Roofers use roofing shingles that come in a wide variety of material, all with their own pros and cons.

Here’s a list of the top 5 most popular types.

1. Asphalt

1. Asphalt
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By far the most popular shingle type, mainly due to its affordability, are asphalt shingles. It’s also the easiest to install, throwing up an asphalt roof is common knowledge for all roofers.

For rarer types of roofing materials, finding a knowledgeable roofer may be a bit more difficult.

Asphalt shingles are very easy to install, but they also don’t last as long as many homeowners would expect.

On average, a properly installed asphalt roof will last only about twenty years.

So if you’re buying a home that’s been previously owned, depending on the age of the house, you may need to replace the roof soon.

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2. Metal

2. Metal
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If your budget has more wiggle room, then metal shingles may be an option worth looking at.

Metal shingles will last you at least 50 years – a concept that may bring a wave of relief considering the headache involved with roof replacement.

Metal roofs that are properly insulated can provide great insulation from external temperatures all year around.

They are incredibly durable, highly damage resistant, and rarely ever leak.

Metal roofs are also very lightweight, which makes installment a much easier proposition.

3. Tile

3. Tile
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Like metal roofing, tile roofs are extremely durable, lasting virtually as long as your home does. Metal tiles are also highly customizable, coming in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.

The downside? There’s a couple. Tile roofing can be incredibly heavy. If you’re considering this option you may need to hire a roofing expert to assess if the structure of your home can withstand the weight.

It’s also very expensive given the customizability of the material. If you do choose tile roofing however, you’ll be happy knowing you won’t need to replace it for the entire lifetime of your home.

Roofers use roofing shingles that come in a wide variety of material, all with their own pros and cons.

Here’s a list of the top 5 most popular types.

4. Wood Shingles

4. Wood Shingles
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Perhaps the most organic looking option, wood shingles are a popular choice for their kindness to the environment.

Wood shingles are recyclable and plentiful thanks the availability of this renewable resource and the wide array of color choices that can be used for wood shingle roofing.

Wood shingles, no matter if they are cedar or maple, will last between 30 and 50 years.

Drawbacks include their flammability and their high cost.

You may also have difficulty finding a contractor who knows how to install them if it’s not a practical roofing option in your area.

5. Slate

5. Slate
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Slate shingles are stunning, especially given the wide variety of shapes and color variations found in slate roofing options.

Homes with slate roofs are homes that won’t need to deal with the headache of a roof replacement anytime soon.

Hard slate roofs last up to 200 years. Soft slate roofs last up to 125 years.

Slates are incredibly expensive though.

That’s why they tend only to be seen on expensive home builds.

When considering slate, consider the overall value of your home, and if you’ll be able to recoup your investment when time comes to sell.

These different types of shingles are used by any roofing company you can think of, including one near you.

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