Composite Shingles in Utah
Homeowners have many choices of roofing styles and materials. A composition roof offers an excellent choice for safety, durability, price, and style and color options. These advantages have made composite shingles one of the very most popular home roofing materials.
In fact, by comparison, wood, stone, metal, ceramic, and all other forms of natural materials combined account for a comparatively small fraction of the total of roofing materials used for US American home roofing systems. Here is some useful information to help you decide whether or not a composite roof is an excellent choice for your home.
What are Composite Shingles?
Synthetic shingles are manufactured shingles designed to have the appearance of, for example, natural wood or slate, but stronger protective properties. Special backing and center layers of composite shingles make composite shingles more durable than natural roofing materials.
For example, natural slate is much more brittle than its composite alternative. And, wood shingles are more susceptible to splitting. In fact, composite shingles rate among the roofing industry's highest impact-resistant materials.
What are Composite Shingles Made Of?
Composite roofing shingles are made by combining common roofing materials to fabricate a stronger material for greater home protection. The kinds of materials that manufacturers mix to create composites can include asphalt, laminate, asbestos, tar paper, wood, slate, among others.
These components are bonded to form roofing shingles of superior toughness and resilience. And, the variety of materials used in composites allows versatility in creating shapes and styles.
- A fiberglass center layer reinforces composite shingles.
- Mineral fillers are used to coat the reinforcement layer.
- An asphalt layer surrounds the mineral-coated center layer, to make the shingle waterproof.
- The backing is made of a high-tech material of integrated polymers for optimum durability.
- And, the top surface layer of the shingle is embedded with granules of ceramic.
How are Composite Shingles Different from Other Shingles?
Regular shingles: Wood, slate, ceramic, clay, tar, and metal roofs are not composites. These roofs are made of traditional material.
Composition shingles: Synthetic shakes and tiles are manufactured using advanced technologies. Elements are combined, bonded, and then shaped and textured on tops and edges to produce the desired appearance.
Note: The quality of modern composites is so advanced that usually only professional roofers or product manufacturers can distinguish between compositions and traditional shingles.
What are the Kinds of Composition Roofing?
Today's composite roofing materials are usually one of three types:
3-Tab shingles: This is the most common shingle. Roofs with these shingles are among the least expensive and easiest to maintain of all roof types.
- The product is a single layer with a pattern of tabs (vertical notches).
- 3-tab roofs usually have manufacturer’s warranties of 20 - 30 years.
Laminate shingles: Laminates (also known as dimensional), are an upgrade from 3-tab shingles. These are similar to 3-tab shingles, with these advancements.
- They're doubled in thickness by a second layer bonded to the base of the shingle.
- Laminates have warranties of 30 - 50 years.
Architectural shingles: These are for the highest quality of composition roofs. Architectural shingles are layers combined to form thick slabs for an ultra-strong roof.
- The shingles are larger and heavier than other alternatives.
- Moss retardants are sometimes added to these top-grade shingles.
- Manufacturer’s warranties may be any length toward 50 years or even a lifetime.
What Styles are Available in Composite Shingles?
There are many different styles of composite shingles. Here are just a few examples listed below:
Synthetic Wood Shake: Shakes come in a full range of sizes, colors, shades, and textures to customize your home with the same rustic appearance of wood shakes, but with substantial improvements over wooden shakes.
- These are less expensive to purchase, install, and maintain.
- And, they do not need the chemical upkeep required by wood shakes.
- Synthetic shakes are fade-resistant and lightweight.
Synthetic Slate Tile: Tiles come in the same range of colors and surface features as natural slate, producing a roof with the beauty of hand-cut slate, but with advantages over stone slate.
- Refined shaping in producing composites makes synthetic tiles look better-cut than regular slate.
- Composites provide far greater impact-resistance.
- Purchase, installation, and maintenance costs are much lower cost.
What Colors are Available for Composite Shingles?
Composite shingles can be made in almost any color, shade, texture, shape, and size.
- Custom color mixing is available to produce an even broader range of roofing design alternatives.
- Shingles can be ordered in combinations of colors to create a palette that you can use to specify any arrangement of colors you like, for a roof for your home that is unique.
What are the Advantages of Composite Shingles?
By opting for a composite version of a traditional wood shake or tile slate roof, you have the beauty of wood or slate, but the durability and strength of composite materials. Comparable benefits of composite roofs include:
- Durability: The long life expectancy of composites saves replacement costs. Wood shingles typically need replacement every 15 - 20 years, whereas a composite roof can be expected to last from 30 -50 years.
- Resistance: Composition roofs are more impact and fire resistant than traditional roofs. And, composite shingles do not split, crack, warp, or peel. Additionally, manufacturers add protectants to make composite roofs resist UV degradation, algae and moss growth.
- Affordability: Composition shingles are comparatively very affordable. 3-tab shingles are among the most affordable roofs of any type. Additionally, composite shingles are easier to replace, which can significantly reduce repair costs.
- Variety: Composite shingles come in a great range of colors, textures, and styles, allowing homeowners to select a roof design to ideally complement the architectural character and curb appeal of their home.
- Warranty: Because composite roofs are more durable than others, they carry a warranty of 30 - 50 years, or an even lifetime on high-grade versions. Traditional roofs of most other kinds typically come with a guarantee of 15 - 20 years.
How Much do Composite Roofs Cost?
Synthetic shingles are much cheaper to install than traditional wood, or tiles made of slate, ceramic, or clay. Only asphalt roofs are less expensive on average than composite roofs.
However, when the price of composition shingles is compared by spreading it over the life expectancy (the warranty period of 30 to 50 years), composites are more cost effective over the long term.
How Long do Composite Roofs Last?
Life expectancy for composite roofs range from 20 to 50 years, or a lifetime, depending on various factors, including the manufacturing quality grade of shingles purchased, proper installation and maintenance, and climate, among others. So roofs constructed with synthetic shingles can be expected to last longer than wood roofs and as long or longer than rubber, metal, and other roofs made from other non-synthetic materials.
Are Composite Roofs Good or Bad for the Environment?
Synthetic shingles are manufactured including recycled and recyclable materials, such as hemp fibers, asphalt, tar, and sometimes recycled plastics, rubber, or reclaimed roofing materials. These elements make composites a comparatively sustainable and environmentally sound choice.
What are the Disadvantages of Composite Roofing?
Like any form of roofing that provides a shake or slate appearance, materials cost more than asphalt shingles. Additionally, in some areas, it may be difficult to find a certified installer.
Vertex Roofing: Professional Composite Roofing Contractors in SLC Utah
Vertex Roofing is a leading Salt Lake City Utah roofing contractor. We offer a broad range of services for residential, commercial, and industrial roofing needs. We simplify the process of working with us to best serve our customers' convenience. Our professional team strives to exceed our customer’s expectations. Vertex Roofing provides many important benefits for our customers:
- Well-experienced and certified professionals
- High-quality workmanship
- Free written estimates
- 0% financing for 12 months
- Excellent warranty
For More Information
For more information about composite shingles or to schedule an appointment for a free estimate, contact Vertex Roofing at (801) 939-2398. At Vertex Roofing, we have been serving our customers in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Centerville, Bountiful, Alpine, Park City, Lehi, and Highland, the area's best roofing services for more than 20 years.