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 Architectural asphalt (also called dimensional asphalt) is the nation’s most popular roofing choice because of its thick multidimensional tiles, wind and fire resistance, durability, relatively low cost, and the availability of multicolored patterns that can mimic the look of shake or slate. Photo courtesy Fowler & Peth, www.fowlerpeth.com
For homeowners interested in eco-friendly roofing options, Decra (above) is a stone-coated steel that can look like shake, shingles or tile. Energy Star®-rated steel (below) is a recycled product that saves on summer electricity bills by reflecting light and heat away from the house.
See related article Rating Roofing Materials |
Home&Garden feature article spring 07
Asphalt, tile, copper and eco-friendly materials are just some of the roofing choices available in today’s market. Here are tips on how to best choose a cover for your “castle.” By Lisa Marshall It’s a feature of our homes we seldom think about. After all, when was the last time you heard someone say, “I just love my roof!” But when it comes to home-improvement decisions, experts say choosing the right material to put over our heads is critical, both for boosting a home’s curb appeal and for preventing hassle and expense in coming years. “You want something that’s going to complement your house, but you also want something that’s zero-maintenance,” says Clay Hawkins, co-owner of Boulder Roofing Inc. Since 1994, when the city of Boulder banned wooden shingles due to potential fire hazard and mandated that all such roofs be removed by 2014, local roofers have been busy tearing off and replacing what was once the premier roofing material in this area. Options for new and replacement roofing are dizzying, ranging from economical but bland-looking “3-Tab” asphalt shingles to thicker “architectural” asphalt shingles that mimic the look of slate or shake. There are also painted metal roofs that reflect heat and save on energy bills; high-end clay or concrete tiles that impart Southwestern or contemporary flair; and copper and slate-tile roofs that look classy and last forever, but may break the bank. Throw in a new generation of eco-friendly materials, and the selection process becomes even more daunting. “There are almost too many choices,” says Steve Van Lier of Van Lier Roofing in Boulder. Both Hawkins and Van Lier have samples of many roofing materials at their Boulder offices, and the wholesaler Fowler & Peth has three Denver-area showrooms, including a 5,000-square-foot Broomfield showroom, with samples of hundreds of different roofing options. See related article Rating Roofing Materials While aesthetics and price obviously factor into any decision, durability (particularly in Colorado’s harsh climate) should be near the top of the list, too, Van Lier says. “We’ve got the altitude, which increases the intensity of ultraviolet rays. We’ve got regular hail. We’ve got big night and day temperature differences, and we’ve got high winds and snowfall. This is probably as hard a place as there is for roofs.” Keep Up with the Neighbors Perhaps the first step in choosing a roof is to drive around and see what your neighbors live beneath. If everyone else has high-end architectural asphalt, going with inexpensive 3-Tab asphalt could diminish your home’s resale value in the long term. On the other hand, if you install a pricey copper or slate-tile roof in a neighborhood awash in asphalt, you may never recover your investment. Some neighborhoods have covenants that dictate what type of roof you must have, and many insurance companies offer a discount for clients who choose a roof with a specified rating for wind or hail damage. Then there are the city laws. In the city of Boulder, everyone who replaces or builds a new roof must get a permit, wood shingles are banned outright, and new roofs must have a “Class A” fire rating (the highest available). In other areas of Boulder County, wood shingles are permitted, but they must be fire-treated—a process that adds to the price and diminishes the longevity. “Twenty years ago, realtors would tell you if you didn’t put shakes on your roof you’d take away from your home’s resale value,” Hawkins says. “Now, cedar shakes are a big black mark.” Narrow the Choices In an effort to appeal to people’s desire to have a thick, multidimensional-looking roof without the fire hazard, numerous companies offer architectural or dimensional asphalt shingles that are roughly twice as thick as the less-expensive one-dimensional 3-Tab shingles, and incorporate staggered multicolored patterns to mimic the look of shake or slate. Architectural shingles are also more durable and wind resistant, so some new models carry warranties of up to 50 years. The combination of durability and comparatively low cost has made asphalt the roofing material of choice nationwide, with roughly 67 percent of roofs in the United States made with asphalt shingles. “For the cost and the value, asphalt is really hard to compete with,” Van Lier says. Area roofers say they seldom install a clay-tile roof, unless it’s on a new home. That’s because clay tile is extremely heavy, and a home must be specially framed to support the load. Another drawback is water seepage beneath improperly installed tile that can damage the underlayment long before the tile wears out. And less-expensive tiles, particularly concrete, can soak up snowmelt, prompting deterioration, and can be very fragile. “If a branch falls on the roof, or a chimney sweep has to walk on it, it can break,” Hawkins says. Steel is a popular option for mountain dwellers because of its excellent fire rating and ability to shed snow quickly. However, on a steeply pitched steel roof, “[A large snow sheet] could kill someone when it falls off the roof, or it can kill your shrubs,” Van Lier says. “You really have to keep that in mind when you design a place” or you’ll have the added cost of installing snow guards. Van Lier also recommends that people select a light-colored steel with a high-quality paint finish that won’t fade under Colorado’s intense sun. For those with an eye for style and a hefty budget, Hawkins considers copper the Mercedes of roofing materials. “It’s going to last forever, it won’t corrode, and there’s no paint to fail.” But it will cost you. Copper prices doubled last year, propelling the cost of a copper roof to roughly $2,000 per roofing square (one roofing square is equal to 100 square feet), versus $90 for 3-Tab asphalt. Mixing and matching materials is another increasingly popular roofing approach among high-end home builders. “If you’ve got the money, you could buy a clay-tile roof with copper gutters and copper flashing that would be almost impenetrable,” says Brian Ecton, branch manager for Fowler & Peth. Eco-Friendly Options Dave Coddington of 3R Roofing in Boulder says that homeowners should also consider one more factor when choosing a roof: What is its impact on the environment? “A roof is more than a roof; it’s an energy envelope,” he says. “It’s a very important part of the house, with regards to heat gain and cooling load.” Coddington points out that some metal and asphalt roofs have been awarded an Energy Star® rating from the U.S. Department of Energy because they reflect light and heat away from the house, saving on summer electricity bills. But since asphalt is petroleum-based and hard to recycle, Coddington sees it as a “resource hog” and encourages people to consider recycled products instead, such as steel (31 percent recycled), aluminum (32 percent recycled) and copper (75 percent recycled). Several manufacturers also offer shingles made of 100-percent recycled rubber, plastic or carpet material. Brand names include Eco-Shake (which looks like shake), Nycore (which resembles slate) and Decra (a stone-coated steel that can look like shake, shingle or tile). Make the Right Choice Regardless of which roofing material you pick, choosing a qualified contractor is equally critical, experts say. Some may be seasoned tile installers, for instance, while others might be primarily asphalt installers. That’s why Fowler & Peth’s customers are matched with a contractor based on their material decision. Van Lier and Hawkins advise people to get three or more estimates, as well as references from previous customers. Make sure the contractor also has the proper insurance and licensing, so that if something does go wrong, someone can be held accountable. “Just do your homework,” Hawkins says. “You really want your roof to be something that you don’t have to think about for another 30 years.” Karen Mitchell is a Boulder freelance writer who adores small things, particularly antique keys and drawer pulls.
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