Asphalt shingles are highly durable and have a price that's suitable for most homeowners. They have a decent lifespan, many styles and colors, and long-term warranties. If you need a new roof, you would use asphalt shingles because they're readily available, and many local roofers know how to install them. But maybe you should give designer shingles a chance to see if it's a good alternative.
Most asphalt shingle colors and designs have already been used and become part of many neighborhoods and subdivisions. This isn't bad; a roof must be subtle yet pleasing to the eyes. However, homeowners might sometimes want a roof material that reflects their personality or something new rather than use the roofs on houses in the neighborhood.
Designer shingles come in premium shades, colors, and patterns. They might cost more than a full metal roof system, but you have a stylish and durable roof. Manufacturers use only high-quality materials that reinforce the durability and resistance of their designer shingles. Plus, they're designed to emulate some traditional roofing materials, like wood shakes, slate tiles, and more.
Bill Ragan Roofing has an excellent post about designer shingles. Learn more about it in this post.
What are designer shingles?
Designer (also called luxury) asphalt shingles are the “premium” line of asphalt shingles. A couple of things that make designer shingles stand out from 3-tab and architectural shingles.
The first thing is their high curb appeal. Designer shingles look like slate tiles to mimic the look of a slate roof to make your roof stand out compared to the other types of asphalt shingles.
The second thing is their size. Designer asphalt shingles are bigger and thicker, making them more durable than 3-tab or architectural shingles (more on that later).
Just know that the word “designer” is used by some manufacturers for their higher-end lines of architectural shingles. So, while the term “designer” is used, I prefer calling them luxury shingles to avoid confusion.
But no matter what you call them, they’re the top-of-the-line asphalt shingle and come in at a premium price point.
How much do designer shingles cost?
As I just said, designer shingles have a premium price point. To be completely honest, most homeowners won’t be able to afford this steep price.
Before I get to the cost, you need to know I can’t give you an exact price for designer shingles because of factors that go into a new roof’s cost. However, I can give you a general idea of the budget you’ll need if you choose designer asphalt shingles for your roof replacement.
For a two-story house with a cut-up, complex roof, a steep pitch, and not easily accessible, you can expect a new designer asphalt shingle roof to cost around $8.00 per square foot. It’s understandable if you have sticker shock and for this price to be intimidating.
As I said, most homeowners won’t be able to afford a designer shingle roof. But if you’re looking for a more affordable but still good quality material, architectural asphalt shingles are a great option.
What kind of warranties comes with designer shingles?
You’ll have two types of warranties after your designer asphalt shingle roof is installed. The first one is on your roofing contractor’s workmanship, which varies depending on the company you use.
The second one is from the manufacturer, which covers problems with the designer asphalt shingles themselves. Designer shingles come out of the package with a 30-year prorated material warranty.
But if you form a complete roof system by using one manufacturer’s roofing components and materials, you’ll qualify for a 50-year non-prorated warranty. This enhanced warranty ensures the manufacturer covers your entire roof for the life of the roofing materials.
Unfortunately, improper roof installation and inadequate attic ventilation void any manufacturer warranties you have. To avoid this happening to your investment, you need to hire a high-quality roofing contractor to install your designer asphalt shingles. (Continue reading here to learn more)
If you want DaVinci Roofscapes designer shingles, trust a roofer certified to install them with full attention to detail and the manufacturer's intended installation process. Let us at Roper Roofing & Solar install this roofing system for you. Call us today to get started.
