Smoky Mountain Roofing

ASPHALT SHINGLES

• Pros: 

Cheapest and mostly inexpensive.

Light weight and relatively easy to install

Wide range of thicknesses and colors

Easy to replace and repair

• Cons:

Cheaper asphalt shingles are more vulnerable to wind uplift

Asphalt shingles can crack and are more prone to damage

Asphalt shingles are more vulnerability to temperature fluctuations and weather

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Asphalt shingles—made of asphalt reinforced by fiberglass or organic materials like wood or cellulose—are sold in multiple sizes and colors in a thicker, multi-layered “dimensional” variety and a flatter, thinner, single-layered “three-tab” variety. These types of shingles are the least expensive and most widely available, costing around $90 per square, not including any additional insulation, underlayment, or labor. Asphalt shingles can lasting from 15 to 30 years, depending on installation, thickness of underlayment and the quality of the shingle. 

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Because asphalt shingles are relatively light and easy to cut, they are relatively easy to install. Very little prep work is needed and no special tools are required. This means that it won’t take as long to install an asphalt shingle roof as it might if you’re using another roofing material. 

 

You can replace your shingles one at a time since you don’t have to replace the entire roof. Secondly, because of how easy they are to install, replacing asphalt shingles is easy, but should always be left to a profession roofer.

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METAL ROOFING

If your current roof is the root of your headache consider these metal roofing pros and cons before you patch it. You may find that these highly efficient, low-maintenance materials are just right for your home

• Pros:

Metal roofs are durable and long-lasting (40 to 70 years)

Metal roofs are environmentally friendly

Metal roofs are energy-efficient and reflect sunlight

Depending on your existing roof condition and structure, metal roofing can be installed over existing asphalt shingle roof

Metal roofs are stylish and lightweight

Metal roofing is available in a variety of materials (tin, zinc, aluminum, steel, copper) styles and colors

• Cons:

Metal roofs can be noisy, however additional layers of sheathing and insulation can help

Metal roofs can be dented, especially the softer metal, such as aluminum or copper

Metal roofs are more expensive that asphalt shingles

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While asphalt might offer 15 to 20 color choices, modern metal roofing comes in more than 100 different colors, including standard, premium, and custom hues. Steel and aluminum, the two most common metals used in residential roofing, are both designed to hold paint finishes well.

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Money spent on the installation of a metal roof can be recouped from the savings in monthly cooling and heating costs thanks to this type of roof’s reflective properties. Metal roofs reflect solar radiant heat instead of absorbing it, year round, but especially during the long days of summer and this can reduce cooling costs by as much as 25 percent. Furthermore, some metal roofing comes coated with special reflective pigments to minimize heat gain, keeping occupants comfortable without having to crank up the air conditioner.