One of the essential aspects when choosing the shingles to go on your new roof is appearance, but the other, not less to important factor that should influence your choice is the climate zone where your building is located. The colors and materials that work best in hot climates might not make the best varieties for cold regions, so if your area gets frigid temperatures that last long each year and your roofing also need to withstand the weight of thick layers of snow, here are some of the best choices for you.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are the most affordable roofing solutions and they are also suitable for cold regions. Most asphalt shingles consist of a fiberglass mat sandwiched between a ceramic layer and mineral granules, the granules being the topmost, weatherproofing layer of the material.
Asphalt shingles come in three types: the most affordable, three-tab varieties are relatively thin, therefore not suitable for very cold regions; laminated shingles, also know as architectural shingles, are thicker, more durable varieties that are a bit higher priced, but offer better thermal performance and load-resistance than three-tab shingles, the third, most expensive, but also most durable type of asphalt shingles being impact-resistant shingles, materials developed to stand up to the special challenges posed by storms, hail, excessive rain and snow.
Metal Shingles
Most metal roofs are made from large panels and metal shingles are no different in this respect, but in the latter case, the panels consist of small squares that resemble asphalt shingles or slate. Metal shingles offer all the benefits of metal roofs: long lifespan, resistance to the elements, protection from very hot and very cold weather, attractive appearance, affordability, easy installation and very reduced maintenance needs.
Slate Shingles
Made from brittle, but very durable natural stone, slate shingles are among the best roofing solutions for cold climates that will also confer your home a unique and elegant appearance, provided that you are ready to pay the high price of the material. Beside the price, the other aspect that you must consider carefully if you are attracted to invest into slate is the material’s weight – stone is among the heaviest natural materials, therefore slate can be used only on buildings that are able to bear the extra weight. However, if your building is suitable for a stone roof and the price is not a problem either, slate will offer you some special benefits, including a unique appearance (slate being a natural material, no two slabs are the same, therefore no two slate roofs will ever be perfectly identical either), a lifespan that exceeds 100 years, superior thermal protection and the ability to withstand rain as well as excessive snow. Once installed, your new slate roof will need hardly any repair and maintenance – like any roof, slate roofs also need to be regularly inspected and cleaned, but the sedimentary rock that slate tiles are made from is so resistant to whatever weather comes along that you will probably not get any damaged components any time soon after the installation. Local Minneapolis roofing companies are the best to ask, when deciding which type of roofing shingles should be used for your home.