When someone mentions shingle roofing, what is the first thing you think of?
If you’re like most people, you think of asphalt architectural shingles which are one of the more common types of roofs for various reasons.
What you may not realize is that asphalt shingles are certainly not the only type of shingles that roofers can install on your home or building.
Before limiting yourself to the same old thing, here is a brief summary of 16 different types of shingles you could try depending on your preferences and goals for new roofing!
Asphalt Shingles
1. Tab - Tab shingles are the original asphalt shingle, available in 1-tab and 3-tab versions. Although plain, flat tab shingle roofing is not used so much today with so many other more functional and attractive options available, it is still used when less expensive roofing is desired for homes, sheds, and other buildings.
2. Dimensional - Improved quality, 3-dimensional asphalt roof shingles are the more desired option today, as they combine appearance and cost-effectiveness in one product. Made from multiple plies of material, they come in various shapes and thicknesses.
3. Luxury - High-ended architectural asphalt shingles made from asphalt and other materials to mimic the look of other more preferred products installed by roofers. Luxury shingles offer many additional features including added wind, fire, and hail resistance, improved UV ratings, and other premium features.
Metal Shingles
4. Aluminum - Lightweight, interlocking shingles made from aluminum to offer the durability and impact-resistance of metal in a non-corrosive, lightweight, product that is made to look like other shingles.
5. Standing Seam and Corrugated - Two popular and affordable types of metal roofing that are made into interlocking shingles or panels that function essentially the same as other shingles.
6. Stamped - Panels made from various types and thicknesses of metal which are stamped to look like other materials. Although stamped metal roofs are installed in larger panels, the stamped pattern has the look of individual shingles.
7. Copper - Although copper roofing is available in pressed panels like other shingle-look materials, it is also available in actual interlocking shingle style, too. In either case, copper makes a durable metal roof that fades to a beautiful brownish-green patina that looks amazing on certain homes.
Wood Shingles
8. Wood - Wood shingles come in many shapes and sizes and install to create a very traditional roof for more traditional architecture. It is long-lasting but requires a good deal of maintenance.
9. Wood Shake - Shakes are thicker, hand-cut shingles that last much longer than standard wood roofing shingles. They create a more rustic look while offering extreme impact resistance and durability, although again, all wood requires a lot of maintenance.
Natural Shingles
10. Clay and Ceramic - Terra cotta, clay, and ceramic tiles made from natural earth materials are technically shingles, too. Installed with a natural finish or glazed and baked, they are extremely beautiful and decorative, highly energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly.
11. Concrete - Whether they are flat or shaped, roof shingles made of concrete possess the same qualities as those made of clay and ceramic.
12. Slate - Shingles made from natural chipped slate are some of the more long-lasting and durable roofing shingles ever made. As slate is found in unlimited quantities in the ground and can be returned to it, it is another environmentally friendly material.
Other Shingles
13. Rubber - Made from 95% recycled rubber, these shingles offer yet another environmentally-friendly roofing option that is also extremely durable, wind and hail resistant, and beneficial in many ways.
14. Composite - Composite shingles are those made from a blend of different roof materials including fiberglass, paper, asphalt, and others to create a shingle that mimics other materials but lasts longer and performs much better.
15. Impact-Resistant - These are a classification of roofing shingles, whether premium asphalt, metal, composite, rubber, or other types that are sold based on their ability to resist impacts like large hail.
16. Solar - Shingle roofs made of individual small photovoltaic solar cells are one more environmentally-friendly option and one that can look much more attractive than installing solar panels on top of a standard roof.
Which Shingle Is Best For Your Roof?
As you can clearly see, when it comes to shingles, there are more than you probably thought possible to have a roofer install on your home or building.
To choose the best one, contact a local roofing contractor today to discuss the options that can work for your roof and budget!
