Nature’s Choice
A natural cedar shingle roof offers an architectural look that suggests taste, timelessness and classic quality. This roofing product is crafted by third-generation shingle weavers from the #208 Shake and Shingle Mill, prides itself on creating historically accurate cedar roofing shingles, including the popular 16-inch shingles, and split or sawn cedar roofing shakes. But don’t confuse their quality as old-fashioned. The shingles are created of western red cedar, nature’s own formula for weather-defying protection, insulation and structural strength.
The two most popular products produced are the No. 1, 16-inch shingles, shown in the here, and No. 1, 3/4 by 24-inch handsplit resawn shakes. What’s the basic difference between shake and shingle? It’s all in appearance. A shingle is typically sawn on both sides and thinner at the butt. A shake is typically split on one or both sides. A shake sawn on one side and split on the other is usually called “handsplit resawn.”
Cost: Prices vary by product and season. No. 1, 16-inch shingles, $125 per square (100 square feet, or a ten-foot by ten-foot area) at the mill, freight extra.
For more info: 208ShakeandShingle.com; Real Cedar Showroom
Rustic Look
The look of rusted corrugated roofs, as shown here, is part of the charm of turn-of-the-century buildings in the West. ASC Building Products offers the opportunity for that look today in a high performance roof called Country Rustic Corrugated. This multi-functional steel panel will provide the immediate look of a naturally oxidized piece of bare steel, as shown in the inset here.
Created using a two-color print pattern designed to resemble rust, the panel also provides the protection and performance of the company’s DuraTech® xl paint system, formulated to reflect heat, keep colors bright, and to resist chalking and fading. Those who want more design aspects will be interested in the seven-eighths-inch-deep corrugation that creates a bold shadow effect.
The panels are said to be easy to handle and install. Made of 26-gauge steel and ASC’s exclusive Zincalume® substrate, the panel provides for twice the life of galvanized steel. Standard flashings and accessories are available for a variety of roof and wall details. ASC Building Products panels are available throughout the western U.S.
Cost: $325 per square (100 square feet, or a ten-foot by ten-foot area), not including trim, screws flashings, accessories or installation.
For more info: ascbp.com
Photo: © Nuvue Interactive
Lasting Performance
The clean sleek look of a metal roof, like the one here, certainly has design appeal. And now it comes with additional benefits especially important in today’s greener world. Skyline Roofing® is available in 12- and 16-inch widths and made with 25 percent-30 percent recycled steel to reduce the waste impact on the environment. Shown here in Tahoe Blue, it comes in 18 “cool” colors that also reduce energy demand: Weathered Copper, Canyon Red and Copper Penny.
The company uses an eight-layer system in its DuraTech® xl coating technology. It is formulated to reflect heat, keep color brilliant, and resist chalking and fading. This standing seam panel does not need traditional clips or battens, and installation is easy with the use of a concealed, through-fastener design. In fact, the panels are expected to last two to three times longer than asphalt shingles and designed to provide decades of protection from fire, moisture, high winds and heavy snow loads. Available throughout the western U.S.
Cost: Between $220 and $250 per square (100 square feet, or a ten-foot by ten-foot area), depending on width for standard colors, not including trim, screws flashings, and accessories or installation.
For more info: ascbp.com
A “Cool” Roof Option
Today’s roofs can be “cool” in more ways than one. Landmark Solaris™ solar reflective roofing shingles help fulfill the growing demand for energy-efficient roofing products. You may have thought you needed to install white shingles or solar panels to improve your home’s energy efficiency, but this asphalt shingle by CertainTeed Corporation can lower a roof’s temperature without sacrificing curb appeal. It comes in high-definition color blends [Weathered Wood, Burnt Sienna, Resawn Shake (shown) and Heather Blend] on the West Coast and in four color blends (Crystal Gray, Sunset Shake, Aged Cedar and Dusky Clay) nationwide.
