The most popular roofing shingle is asphalt, usually ranging in price from $.80 - $1.00 per square foot.  Asphalt roofing is popular for a variety of reasons from price to appearance to ease of asphalt roof installation.  You can find just about any color or style to match your home and the job can usually be done in just a few days.  When comparing asphalt roofing contractors, it is important to consider the following:

Review Asphalt Roofing Installation

Have you actually looked at other local homes they have roofed?  It is not uncommon for less-than-reputable roofers to use the wrong sized nails if they do not have the correct ones.  Have you ever seen a home where the roofing nails came down through the eaves (soffits)?  You don’t want that!

Asphalt Roofing Lifespan

Think about the duration.  Roofing materials often range in lifespan from 20 years to 50 years.  Have you really compared metal roofing versus asphalt shingles? Since the warranty typically cannot be transferred to the next homeowner, you should pick the life that most closely reflects how long you think you will live in the home.  Also, realize the warranty probably does not protect you from “Acts of God” meaning hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.  Therefore, make sure your homeowners insurance does.

Asphalt Roofing Climate Considerations

Realize that the lifespan is not set in stone.  In hotter climates, or areas where the temperature changes frequently, asphalt roofing may not last as long as the warranty.  This is because the extreme temperatures (or temperature changes) can cause cracking which allows water into the shingles and potentially mold and mildew. Be sure you have done the comparison between metal roofing and asphalt shingles before making a costly roofing decision.

Asphalt Roofing Price vs. Value

Think about your home improvements collectively.  Are you planning to do an asphalt roof, an exterior paint job and landscaping this year?  It is important to consider not only the appearance of all three, but the order in which you do them.  For instance, will the asphalt roof color you choose match the paint job?  Will you have new gutters and downspouts put on with your roof?  Will they be paintable or have baked in color?  Regarding the order, it is probably best to do the roof first because it will likely result in replacing at least some of the wood under the eaves and fascia boards which you will then need to be primed and painted.  Regarding the painting vs. landscaping question, it’s a toss-up.  On the one hand, you don’t want the landscapers to kick up dirt on your new paint job.  On the other hand, you don’t want the painters to overspray or stomp on your new plants.  Solution:  hire good people with common sense whom you trust.

Asphalt Roofing Installation Timing

Prepare your rainy day fund before it rains.   Asphalt roofing (and roofing in general) is considered a “need-based” home improvement meaning people usually replace their roof because they need to, not because it brings them a tremendous amount of joy, functionality or pride that they might get from other projects like a deck or a pool.  When do most people find out they “need” a new roof?  In the middle of rain storm when they fill up buckets of water trying to isolate the source of a drip.  Some roofers specialize in emergency stop-gap repairs and will come out day or night in the middle of storm.  Needless to say, you will pay the price for your procrastination.  Therefore, if your roof is nearing its lifespan date, or if it’s just looking old and worn, consider doing the asphalt roof installation now when you have time to compare prices, check references, etc.

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