As the old adage says, “you get what you pay for”, but when it comes to all of the different roofing options, measuring value may differ depending on your situation and whether you want to pay less up front or less overall during the lifetime of the roof. In order to best answer the question, “are synthetic roofs worth it?”, we need to measure the costs associated with a synthetic roof against that of the other available options such as asphalt shingles and metal roofs. We also need to consider what the initial cost is, how much maintenance is required, the likelihood of repairs being required, the lifetime of the roof and what is covered under the warranty.
We’ll simplify this to give you a clear picture of what your money is being spent on when you purchase a roof and how to get the lowest overall cost so that you can make an investment in your home that you won’t regret.
Upfront Cost
The upfront cost is how much you need to spend on having a brand new roof installed on your home. This cost usually covers materials and labor and generally comes with a manufacturer warranty.
Every estimation given is expressed in a price range, because the final cost depends greatly on the complexity of the slope and pitch of your roof.
Asphalt Shingle Roof
For a middle of the road 2500 sq. ft. house, a new asphalt roof will cost between $17,500 – $22,500 at $7-$9 per sq. ft.
Asphalt shingles easily have the lowest upfront pricing and while this is definitely attractive, as you continue reading, there are reasons why it’s cheaper and why you might want to consider other options.
Metal Panel Roof
There are several different types of metal roofing panels, but we’ll use the least expensive corrugated metal as an example. For a 2500 sq. ft. house, a new corrugated metal roof will cost between $17,500 – $28,750 at $7-$11.50 per sq. ft.
Synthetic Polymer Roof
For a 2500 sq. ft. house, a new composite roof will cost between $25,000 – $30,000 at $10-$12 per sq. ft.
Required Maintenance and Repair
No matter what your roof is made of, if your house is in Texas, it will be put to the test. Whether it be the blazing hot sun, several wind storms or a barrage of large hail, your roof is going to take a beating and how tough your roof is plays a large role in how much maintenance and repair is required throughout the lifetime of the roof.
Asphalt Shingles
These roofs are the most likely to sustain damage under severe weather changes or sudden impact from hail or falling limbs. A repair is probably likely to be required every few years and can cost anywhere from $150 to $2000 depending on how severe the damage is. If you want to get the most out of an asphalt roof, it should be inspected and cleaned regularly.
Metal Roofs
Metal roofs typically require less maintenance than an asphalt roof, but should still be inspected annually. They are susceptible to weather changes that can cause thermal expansion resulting in loosened seams. Fallen branches can dent the panels which can cause leaks. The difficulty with metal panels is that they are not always easy to get an exact match and you may have to settle for a panel that is aesthetically different from the rest of the roof. Though a metal roof is less likely to need repairs than an asphalt roof, it will still cost $500-$2000 to do so.
Synthetic Roofs
This is one of the areas where synthetic shingles really shine. Because they are structurally sound and have no granules, synthetic shingles require little to no maintenance. They will require much less maintenance than an asphalt or metal panel roof. This is how you can save money on a synthetic roof when considering the overall costs over the entire life of the roof. It may be worthwhile to have an inspection or cleaning here and there, but overall these shingles are built to endure every condition you can throw at them.
Lifetime Expectancy and Warranty
The lifetime expectancy of a roofing system is often reflected in the upfront cost as you’ll see.
Asphalt Shingle Roof
There’s a few different options when it comes to asphalt roofs and the lifetime expectancy can vary according to the quality and cost of the shingle. The average life of an asphalt roof is from 25-30 years and there is usually a warranty offered that will cover the roof for that long. However, if you have the roof installed by a manufacturer-certified contractor and you purchase an entire roof system from that manufacturer, you may be given warranty options that last upto 50 years.
Metal Panel Roof
Metal roofs can be rated from 40 years all the way up to 70 years, but a full manufacturer warranty is difficult to come by. The materials themselves are usually guaranteed, but it’s rare that the entire roof and workmanship is also guaranteed. There is quite a variance in minimum and maximum of lifetime expectancy and that is relative to the severity of what can happen to the roof over time. If you live in an area with a lot of weather risks or an environment that would cause seams to buckle or panels to dent, the life of the roof would certainly be on the shorter side.
Synthetic Roof
Synthetic polymer shingle roofs are expected to have a lifetime of about 50 years. That number is also reflected in the warranty. In particular, F-Wave Revia shingles offer a 50 year warranty as well as a 5 year hail damage warranty. Their warranty also covers wind damage, algae and color fading.
So, Are They Worth It?
You may be turned off by the higher upfront cost, but between the top notch warranty, 50 year lifetime and minimal required repair and maintenance, the extra money is well worth it to get yourself the top-of-the-line product in modern roofing technology. They are lightweight and tough as nails. Synthetic shingles perform in both the heat, the cold and under stormy weather conditions. It’s easy to say that synthetic shingles are easily worth it.
Have Roofing Turtle Install Your Composite Roof
We wouldn’t specialize in it if we didn’t believe in the product. F-Wave Revia shingles are the way to go and we can get you an estimate for your roof. All you have to do is go to Roofing Turtle Quote and fill out the info. You can also call 1-833-688-7853 to get the process started today!