The shingles use proprietary reflective granule technology that repels the sun’s rays, lowering a roof’s surface temperature by up to 20 percent during warm months. This puts less demand on a home’s air conditioning system and reduces energy consumption, helping the ENERGY STAR® qualified product to meet California’s Title 24 requirements for cool steep roofing.
And let the winds blow! These shingles are designed to withstand up to 130-mile-per-hour winds when installed with CertainTeed starter products and hip and ridge accessories. They also feature a Class 1(A) fire resistance rating.
Cost: $160 – $180 per square (100 square feet, or a ten-foot by ten-foot area), depending upon geography.
For more info: Certainteed.com
If you love the classic beauty of slate but prefer composite materials for their affordability, durability and architectural appeal, check out the Symphony™ composite slate series from CertainTeed. There are many colors, sizes, accessories and installation options in the Symphony product line, so homeowners have a variety of ways to enhance the architecture or historic detail of their homes. Shown here in Symphony Gray, the color palette also includes Evergreen, a mix of two green-shaded shingles that present the heritage of Vermont quarry in textures and contours of natural slate, as well as Colonial Gray and Capital Blend. Shingles are available in standard 12-inch pre-blended bundles. They also come in multi-width bundles of 6-, 9- and 12-inch slates that allow for a random pattern and multi-dimensional look.
Symphony mimics the look and feel of natural slate, but is low-maintenance, durable and fade resistant. Its weathering qualities allow it to withstand cold temperatures without curling, buckling or cracking to make it a product with curb appeal and durability.
Cost: Approximately $400 per square (100 square feet, or a ten-foot by ten-foot area), but varies broadly depending upon specific product.
For more info: Certainteed.com
Shingle Look and More
Sometimes conventional shingles just may not be practical on a home’s roof. A low slope or even a flat roof may not provide good water runoff or the roof may have other limitations. But it is possible to enjoy a shingle-look roof as well as watertight performance and long-term durability. Those features are all available in the Duro-Last Shingle-Ply thermoplastic single-ply roofing product, pictured here in Sandstone. And guess what? The shingle design is printed onto the membrane!
A special polymer coating is applied to help protect the finish from marring, fading, and dirt accumulation. It is available in slate gray or in sandstone for the 50-mil (0.050 inch) product only. The system is delivered to your job site along with all fasteners, flashings, and edge details, ready to be unrolled, positioned, and installed by an authorized Duro-Last contractor. The Shingle-Ply roofing system is covered by Duro-Last’s industry-leading comprehensive warranties.
Cost: Approximately $2.50-$10 per square foot installed, depending on project complexity, added components needed, local market.
For more info: Duro-last.com/Shingleply
Flat/Low-sloped Roof Solution
A flat or low-sloped roof can present many challenges for a homeowner. Duro-Last manufactures a prefabricated single-ply roofing system that is leak-proof, resistant to high winds, and practically maintenance-free. As a bonus, its white membrane – which reflects 88 percent of the sun’s energy — delivers real energy cost savings. It’s also available in tan or gray.
What makes it so special? The product is a proprietary thermoplastic formulation. It’s made up of PVC resins, plasticizers, stabilizers, biocides, flame retardants and ultraviolet radiation absorbents. A knitted scrim laminated between two layers of PVC film gives the membrane its strength and durability. The product has met or exceeded all major fire and wind code requirements.
Prefabricated to your roof’s exact dimensions, about 85 percent of the roof seaming is completed in a controlled factory environment to ensure a high quality product. Flashings and deck sheets also are custom prefabricated, making for easy installation by authorized contractors that won’t disrupt your household. Duro-Last is a charter member of the Cool Roof Rating Council and a member of the United States Green Building Council.
Cost: Approximately $2.50-$10 per square foot installed, depending on project complexity, extra components needed and local market.
For more info: Duro-last.com
Sturdy, Sylish Synthetic
Synthetic roofing products, such as Bellaforte® slate gray shown on this home, offer many advantages, especially if you live in an area affected by severe weather. DaVinci Roofscapes® has earned a Miami Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) for its patented Bellaforte® product line that already meets the Florida Building Code (FBC) qualifications.
