Many Options...
Materials
Today, you have more choices than ever! While composition or asphalt shingles are the most common, the popularity of tile, shakes and wood shingles are growing.
Trademark Roofing is experienced in composition shingles, shakes, wood shingles, tile and can even custom order materials to ensure you get exactly what you want.
Quality of Materials
A long-lasting roof starts with quality products, which is why Trademark Roofing only uses the best. Our roofing supplies come from several different vendors depending on the type of material needed for the job.
We hope the following information is helpful to you in deciding which type of roof is right for your situation. After reading through the materials, please feel free to call with questions or to set up an appointment for an estimate.
Portland Oregon Roofing Material Choices
1. Composition
The asphalt or composition shingle is the most widely used of any roofing material and comes in the following two types: organic fiber mat and fiberglass core. The difference between the two is the base material as both types are saturated with asphalt and coated with mineral granules to add color and texture. While the shingles may look the same, they usually come in a “good, better, best” category so make sure you know the warranty of the shingle. This will tell you how many years the roof should last. With advancements made in the roofing industry, it is not uncommon for shingles to come with a 20, or even 30-year warranty.
Styles and Color
The 3-tab asphalt shingle has been the most prominent style, but the newer architectural designs are becoming popular. They are about twice as thick as a normal shingle with the layers being staggered to give the roof a more substantial or heavier look. In certain colors, they can resemble slate or wood shakes.
Great Value
Asphalt shingles are one of the least expensive roofing options and are a terrific value since some grades are guaranteed for 20 or more years. With many variety of colors in both solid and blended designs, it’s no wonder they are the most common roof covering. Trademark Roofing is a Master Elite installer for Certaineed and they are our preferred supplier for composition shingles.
2. Wood shingles and shakes
Wood shingles are sawn so they are smoother than a shake and cut to a uniform thickness, although they do vary in width. Wood shakes are thicker and rougher due to the fact they are usually split rather than sawn from the logs. A variety of cedar wood is used for both shakes and shingles.
Wood roofs are beautiful and seem to tie the house into the surrounding landscape. They are more expensive to install because a wood roof needs to breathe so the wood shingles and shakes need to be laid over a substrate that allows air to circulate. Unlike other roofs, wood roofs need periodic maintenance, which usually means keeping it free of mildew and moss and then re-oiling with a clear wood finish. The good news is that a properly installed wood roof should last at least 30 to 50 years.
3. Slate
A slate roof is beautiful but not very common now days simply because it is very expensive. Like tile, slate is very heavy and requires a roof structure that can support the extra weight. There is a “fake” slate product that has been engineered from recycled rubber and plastic and looks like slate. It costs and weights approximately one-third of the real deal and can be installed using the standard technique and tools. From a distance, most people would be hard pressed to tell the difference between the “engineered” product and the real deal.
4. Tile
There are several types of tile roofs. Concrete tile is the most common as it’s less expensive than other kinds of tile, such as ceramic, clay, and hand-made custom tiles.
Tiles are available in different shapes and a variety of colors. Barrel tiles are the most common and they resemble half cylinders, hence the name. Tile can be shaped like thick shingles or slates. A high-quality tile will be hard-fired and will not absorb moisture, as that would crack the tile when frozen. As you can imagine, tile roofs are quite heavy so precautions must be taken to verify the roof framing is strong enough to support the heavy load.
All high-quality tile roofs are expensive, both in terms of the material and the installation, which is very labor intensive. If you take into consideration the fact that a tile roof can last anywhere from 50 to 80 years, then it might actually be the most cost effective way to go.