two types of metal roofing that we’ll mention here: standing seam metal roof and stone-coated metal roof shingles. 

Standing Seam Metal Roof 

This type of metal roof features a series of ridges/vertical seams that go up the slope of the roof. The panels for a standing seam metal roof are generally made of the following: 

  • Galvanized steel
  • Galvalume steel
  • Stainless steel 
  • Zinc
  • Aluminum 
  • Titanium 
  • Copper

Stone-Coated Metal Roof Shingles 

The stone-coated metal roof shingles look different than a standing seam or flat panel roof. These shingles simulate concrete/clay tile roofing tiles or wood shakes.

Conclusion 

As you can see, there are many types of shingle options for your roof. You may feel a bit overwhelmed when you’re trying to choose the best one for your roof. However, you should consider a few things: your budget, the durability of the roof, curb appeal, color, and ongoing protection. Contact our experienced roofing team today because we know how important this decision is, so we are here to help you understand your options to make the best decision for you.