Bellaforte tiles are available in slate gray and slate black or check out the award-winning DaVinci’s EcoBlend® colors. They use 20 percent less material than traditional synthetic and natural slate shingles, saving resources and reducing tile weight to 185 pounds per square. Reduced weight and the vertical and horizontal self-aligning features make for easier installation. They also incorporate several patented features such as an integrated rain gutter, leading edge tab and rain dam in an authentic 12-inch slate profile.
More good news: They have been rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council as a “cool roof” product because they offer solar reflectance and thermal emittance. Cool roofs can save energy, improve homeowner comfort, and help reduce urban heat island effect and smog. All DaVinci Roofscapes products use state-of-the-art UV stabilizers, come pre-bundled for hassle-free installation and resist curling, cracking and fading, mold, algae, fungus and insects under normal conditions. They also resist water absorption, which eliminates freeze-thaw issues and allows for installation in all weather conditions. The tiles are 100 percent recyclable and come with a 50-year limited warranty.
Cost: Approximately $400 per square, installed
For more info: DaVinciRoofscapes.com
Distinctly Slate
The distinguishing look of Vermont natural slate can be a long-term value. Known for its beauty, this product from the Evergreen Slate Company is often called the “sheltering stone” for its strength, durability, fire and water resistance and minimum maintenance. It has been tested according to guidelines of ASTM, the international standards organization, and received the highest ranking.
There are many variables that go into producing each roof. Besides slate thickness, length and width, there are decisions to be made on color, quantity and special cuts desired. Shown here in a semi-weathered gray-green with variegated purple, the slate is available in a variety of colors including several special blends developed by Evergreen to increase curb appeal.
Cost: Starting at $100 per square (100 square feet, or a ten-foot by ten-foot area)
For more info: EvergreenSlate.com
Spanish Concrete
Those who appreciate the distinctiveness of Spanish architecture will want to consider MonierLifetile Barcelona. As seen in this roof featuring Barcelona 900 in the Florida Blend, the tile offers the classic high-barrel profile style but with the durability and value of concrete that can range in hue combinations.
The roofing products are available with the “Energy Efficient Roof System,” a breathable assembly that allows the roof to ventilate and dry out, reducing the amount of heat penetrating the conditioned space by 50 percent and saving 22 percent in energy consumption.
Wondering about your energy savings? If you use gas or electric heat for your home, check out the energy efficient roof calculator on the MonierLifetile website. It’s an interactive tool that estimates your potential energy savings based on your region and concrete roof tile product choice compared with traditional asphalt roofing.
Cost: Averaging about $80 per square (100 square feet, or a ten-foot by ten-foot area), through roofing distributors
For more info: MonierLifeTile.com
Beautifully Durable
MonierLifetile Madera concrete roof tile, shown here in the color Autumnwood, offers a realistic wood shake surface that complements many architectural styles. Modeled after the highest quality hand-split cedar shakes, this roof tile is available nationwide in a range of natural colors to blend with the surrounding environment.
The benefits? This product offers a Class A fire rating and resists fire, hail, sleet and snow. For “green” shoppers, this roof provides a high thermal mass that helps reduce peak energy demand, maintaining the comfort level in living spaces, and the tile is specifically engineered to allow greater airflow between the tile and the roof deck for a more energy-efficient roof system. And, if a concrete tile ever needs to be replaced, it can be recycled.
Cost: Averaging about $140 per square (100 square feet, or a ten-foot by ten-foot area), through roofing distributors
For more info: MonierLifeTile.com
Designer Colors
Owens Corning recently enlisted Lee Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute and author of six books about the impact of color in our world, to come up with exterior color palettes to complement the seven new shingles colors in the Designer Color Collection. There are now seven colors in the collection: Aged Copper, Sand Dune (shown), Sedona Canyon, Storm Cloud, Summer Harvest, Merlot and Pacific Wave. Each palette has shingles that come in a range of complimentary colors to give the overall effect, pulling together a home’s overall look.
