Choosing the right ROOFING product or shingle that best suits your needs can not only give you peace of mind in what you choose, but can also bring  satisfaction to your wallet.  Among the variety of shingles and roofing products, we have chosen to break down 4 of the most common roofing choices available as well as the PROS and CONS of each roofing choice.  Living in the Minneapolis, Minnesota (MN) Twin Cites area requires shingles appropriate to the North.

Architectural or Dimensional (laminated fiberglass) style shingles are shingles that attempt to replicate wood shake roofing.  It is the latest trend in roofing that has almost become standard now.  They can range from 239 lbs. to 446 lbs. and up per square (10’ X 10’ area).  You may have heard the name Timberline shingles.  It is almost simultaneously associated with architectural style roofing shingles (like Kleenex is to tissues).  A few years ago Elk decided to give its 25 year roofing shingle a 30 year warranty.  It wasn’t long after that most of the major roofing companies followed suit (GAF Timberline, Owens-Corning Oakridge Pro, Certainteed Landmark, Elk Prestique, IKO Cambridge).  A few of the roofing companies are now offering copper granules in the shingle in order to prevent moss from forming and growing (typically on the North side of the roof) on the shingles.

PROS:  Heavier weight than standard 3 tab roofing shingles.  They add a very nice architectural (thus, the name) look to your home.  Installers don’t have to line up shingles as accurately as 3 tabs.  So if you have your new roof installed by an inexperienced crew, you may not know they were inexperienced until your roof leaks!  Architectural shingles really do add class to your home’s roof.

CONS:  Price can be an issue if you are comparing dimensional shingles to 3 tab shingles.  An average size home (2000 square feet), expect to pay $250 more for Timberline shingles or the equivalent.

These are shingles that you have always known as “shingles.”  They are rectangular in shape, and usually fall into the range of 186 to 247 lbs. per square. 

PROS:  Price is often the major reason for going with a 3-tab asphalt shingle.  It is noteworthy to mention that after seeing hundreds and even thousands of rooftops after some major hailstorms, I have been most impressed by a particular Certainteed 3-tab shingle;  the Certainteed XT25.  I can say that if there were a major hailstorm, I would almost prefer to have these on my roof than almost any other product.  While style is lacking, performance is second to none.

CONS:  These shingles can easily show defects in your roof deck as well as hail hits.  Being a lighter weight shingle also makes it more susceptible to weathering and physical damage.  Since architectural or dimensional shingles have not been around that long, having a 3 tab shingle on your roof tends to date your home (in some instances).

Wood shakes are much copied, never duplicated.  They add a class to your home’s roof like no other product.  If installed properly, they will beautify your roof for decades to come.

PROS:  The natural look everyone is trying to duplicate.  Style, class, upper-end, quality…

CONS:  Susceptible to hail and weathering.  If not installed properly, they can add headaches and hassles in the form of leaks.  Wood shake shingles are pricey.

Metal roofing has come a long way in the past few years.  The old standing seam metal application is being replaced (in residential roofing) by metal shingles.  The result is a unique look with outstanding weathering capabilities.

PROS:  Weathering.  Unique look (expect double takes).  Durability.

CONS:  Expensive.  Future replacement may require a lot of work (removing screws, batten strips…).