Roofing Materials: Your Questions Answered

For most homes, a quality architectural asphalt shingle. It balances cost, curb appeal, and proven durability against lake-effect snow, freeze-thaw, and lakeshore wind. If you want maximum lifespan and the strongest defense against ice dams, standing seam metal is the premium choice. Modified bitumen is our pick for flat sections on a house, and TPO or EPDM for commercial low-slope roofs. The right answer depends on your budget and how long you plan to own the home. Nothing's more expensive than a cheap roof, so we'll tell you which one that is for your house.

Choose architectural asphalt if you want proven protection at the lowest up-front cost, $5 to $10+ per square foot installed, or plan to sell within 10 to 15 years. Choose standing seam metal if you want a 40 to 70 year roof, you fight recurring ice dams, and you want the lowest lifetime maintenance. Metal starts around $12 per square foot and can run past $25 to $30 on complex roofs, but it sheds snow, resists wind and fire, and reflects summer heat. Both perform well here when installed correctly.

Roughly 20 to 30 years from architectural asphalt, 40 to 70 from standing seam metal, and 20 to 30 from modified bitumen, TPO, or EPDM on flat sections. Freeze-thaw, ice dams, and snow load will shorten every one of those numbers if the ventilation or installation is wrong. Attic ventilation and ice and water shield matter as much as the material.

Standing seam metal. Smooth concealed-fastener panels shed snow instead of holding it, which reduces the meltwater that causes ice dams. Quality asphalt also performs well when it's paired with ice and water shield at the eaves and valleys and balanced ventilation that keeps the deck cold. In West Michigan, the ventilation and underlayment details are just as important as the material for stopping ice dams.

Yes. In summer, reflective shingles or light-colored and coated metal lower attic temperatures and take load off your air conditioning. In winter, the bigger factor is the whole system: attic insulation and soffit-to-ridge ventilation keep the deck cold and even, which prevents ice dams and cuts heat loss. The right material and a complete system, built together, give you the best year-round comfort.

Often, yes. Class 4 impact-rated shingles hold up better to hail and wind-driven debris in spring and summer storms, and many carriers offer a premium discount for them. If your area has taken hail before, the added durability and potential insurance savings can offset the cost difference. We'll weigh it with you during your inspection.

Beautiful roofs, and on the right custom home they belong. Cedar shake runs 25 to 40 years with real maintenance in our climate. But for the vast majority of West Michigan houses, asphalt or standing seam metal delivers better performance for the money, and that's where we'll steer you. If your home calls for a premium system, we'll talk through it.

Michigan Residential Code Section R908.3.1.1 caps a roof at two layers, so a single-layer roof can sometimes take an overlay. We almost always recommend tearing off anyway. Layering over old shingles hides deck rot, traps heat, shortens the new roof's life, and voids some manufacturer warranties. A full tear-off lets us inspect the deck, install ice and water shield, and correct ventilation. Those are the details that make a roof last here. More on our roof replacement page.