The right roof can give your home a stand-out exterior, last for many years, and add to your home’s resale value. Whether you’re building a new home or remodeling an existing one, you’ll have to make the important choice about which type of roofing to install based on your budget, style, and maintenance preferences.
3 Common Residential Roofing Types
In order to help you make an informed decision, let’s explore some of the most common types of residential roofs, as well as the features that make each of them popular.
1. Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are (and have been for years) the most common type of residential roof in the United States. Since they’ve been on the market for so long, they can be more traditional in appearance. However, there are many style options for asphalt shingles, including unique colors, textures, and shapes that can give a roof a more modern or dimensional look.
Asphalt shingle roofs typically last about 12–20 years — occasionally longer, if they’re installed and maintained properly. Other types of residential roofs have a longer lifespan, but asphalt shingles are generally a more affordable option in terms of upfront cost. Additionally, while asphalt roofs may require more or earlier repairs than other types of roofs, they are also easier and more affordable to repair.
We have extensive asphalt shingle offerings from top roofing brands including:
- GAF — makers of the top-selling shingle in North America
- CertainTeed — the leading building materials brand on the continent
2. Metal Roofs
Metal roofs are growing in popularity due to their durability, clean look, and ability to shed precipitation. They’re also popular for roofs where solar panels will be installed, as they are a long-lasting and low-maintenance roofing option. Metal roofing can be made from aluminum, copper, zinc, and steel materials, and there are two primary types of metal residential roofs: metal shingles and standing seam.
Metal Shingles
Metal shingles are small panels that are stamped to mimic the appearance of other roofing types. While they have the ability to look just like asphalt, wood shake, or slate, they come at an affordable price and with durability that makes them a desirable alternative to those roof types.
Metal shingles come in a variety of colors and finishes and are easy to clean and maintain. Better yet? They’re energy-efficient and will reflect the sun’s rays to dispel unwanted heat from your home.
At Zeeland Lumber & Supply, we source CertainTeed Matterhorn series metal shingles.
Standing Seam Metal
A standing seam metal roof includes long panels that run from the top of your roof all the way down to your gutters. They’re connected and concealed by seams raised a couple of inches above the panel level. This is likely what comes to mind when you think of a metal roof.
The standing seams in this type of roof provide great protection against leaks, and won’t require any puncture holes when installing solar panels, maintaining the integrity of the roof. This leak-free performance is part of the reason standing seam metal roofs can last between 40 and 70 years! Standing seam metal roofs often have a higher initial cost than other residential roof types, but given that their lifespan is more than double that of traditional asphalt shingles, metal roofing is well worth the price.
Zeeland Lumber & Supply is proud to offer a variety of standing seam metal roofing options from McElroy Metal and Metal Sales, the largest manufacturer of metal roofing in the US.
3. Wood Shake
Wood shakes are thick pieces of treated wood with split thin rectangles. Cedar shakes are a particularly popular variety, as cedar is one of the most durable American hardwoods and can withstand significant weathering. Shakes are thick and textured, giving them unmatched depth and dimension. With various colors, grain patterns, and grooves, it’s not difficult to find an option that fits your home’s aesthetic.
Wood shakes do, however, require regular maintenance. They can last almost 30 years, but wood has a tendency to warp, rot, and mold, and is prone to insect infestations, problems not present in other types of home roofs. Regular inspection and maintenance are needed to keep wood shake roofs attractive and functional.
If you love the classic cabin or cottage-core look of wood shake roofing, we have you covered. Zeeland Lumber & Supply carries cedar shake for exterior siding and roofing that’s known for its durability and beauty.
Shop Roofing Materials for Your Home at Zeeland Lumber & Supply
If you’re looking into different types of residential roofs to figure out which is best for your new home, give the Zeeland Lumber & Supply team a call! We’ve got all the roofing materials you need for asphalt shingle, standing seam metal, or cedar shake roofs. Give us a call or contact us online to see what options we have for you.