What is the best roofing material for snow and why?
There are many different roofing materials to choose from these days. One main factor when deciding should be; what roofing material is best for the climate that I live in? And if you live somewhere with snow; what roofing material is best for cold winter climates? Since we are based in Sheboygan, WI, let’s talk about the best roofing material for snow and winter climates. Read till the end to hear about our personal favorite!
Fiberglass Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are among the most popular roofing materials. Their versatility makes them an affordable and realistic option for many homeowners. Due to their design, asphalt shingles are fairly weather resistant. They will keep your home warm and dry, and have a life span of 15-20 years. As an all around affordable option, asphalt shingles remain a popular and suitable material for cold winter weather.
A downside to asphalt roofing is its inability to shed snow. This means that snow will build up on your roof with no way to get off other than you removing it. Large amounts of snow buildup put a mass amount of weight onto the structure of a home. This is something to be aware of if you live somewhere that gets heavy snowfall in the winter.
Metal Roofing
You have to take precautions when there is snow falling from your roof. When snow is sliding off a roof, it will land either on the ground, or in the roofs gutters. Wherever it’s landing, it’s going to do so with significant force. Snow buildup in your gutters will damage or even break the gutters clean off. Snow falling from a roof at high speeds is a safety hazard for anyone walking outside.
However, you can prevent this from happening by putting up snow guards on your roof. Snow guards are rails that keep large amounts of snow from ending up in your gutters or falling onto the ground. Placing snow guards over walkways and gutters will keep you and your gutters safe while still allowing snow to shed from your roof in other places.
Slate
Slate shingles are a great option for cold weather. Heavy and naturally insulating, slate shingles provide great protection for your home. They don’t have the same texture of asphalt, nor are they as sleek as metal. When insulated correctly, slate shingles can be very beneficial to your heating bill. When installed correctly, slate shingles can last longer than most any other shingle on the market. The projected lifespan of hard slate shingles is 75-200 years.
The downside is that slate is quite expensive, and your house has to be able to withstand the weight requirements of the naturally heavy shingles. Cut from natural stone, slate singles do not have a material or manufacturer’s warranty. This means the only type of warranty you will receive would be a workmanship warranty from your contractor. These warranties cover anywhere from 2-10 years. All around, these are an amazing option for most any climate, you just have to be willing to pay what they’re worth.
Synthetic
Synthetic shingles are probably best roofing material for snow and colder climates. They are more affordable than slate or metal, with quality that exceeds asphalt shingles by far. Synthetic shingles are particularity adaptive to temperature, so they are resistant to freeze and thaw cycles. Because of their material, synthetic shingles are also incredibly energy efficient. A Synthetic shingle we recommend is F-Wave. F-Waves is the first shingle on the market with a self healing technology. This means that F-Wave shingles repair themselves after being damaged, allowing them to adapt and thrive in all temperatures. Check out our featured blog and videos talking all about why we recommend F-Wave to our customers.
Gellings Roofing & Siding Knows all About the Best Roofing Materials for Snow
Located in Sheboygan for 20 years, Gellings Roofing & Siding knows all about winter in Wisconsin and we are here to help you make the right choice for your home! Whether it’s asphalt, metal, or synthetic roofing, we know what roofing material is best for snow and winter climates here in the midwest. Call us if you’d like to chat about your roof! We offer free estimates- call us at 920-693-2240 or get ahold of us via out contact us page. Thanks for stopping by!