If you're looking at Euroshield rubber roofing for a Seattle house, the usual questions are the ones I hear on site visits: what is it made of, will it hold up in our rain, what does it cost, and is it worth it if you plan to stay. This post answers those in that order.
I'm Jim Singleterry, founder of RoofSmart. We are a Euroshield authorized installer, and we price and install this roof for homeowners who want a slate or shake look without a natural-slate bill. This post walks through the pros, the real drawbacks, our current Seattle installed cost, and Euroshield's own lifespan and warranty terms, so you can decide if it fits your house. I will tell you when I would pick it, and when I would steer you toward asphalt instead. You can also start on our Euroshield rubber roofing page.
In this post
Euroshield is a synthetic shingle made from recycled tires. Euroshield says the product is about 70% recycled tire rubber and 95% recycled content overall. It is made to mimic the look of luxury slate or wood shake.
Euroshield says 250 to 1,000 tires for an average-sized home. That range is the maker's, not a count from our jobs. You can read the same claim on Euroshield's site and in its FAQ.
Seattle homeowners pick it when they want that slate or shake look, and a roof that can take our rain. We install it as a Euroshield authorized installer.
In our experience, Euroshield holds up well in Seattle's wet weather. It does not deteriorate the way asphalt can in constant moisture, and we see little moss or algae on it. Our customers who live near saltwater also tell us it holds out well there.
Rubber is bouncy, so small branches and debris that might scuff or crack asphalt will often bounce off. Hail resistance matters less here than in a hail belt, though Euroshield warrants some of its HP lines for hail and cites a Class 4 impact rating. The more useful point for us is windblown debris after a storm.
It is also grippy to walk on, in our experience, which makes gutter cleaning and other roof maintenance less slippery than metal or real slate. That is our experience, not a line we found on Euroshield's pages.
Euroshield costs more than asphalt, and the install takes longer because each style has a pattern the crew has to follow so the roof looks right. Neither of those is a reason to skip it, but both should be in the decision.
A new Euroshield roof can smell like rubber. Euroshield says the smell "dissipates over time after exposure to the elements (as long as the attic space has been properly ventilated)".
The warranty will not cover heat damage from a poorly vented attic. Euroshield's warranty, effective November 25, 2021, is a limited lifetime warranty: 50 years non-prorated on a single-family detached home, then 25% of the original material price. It excludes "distortion, warping or curling due to excess heat build-up in non-vented or insufficiently vented attic spaces." If your attic ventilation is weak, fix that first. Poor ventilation is a problem on any roof.
Euroshield describes the weight as comparable to architectural asphalt shingles, and its specs put the product at about 240 to 360 lbs per square, per Euroshield, depending on the profile. That is the maker's range, not a reason to assume you need extra structure.
Euroshield also sets slope and fire limits, and those come from the maker, not from us.
At RoofSmart, a typical Seattle Euroshield install is about $18.87 per sq ft base, or a median of about $53,700 before add-ons, plus tax. That is about twice the asphalt median base price of $9.42 per square foot, plus tax. On a 2,500 sq ft roof, that asphalt median is about $23,500 before add-ons, plus tax. Half of the asphalt roofs we've signed cost between about $23,000 and $43,000 plus tax, add-ons included. Those figures come from our Seattle roof replacement cost page.
Metal is in a similar place on base rate, at about $18.50 per sq ft. Cedar shake on that page is $50,000 to $80,000+. Tile or slate is $45,000 to $100,000+. Euroshield is not about the same price as cedar, and a slate roof is not simply $100,000 or more.
Here is that comparison in one place. All figures are plus tax unless a line already says so. Swipe the table sideways if you are on a phone.
| Material | What our pricing page shows |
|---|---|
| Euroshield | About $18.87 per sq ft base, median about $53,700 before add-ons, plus tax |
| Asphalt | $9.42 per sq ft median, or about $23,500 on a 2,500 sq ft roof before add-ons, plus tax |
| Metal | About $18.50 per sq ft base |
| Cedar shake | $50,000 to $80,000+ |
| Tile or slate | $45,000 to $100,000+ |
Your price still depends on size, pitch, access and add-ons. The median is a typical Seattle job, not a quote for your house.
Euroshield says its roofs will last for 50+ years. That is the maker's lifespan claim, not a warranty, and it is the figure we use.
A warranty is not the same thing as a lifespan. Euroshield's warranty, effective November 25, 2021, is a limited lifetime warranty: 50 years non-prorated on a single-family detached home, then 25% of the original material price. For how warranties and lifespans differ across materials, see how long a roof lasts. A shingle roof, for comparison, lasts 15 to 25 years.
If you want a slate or shake look, the honest comparison is Euroshield versus cedar, real slate or tile, and other synthetics such as Brava or DaVinci. Price, maintenance and fire class all differ, so the look alone is not enough.
Cedar shake can look beautiful here, but it is a different maintenance picture in our wet climate, and the pricing-page band is $50,000 to $80,000+, not a match for Euroshield's median. We compare the two in Euroshield vs. premium cedar shake.
Real slate and tile are rare as new installs around here, and the pricing page bands them at $45,000 to $100,000+. Euroshield is the usual way we get that look without a natural-slate project. For a wider material comparison, see our pros and cons of popular roof types.
Other synthetics exist too. We do not rank Euroshield as a "top contender." If you want a side-by-side of two other brands, see Brava vs. DaVinci, and for Euroshield next to Brava see Brava vs. Euroshield.
If a lower price is the priority, asphalt is the better fit. It costs about half as much, and it is the right call when the budget is tight.
If you want a slate or shake look, you plan to stay in the house, and you can live with the higher price, Euroshield is worth a close look. Euroshield says its roofs will last for 50+ years, and in our experience it holds up in Seattle rain and near saltwater.
If the attic is poorly vented, do not start with Euroshield. The warranty will not cover heat damage from a non-vented or under-vented attic. Get the ventilation right first, or pick a different system.
If the roof is 3:12 or under, Euroshield says it is not suited. If your insurer or city requires a Class A fire rating, Euroshield says this is not your product.
If you want us to price your roof, ask for a free estimate. The number will depend on the size, pitch and condition of the roof you actually have.
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Jim Singleterry, Founder and President. Second-generation builder who has led RoofSmart since 2011 and still does about 200 site visits a year. Member of NRCA and RCAW.