Many ways to cover a building
We install all of them, so we have no reason to push you toward one. Here's what each actually costs to own, and which one your roof is asking for.
| System | Service life | Wind rating | Weight (per sq) | Installed cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural shingle | 25–30 yrs | 130 mph | 240 lb | $$ | Most homes, most budgets |
| Impact-rated shingle | 30–40 yrs | 130 mph | 300 lb | $$$ | Hail country, insurance discounts |
| Standing seam metal | 40–60 yrs | 160 mph | 150 lb | $$$$ | Forever homes, heat, snow |
| Clay or concrete tile | 50+ yrs | 150 mph | 900 lb | $$$ | Sun and heat, if framing allows |
| Synthetic / composite | 40–50 yrs | 130 mph | 175 lb | $$$ | Slate, shake or tile look without the weight |
| Spray foam (SPF) | 20–30 yrs | — | 50 lb | $$ | Low-slope desert roofs, renewable by recoat |
| TPO membrane | 20–30 yrs | — | 40 lb | $$ | Flat and low-slope commercial |
Architectural shingle
Laminated fiberglass shingles cost the least per protected year and come in enough colors that you'll actually find one you like. If you live where hail is routine, pay the premium for an impact-rated class 4 — many carriers discount your policy for it, which pays back part of the upgrade.
- Class A fire rating standard
- Algae-resistant granules where humidity warrants it
- Repairable in sections, so a tree limb isn't a whole new roof
- Manufacturer warranties up to 50 years on materials
Standing seam metal
The seams are folded and locked, so there's no gasket sitting in the sun waiting to fail. It reflects heat instead of absorbing it, sheds snow, and will very likely outlast your mortgage. The cost is real, and so is the payback if you're staying put.
- 24-gauge steel or aluminum, Kynar finish
- Panels roll-formed to your roof's exact rafter length
- No exposed fasteners to back out over time
- Solar mounts clamp to the seam — no roof penetrations
Clay & concrete tile
Tile is the right answer in hot, dry climates, and the wrong answer on framing that can't carry it. A tile roof weighs three to four times what shingles do, so before we quote a conversion we verify the structure — and we'll tell you if it doesn't pencil.
- Structural load verified before we quote a conversion
- Elevated batten systems for airflow under the tile
- Individual tiles replaceable without disturbing the field
- Underlayment is the real waterproofing — we don't cheap out on it
Spray foam & coatings
SPF is sprayed as a liquid and expands into a seamless, insulating deck with no seams to fail and no flashing to lift. The foam itself lasts decades; the topcoat over it is the wear layer, and it needs renewing every ten to fifteen years.
- Seamless — self-flashes around every penetration and parapet
- Adds R-value on top of waterproofing, which matters in July
- Bright white reflectivity drops roof surface temperature hard
- Recoat instead of replace, indefinitely, if you catch it on time
The part nobody photographs
Underlayment, ice-and-water membrane, flashing and ventilation decide whether a roof lasts. The shingle is what you see; the system underneath is what keeps water out. When you compare bids, compare those four lines — that's where cheap quotes get cheap.