5 Types of Roofing Shingles

Whether you’re touching up your slightly antiquated home or replacing an already-existing roofing system to raise your property’s value, there are a lot of factors to weigh when it comes to picking your next shingled roof. One thing  for sure, these are certainly not small investments. 

With each kind of roofing material offering diverse qualities, lifespans, and durability, thorough research is paramount to determine which roof in San Antonio is right for your home. We hope to simplify this process with the following five selections.

1. Asphalt

Cost (per square foot): $1

These are the most common and inexpensive shingles on the market. Your standard roofing company in San Antonio will generally offer three kinds of asphalt shingles in various colors and sizes: fiberglass, 3-tab, and architectural.

Of these three, the 3-tab is probably the most affordable in terms of installation costs, but they have a tendency to wear out quickly due to their light overall weight. Nonetheless, asphalt roofing in San Antonio will last homeowners around twenty years and is remarkably easy to install.

2. Wood

Cost (per square foot): $3.50

Composed of various wood materials such as cedar, teak, or wallaba, wood shingles – and their close cousin, shake roofs – are a sophisticated solution for homeowners aspiring to give their residences a bit of a rustic undertone. 

Lasting around forty to fifty years, experienced roofers in San Antonio will tell you that proper installation and subsequent adequate maintenance is vital towards maintaining its natural appearance. Providing natural insulation and excellent resistance to the elements, wooden roofing is an especially great selection for those who hope to raise their home’s resale value.

3. Solar

Cost (per square foot): $24.25

Probably the most expensive (and modern) pick, solar-powered shingles double as an alternative power source.

Homeowners looking for roofing in San Antonio – if budgetary constraints allow them to – could do well with this eco-friendly solution, as their warm summers could end up proving fruitful in terms of shaving some dollars off the electricity bill. 

Nevertheless, they are an average choice durability-wise (20 years), and must be combined with other roofing systems.

4. Metal

Cost (per square foot): $5.25 – $12.50

From aluminum, zinc, tin, and steel to copper, metal roofing shingles can be made from a wide variety of materials and are arguably the longest-lasting roofing solutions on this list, known to last up to seventy years with the right care.

Easy to install and light in weight, they are an excellent selection for homes that simply can’t sustain much added weight on ceilings, with the only drawback being their proneness to water leaks and rust. When it comes to getting the most optimal bang for your buck, metal roofing shingles are probably your best bet. 

5. Rubber

Cost (per square foot): $4 – 8.25

Made from the synthetic material also known as ethylene propylene diene monomer, rubber shingles look strikingly similar to their asphalt counterparts; just as low maintenance and easy to implement onto your roof in San Antonio. 

Commonly lasting around 25 years, rubber shingles are less susceptible to weather-related damage, but do tend to peel when exposed to sunlight on a long term basis and suffer from mold growth in persistent rainy conditions.

Closing Thoughts

From asphalt to rubber shingles, we hope this list has put you one step closer towards deciding which roofing system is most optimized for your and your home’s needs.