Roof Types: Pros and Cons of 8 Options to Help You Choose the Best One for Your Home

Which roof type will give you the best protection for your home? What are the trade-offs for each option? In this article, we’ll break down the pros and cons of 8 different roof types, helping you choose the one that suits your needs best.

At RoofSmart, we do hundreds of roof replacements every year. During that process, we guide our customers through choosing the right roof for their homes. We make recommendations based on what you want to get out of your roof.

This article will discuss and compare different types of shingle options so that you know exactly what you’re getting when you choose a certain shingle and how it measures up to the others.

We will also give some recommendations for shingles that do well in the Seattle area and advice for choosing the right shingle for you.

By the end of this article, you’ll be able to decide which shingle is right for your home and best meets your needs.

What are the different types of roofs?

The first step in deciding which shingle is right for you is knowing what your options are. Here’s an overview of shingles used in residential roofing:

• Asphalt shingles: They are made of asphalt with a granule layer on the top to protect them from UV rays.
• Metal panels: These are typically made of steel and are customizable to the shape of your roof. This is the second most common type of shingle.
• EuroShield: These are synthetic shingles made out of recycled tires that imitate the design of tile or slate.
• Shake: There are different grades of shake, but all of them are expensive. Cedar shake must be shipped in from Canada, making it another expensive option.
• Tile: Tile shingles can be made out of Option 1: concrete and Option 2: clay. These are rare in the Seattle area because they are heavy and aren’t made locally.
• Slate: Similar to tile, slate must be shipped into the area and it’s very expensive.
• Metal Tiles (Stamped Metal): Metal tiles differ from metal panels in that this metal is stamped to look like tile. There are two options: painted metal or stone-coated metal.

Asphalt shingles are by far the most commonly used shingles. Metal roofs are also fairly common. On the other hand, slate and tile are very rarely used.

Comparing the 8 different types of roofs

This comparison matrix highlights the beneficial features of each shingle. Each type of roof was designed with a specific purpose in mind. As a result, there is a wide array of roof options that meet different types of roofing needs.

Every home is unique, and every homeowner has their own set of priorities for what they want to get out of their new roof. Exploring these different roofing material options will help you make the best decision for you and your home.

As you can see there is a lot of variety in what these shingles can do for you. After looking through this comparison matrix, you’ll want to think about which of these features are most important to you.You might care about all of them equally, or you might find that only one feature matters to you. Either way, this will narrow your focus to only the shingles that meet your criteria.Another feature that is important to many homeowners who are picking out shingles is aesthetics. This is not included in the matrix because we cannot objectively measure how beautiful a shingle is, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be a priority for you.

For example, often when homeowners choose shake, tile, or slate roofs, it is because they like the way they look and are aiming to enhance their curb appeal.

Comparing 8 Roof Types: Lifespan, Cost, and Durability

Asphalt Shingles: Affordable, Easy to Install, but Short Lifespan

Pros: These are the easiest to install, are widely available in lots of colors, and are easy to repair. Out of all the roofing options, these are the most affordable. It’s no surprise that with our “throw-away culture” these are the most popular choice.

Cons: Because there’s such a low barrier to entry and nobody is checking the work, you’re very likely to get shoddy work, and it doesn’t last very long. Asphalt roofs usually only last about 20 years in the rainy environment that we get in the Seattle area. The average age of the roof we replace is right around 17 years.

Metal Panels: Long-Lasting but Expensive

Pros: These have a sleek, modern look and are the best for attaching solar panels because they can be clamped on rather than drilling holes in the roof. These also come in a wide variety of colors. The look is almost infinitely customizable because it’s origami sheet metal.

Cons: However, they do require a much higher skill level to install them correctly. They are twice the price of asphalt. Most roofers don’t know how to do these.

Euroshield: Unique, Durable, but Expensive

Pros: You can copy the look of shake, tile, or slate for a fraction of the price. It’s unique and hardly anybody has it. And it’s a way to stand out without spending a fortune. Euroshield is very algae-resistant, and very grippy to walk on, even when dirty. So it’s the safest to maintain. It’s the most durable because it’s bouncy.

Cons: The downside is that it costs almost double an asphalt roof (about the same as metal panels) and is not widely available (other contractors don’t typically carry it).

Premium shake: Classic Look, High Cost

Pros: Shake is a classic and timeless look. It’s the original choice for a durable roof. It breathes very well. It doesn’t trap moisture. Ventilation is less of a concern as it is porous and comes in a variety of qualities. If you are willing to pay for it, you can get a very high-quality grade that comes fire-treated or pressure-treated.

