Best Roofing Buying Guide
Best Roofing Buying Guide
As they have for years, asphalt shingles remain the most common type of residential roofing purchased in the U.S., says Kelly Moomey, the market analyst who covers roofing for Consumer Reports. "However, there are small, niche segments emerging," she says.
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Metal roofs, for instance, are expected to grow in popularity. The inherent advantages of this type of roofincluding resistance to leaks and wind uplift, not to mention durability against the elementsare likely to make metal roofing more popular in areas prone to violent storms, according to the Freedonia Group, a market research company. Here are some other trends we see in roofing:
Fewer choices, higher installation costs. Stung by supply-chain issues of the past few years, manufacturers have cut back on new styles and colors, our sources tell us. At the same time, historically high prices for roofing installations could continue to rise in the next year or so, largely due to continued high demand from consumers and a tight labor market. Finding workers has been a challenge, explains Maciek Rupar, technical services director at the National Roofing Contractors Association, based in Rosemont, Ill. Contractors arent complaining about the supply chain, but lead times for roof construction and replacement still may be extended due to a lack of qualified labor, he says.
Solar roofing options expand. Major roofing manufacturers GAF and CertainTeed have joined Tesla in introducing photovoltaicaka solarroofing shingles for homes. CertainTeeds Solstice shingle looks more like a traditional shingle than GAFs Timberline model, which includes perpendicular bars across the shingle array.
Federal tax credits now apply only to solar roofs. Homeowners who retrofit their roofs with solar panels or solar roofing tiles now can get a federal tax credit of 30 percent of the project costwith no income restrictions or dollar ceiling on the projectthanks to the Inflation Reduction Act of . The credit is good through . But an earlier federal tax credit for traditional roofing with energy-efficient properties has expired.
"Cool roofs" are an option for sustainability. While this option isnt new, its worth considering if you need a new roof and want to reduce your carbon footprint without buying costly solar. The trick: Pick a lighter color roof. Because a light-colored roof reflects more sunlight than a darker roof, it can reduce the energy and cost needed to cool your home by up to 15 percent. White roofs are best, reflecting from 60 to 90 percent of sunlight, according to the Department of Energy. But you also can shop for a "cool colored" roof: a darker roof that uses specialized pigments that reflect about 30 to 60 percent of sunlight. (Check the DOEs Energy Saver page for advice on buying cool-roof roofing products for both shallow-pitched and steeply pitched roofs, and check the Cool Roof Rating Council for cool-roof products.)
How to Shop for Roofing Shingles
Once you start looking at shingles, you might be impressed by how many manufacturers offer lifetime protection. But in roofing parlance, a lifetime really isnt a lifetime. Its more like 10 years. Thats the period during which most manufacturers will pay the roofs original owner in full to replace defective shingles under the baseline warranty. After thatand for the rest of the period you own your homeitll reimburse only for your shingles depreciated value.
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To extend the full-replacement period, you have to either upgrade to a different shingle or buy more of the manufacturers components. Another way to upgrade: Use a contractor whos certified or otherwise credentialed by the company.
For instance, most Owens Corning shingles come with a lifetime warranty that covers full shingle replacement for only the first 10 years. Going with one of the companys Preferred or Platinum contractors, though, can extend the 10-year full-pay period to 50 years.
You may think of roofing warranties as an extension of coverage, but theyre also limiting the manufacturers liability, says Mark Graham, vice president of technical services at the National Roofing Contractors Association, a trade organization based in Rosemont, Ill.
A roofing warranty wont pay if the shingle maker finds problems in your homes ventilation. And manufacturers usually wont cover damage from certain acts of God, such as very high winds and hail; for that, youll have to put in a homeowners insurance claim or pay out of pocket.
Given the gotchas, a warranty probably shouldnt be your main focus in choosing a new roof. Rather, our testers recommend that you place your faith in a strong shingle and a reliable contractor. The right combination can help your home weather most storms without draining your wallet.
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