The importance of a home’s roof is undeniable. So is the importance of choosing the right material. However, with so many roofing options, choosing isn’t necessarily easy. You have to look at each material, weighing the pros and cons so you can choose the best rated roofing shingles to protect your home. So, what are the best shingles for roof replacement? Here are some of the top materials to consider, with their pros and cons to help you decide.
Asphalt
Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material on roofs, as they are the most readily available and affordable option. There are three types of asphalt shingles to consider: the basic three-tab shingle, architectural shingles, and the high-end luxury shingles. While all three have slight variations in design, they all have similar constructions: a fiberglass base, coated in asphalt, with the surface covered in small rock granules before the asphalt has fully set. Pros and cons include:
Pros
Affordability: Even high-end luxury shingles can be more affordable than other roofing materials, such as tile, slate, or metal. Generally, asphalt shingles cost between $2 and $13 per square foot.
Availability: Asphalt shingles are the most widely available material, with many brands offering all three types in various styles and colors.
Ease of Install: Asphalt shingles are easier to install than other materials because they are lightweight, easy to cut, and require no special tools.
Durability: Architectural and luxury shingles offer the most durability for asphalt shingles, with greater wind and weather resistance. However, three-tab shingles can still hold relatively well in moderate climates. Most, regardless of type, are also Class A fire-resistant.
Style: Architectural and luxury asphalt shingles offer more style options than traditional three-tab shingles, with styles that mimic materials like slate, barrel, and shake roofing. They also come in various color options.
Cons
Lifespan: Asphalt shingles don’t offer the greatest lifespan, lasting 15 to 30 years, depending on the type of shingle and the climate.
Vulnerability in Extreme Weather: While shingles are weather-resistant to a certain extent, they do poorly in extreme weather conditions. Intense sunlight can cause degradation, extreme cold can lead to cracking, and humidity can make shingles vulnerable to algae and mold growth.
Not Environmentally Friendly: For the most part, asphalt shingles aren’t a sustainable product, with most old shingles ending up in landfills.
Slate
Slate roofing has been around longer than asphalt roofing, making it one of the best roof shingles homeowners can get. These roofing tiles are mined from the earth and have been used by civilizations worldwide since ancient times. The material starts as fine clay that gets compressed by the weight on top of it, which transforms it into shale and, eventually, into slate. The slate can then be split into tiles of varying sizes and thicknesses for various uses, including roofing.
Pros
Aesthetics: Slate is a beautiful, natural material that can enhance the exterior of any home.
Longevity: Slate's longevity makes it one of the best shingles for roof replacements. With proper installation, it can last 75 to 100 years, and in the right conditions and with proper maintenance, it can go even longer.
Durability: While slate, like all materials, will show signs of wear over time, it is incredibly durable. It is resistant to various weather conditions, including rain, snow, hail, and wind. It can also handle extreme temperatures with ease and is resistant to pests and fire, with a Class A fire rating.
Environmentally Friendly: Being natural stone, slate is environmentally friendly and lasts a long time, often longer than other parts of the building, which helps to reduce waste. It is also a fully recyclable material so that it won’t end up in landfills.
Low Maintenance: Slate is fairly low maintenance and requires little upkeep when properly installed.
Cons
Installation and Repair: Installing and repairing slate is not easy. You need a slate roofing expert to do the job. Otherwise, you can end up with an improperly installed roof that can damage your roof decking and home interior.
Cost: While slate is considered one of the best shingles for roof replacements, it isn’t something most can afford at $10 to $30 a square foot. This doesn’t include potential decking repairs or the installation of additional support beams.
Weight: Slate is a weighty material. While the exact weight of a slate roof can vary depending on the thickness of the tiles, it is important to ensure the roof can support that weight; otherwise, there is a risk of the roof collapsing. Adding additional structural support will add additional installation costs.
Fragility: As a whole, slate is durable and can take a certain level of impact. Individual tiles, however, are extremely brittle and can crack easily if walked on or impacted by debris.
Wood
Wood roofing uses different woods, with cedar shakes being most popular, to create shakes and shingles. Wood is the best roof shingle to use when you like the rustic appearance of cabins or the simple cottage style some coastal homes are known for. Cedar shakes, in particular, are hand-split with cedar logs, with varying thicknesses that add to the rustic look. Like slate, they have been around for a long time, with ancient cultures using cedar and other woods to cover structures. They were especially popular during the Colonial era.
Pros
Aesthetics: Wood roofing, especially cedar, offers superior aesthetics compared to other materials like asphalt roofing. It is a timeless material that adds a natural element to the home, with texture and warmth. This helps to enhance your home’s value as well.
Durability: Despite being wood, cedar shake roofs are surprisingly durable and last longer than asphalt roofing, making them worth the investment. They naturally resist wind, rain, hail, decay, rot, and insect damage.
Energy Efficiency: Cedar shakes are naturally insulating, making them some of the best roof shingles for homes. Their properties will help your home stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter while lowering energy bills.
Environmentally Friendly: Cedar is a very environmentally friendly material as it is biodegradable and doesn’t harm the planet as it breaks down. Many brands also practice sustainable harvesting, reducing any negative environmental impact.
Cons
Cost: Cedar roofing costs around $8 to $16 per square foot, and cedar shingles costing $6 to $10 per square foot installed. Beyond the installation cost, there are also maintenance and repair costs to consider, with repairs costing from $300 to upwards of $1,200 and maintenance costing $500 to around $1,000.