Cons: This is one of the most expensive roofs to do correctly anymore because you have to buy clear cedar out of Canada that comes from the heart of the tree. It doesn’t have any knots or wiggles. So it’s a premium product. This is something of a lost art. Most roofers do not have the in-house talent to do these anymore.

Shake can be made out of cheaper, more accessible wood than Canadian cedar (like southern yellow pine), but this lowers the shingle’s quality and loses the premium product’s benefits.

Slate: Long-lasting, Heavy, and Expensive

Pros: Out of all these options, slate lasts the longest. You can have it for 200 to 300 years, so you know it’s worth your investment. It has a cool, unique look and hardly anyone else has it. A truly generational choice.

Cons: It’s incredibly heavy, so your home might not be built to handle its weight and will require some additional work to prep it. It’s also one of the more expensive options, in part because slate tiles must be shipped into the area since they are not available here (typically they come from Vermont).

Concrete tile: Strong and Stylish, But Heavy

Pros: The upside to it is that it looks great. It’s very strong and has a southwest or Mediterranean feel, depending on your design. It absorbs a tremendous amount of heat, so that can act as a slight warming mechanism for the home in the winter.

Cons: But on the downside, it’s extremely heavy. Most homes aren’t engineered for the weight of a bunch of concrete bricks. So, unless the home was built for it, you’ll need major structural rework on your home. It’s also something like having sauna rocks in your attic – the roof tiles stay hot in the summer for quite a while.

And it doesn’t last as long as you might think because concrete absorbs the rain once the glazing wears away, and cracks the tile if they freeze. So they’re not a great option for the Seattle area.

Clay tile: Beautiful, Long-Lasting, but Expensive

Pros: Clay tiles have the same beautiful, unique appearance as the concrete tiles. They can last over 100 years, which is much longer than almost any other type of roof listed here. These tiles are built to last. It does not absorb moisture. If you want tile then spend the extra money for clay. You won’t regret it.

Cons: Much like slate and concrete tiles, clay tiles are expensive, heavy, and must be shipped in from elsewhere.

Stamped Metal Tiles: Affordable, but Fragile

Pros: If you like the look of tile but don’t want to spend that much, metal tiles are a great substitute that give you a similar look for a fraction of the cost. They last a lot longer than asphalt roofs and hold up better against rain and moisture.

Cons: Metal tiles are very tender and fragile. It is very easy to dent them, especially during transportation and installation. Stone-coated metal tiles are even more susceptible to damage because they absorb water and pine needles stick to them very easily.

Which roof is best in a rainy area like Seattle?

When deciding what type of shingle you want on your house, it’s important to consider the type of environment that you live in.

For a low-maintenance, waterproof roof, your best options are materials that hold up well against rain and moisture, such as metal roofs, clay tiles, slate, or premium-grade shake. This will help prevent leaks and moss growth in and around your roof.

That being said, if you find a roofing contractor who knows what they’re doing, then you can get any kind of roof you want in this area. An asphalt roof that is installed properly will last the allotted 15 to 25 years and provide great water resistance.

Falling debris from trees is another major issue in the Seattle area, but metal roofs, clay tiles, and slate all hold up really well when leaves and pine needles collect on top of them.

Certain roofing materials might naturally be better suited for these conditions, but that doesn’t mean that your options are limited.

How do I know which shingle is the right fit?

So, given all of this information, how do you know which shingle type is the best fit for your roof?

Roofing contractors can give you advice on which type of shingle to get based on many different factors, but in the end, it’s up to you to decide which one you want. It all depends on what your priorities are.

For example, if your top priority is finding a shingle that doesn’t break the bank, then asphalt shingles are a good option. Or, if you’re most interested in enhancing the curb appeal of your home and you want a shingle that will last a long time, then metal, slate, or tile are all good options.

You know best what your priorities are and what you want out of your new roof. The shingle that’s the right fit for you is the one that addresses all of your top priorities.

Making Your Decision: The Best Roof Type For Your Home

After reading this article you are familiar with your roofing options and understand what each one can do for you. You no longer need to feel stressed or overwhelmed by your options because you’ve had the chance to choose which shingles will work best for you based on the features they offer.

Choosing shingles is all about knowing what you want and need for your roof. You have to think about what your top priorities are. Do you want the most affordable option? Do you want a 100% rain-proof roof for the Seattle climate? Do you want to enhance your house’s curb appeal?

Once you know what you want out of your roof, it becomes much easier to find a shingle that meets your needs. Interested in a more in-depth comparison of a metal roof vs. asphalt shingles? Check our article “Asphalt Shingles vs. Metal Roofs: Which One is Better for My Home?” that weighs the advantages and disadvantages of each roof type.