Besides fashion-forward looks and a desired increase in curb appeal, the collection offers two levels of wind protection. Duration® shingles are warranted to withstand up to 110 mile-per-hour winds while Duration® Premium shingles, with a lifetime warranty, can withstand up to 130 mile-per-hour winds. In addition, the collection offers what the company calls SureNail® technology. This apparently allows contractors to install the roofing faster with fewer mistakes, reducing callbacks. The Tru-Bond® sealant grips tightly to the nailing strip on each shingle for greater bonding strength.
Now go have a little fun with the color palettes and materials. DesignEyeQ OC Visualization Tool — to see which colors and designs work best for you.
Enduring Slate Updated
This attractive and enduring roof is an example of TruSlate™, an affordable, high quality slate roofing system by GAF Materials Corporation. This patented system combines real hand-split quarried slate and an innovative installation procedure. With traditional slate roof installations, courses overlap and leave a significant portion of the slate covered and invisible. The TruSlate system eliminates much of the overlap. It uses a stainless steel hangar and batten system that locks slates into place and an UnderBlock™ ultraviolet light and moisture barrier that protects against moisture intrusion.
Homeowners will be happy to learn that the process not only reduces the number of shingles needed, it also lowers material costs and removes excess weight from the roof, preventing structural roof damage. Shown here in Sunset, TruSlate comes in several core colors as well as accent colors.
Cost: $750-$900 per square (100 square feet, or a ten-foot by ten-foot area), installed
For more info: Truslate.com
Sustainability/Looks Maximized
True to its late-1700’s Californian roots, US Tile’s Mission “S” Tile is made from the same natural clays with kiln-fired colors. However, its modern one-piece design, shown here, combines the cap and pan of a two-piece system into a single section. This not only gives a distinctive and decorative aesthetic, fewer tiles are needed for your roof so you save on costs and installation time. You can also customize your roof with an option like “boosting,” which layers one tile on top of another to add interest and break up uniformity.
As we all work for a greener world, it’s important to know that the Mission “S” style as well as US Tile’s other domestically produced styles are the only roofing tile in the world to earn Cradle-to-Cradle certification for environmentally sustainable products. The clay roofing products are all natural, 100 percent recyclable and have recycled material content up to 59 percent. Besides aesthetics, durability and a transferable lifetime limited warranty, these tiles also come in “Cool Roof” compliant colors, using clays with naturally occurring reflectivity, eliminating the need for paints or additives to reach an SRI (Solar Reflectivity Index) rating of 29 or greater for compliance on LEED projects. In fact, more than 75 percent of US Tile’s standard portfolio of authentic clay Mission tiles has a Cool Roof rating of 29 or better.
The roof shown here is a blend of the three “color blends:” 20% Newport, 40% Palermo and 40% Turino
Cost: Between $110 and $180 per square (100 square feet, or a ten-foot by ten-foot area)
For more info: USTile.com
Integrated Solar Solution
For those with cutting-edge sustainability and aesthetics high on their list, meet the nation’s first building-integrated solar solution for clay tile. US Tile has partnered with SRS Energy to introduce Sole Solar Power Tile, shown here. The Sole Power Tiles install like a standard piece of tile. They are lightweight, certified for safety by Underwriters Laboratory, and employ “plug-and-play” technology. With this product, you no longer need to make aesthetic compromises for sustainable choices — you’re neighbors won’t even see the components!
Energy savings is, of course, home and location specific. The tiles are guaranteed to produce electricity at a rate that reaches at least 80 percent of the tile’s generating capacity for 20 years but expected to produce well beyond that.
The product is being launched in California with a phased national rollout. Installed by Sole certified contractors, the integrity of a trusted roofscape is maintained without tile penetrations and mounting equipment required with conventional solar panels. Shown here in Newport Blend, the Sole system can be integrated with US Tile’s blue-glazed tile for a completely seamless aesthetic or in a profile-only blend in an array of classic earthen hues.
Cost: Approximately $5,000 per square (100 square feet, or a ten-foot by ten-foot area) before federal and state incentives
For more info: USTile.com and SRSEnergy.com