Installation: Installing cedar shakes isn’t something that just anybody can do. For the best results, you need a cedar roofing expert who will know how to handle the shakes and avoid damaging them during installation.
Climate: While cedar shakes are weather resistant, they aren’t the best roofing shingles for all climates. Moss and mold growth can become an issue in areas with high humidity or heavy rainfall. Heavy snow can also be problematic, putting extra weight on the shakes.
Fire Resistance: Cedar shakes are highly flammable. While some treatments can be applied to provide fire resistance, many building codes are strict, especially in wildfire-prone areas, and these treatments aren’t enough to make them safe.
Maintenance: Cedar roofing requires much maintenance compared to most other materials. You need to clean it regularly, have annual inspections, apply sealants and treatments on a scheduled basis, and ensure proper ventilation. All of this is best done by professionals to ensure the roof is not damaged, which means additional costs.
Metal
Metal roofing is another option on the list of best rated roofing shingles. While metal roofs are typically done in panel styles, you can also get them as shingles. These roofs come in various types of metal, with popular options being steel, aluminum, zinc, and copper. While you can get plain metal roofing, some options mimic other styles, including cedar shakes, slate, and barrel tiles.
Pros
Lifespan: Proper maintenance means metal roofing can last 40 to 70 years or longer.
Durability: Another reason metal roofing is considered one of the best rated roof shingles for homes is its durability. These roofs can withstand harsh weather conditions, including sun, wind, rain, and hail. This makes them a great option in places like Florida, as they do well in HVHZ areas. They are also Class A fire-resistant.
Maintenance: Metal roofs are easier to maintain than other materials and only require simple cleaning, regular inspections, and any necessary repairs.
Environmentally Friendly: Metal is an environmentally friendly material. It is 100% recyclable and won’t contribute to the growing waste issue.
Energy Efficient: Metal roofs are also considered some of the best roof shingles for their energy efficiency, especially for hotter climates. These roofs reflect light and block heat, keeping homes significantly cooler.
Weight: Metal roofing is much more lightweight, so there is less stress on the roof.
Cons
Cost: When you want the best roofing shingles, you have to pay for them; metal roofing can cost anywhere from $4 to $30, depending on the metal and style. Copper roofs are the most expensive, and aluminum roofs are the most affordable.
Installation: While lightweight, it isn’t an easy product to install, especially if you go with a standing seam or corrugated metal roof.
Noise: Metal roofs can be noisy if they aren’t well insulated. This would be a significant drawback for people who don't like the sound of rain.
Potential Damage: While durable, metal roofs are still prone to damage, such as rusting and denting from impacts.
Composite
Composite or synthetic roofing is another option that always gets mentioned when the question ‘what are the best shingles for roof replacement’ comes up. These products are typically made from recycled materials like plastics, rubber, and other polymers, compressed into dimensional tiles that mimic materials like slate, barrel tiles, and cedar shakes.
Pros
Aesthetics: Synthetic tiles are available in three realistic styles: cedar shakes, Spanish barrel tile, and slate tiles, with various dimension color options.
Durability: These tiles tend to offer extreme durability. Most brands offer Class A fire ratings and Class 4 impact ratings and can withstand hurricane-force winds. They are also UV and freeze-thaw cycle resistant, making them suitable for virtually any climate. They won’t crack, curl, or degrade in any way when exposed to the elements over time.
Longevity: Depending on the brand, synthetic roofing tiles can last 30 to 50 years or more, which is what make them some of the best shingles roof options for homeowners who want a durable, long lasting roof that is aesthetically pleasing, without the drawbacks of other materials.
Weight: While synthetic roofing mimics popular materials, including heavy options like clay and slate, it weighs significantly less, which makes it easier to work with and install and lessens the strain on the roof.
Energy Efficiency: These roofing products tend to be insulating and UV resistant, which helps regulate temperatures inside the home and minimize the reliance on heating and cooling systems. Cool Roofing options are also typically available, offering further energy efficiency.
Maintenance: Synthetic roofing is very low maintenance, typically only needing annual roof inspections and occasional roof cleanings to wash away dirt and debris.
Cons
Cost: Synthetic roofing is similar to metal roofing or luxury asphalt shingles in pricing, making it a more expensive option.
Quality Variance: Different brands offer different levels of quality. You need to go with higher-end brands for a more realistic look, and to ensure you get the best rated roof shingles.
Synthetic Roofing From Brava
Brava Roof Tile is one of the leading manufacturers of synthetic roofing products, offering some of the best rated roofing shingles on the market that realistically mimic the look of cedar shakes, slate, and Spanish barrel tiles. They are made from 100% recycled materials, making them an environmentally friendly choice that can be fully recycled at the end of their lifespan. In terms of design, they come in a variety of color options, with color matching also available.
These roofing tiles offer some of the greatest durability, with Class A fire ratings, Class 4 impact ratings, wind resistance from 188 mph to 211 mph, depending on the method of installation, and much more. The tiles are also energy efficient, offering insulating properties as well as UV resistance. They keep indoor temperatures better regulated so homeowners can rely less on heating and cooling systems. Cool roof color options add an additional layer of efficiency for homes in hotter climates, reflecting more of the sun’s radiant energy.
A Brava roof can enhance any home. With a long lifespan and low maintenance requirements, once it’s installed, you won’t have to worry about your roof again.
Contact Brava today to learn more about Brava’s synthetic roofing products and how they compare to the other materials on this list.
