Roof Types in Seattle

Roofing Materials Best Used for Puget Sound & Seattle, WA Homes

Composition

The most common roofing shingles installed in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest is the composition shingle.

Composition materials are made of finely pulverized minerals that are added to asphalt to create waterproofing and tear resistance. This varies depending on the type of shingle and the level of thickness.

Composition shingles can be divided into three categories: architectural laminate, tri laminate and three-tab. We mostly install architectural laminates and tri-laminates. It is very rare that someone asks for a three-tab shingles, and most suppliers are discontinuing the product.

Composition materials such as architectural laminate shingles are the most common shingles we install. The benefit of this material is that it is economical, durable and requires little or no maintenance. Its shaded look and layered textures create a beautiful roofing pattern on your home.

The other type of composition roofing material we install is called the tri-laminate. This is the heaviest version of the architectural shingles and is known for its three-dimensional appearance. You can tell a shingle is a tri-laminate when it includes the letters "TL" in the name.

For example, Presidential TL is a tri-laminate. The tear resistance and thickness are the best you can find, and if you install tri-laminates on your home or property, it will increase the value of your home. You can ask for algae-resistant shingles if you have a lot of trees around your home. The granules are filled with copper to fight moss—although in heavily forested areas, moss is inevitable.

Cedar Shake Roofing

Cedar shake roofing consists of cedar shakes that were made by splitting the wood into long rectangular shakes. They come in different levels of thickness, just like asphalt shingles. Chet’s Roofing & Construction Inc. in Seattle is one of the few companies left that still installs this type of roofing material. People usually want cedar shake because they want a particular "cottage" aesthetic, or they request this material because their housing development requires it. Cedar shake is more difficult to maintain because you cannot walk on it.

There is typically no plywood under cedar shake, so if you have this type of roof and you want to change to composition, you will need all-new plywood. This type of roof needs to be cleaned and treated often, and we do offer that service if you just need your cedar shake roof to be revived. We also offer roof certifications, which are sometimes required when people are trying to sell a home with a cedar shake roof. We can inspect the roof, and if it has five years of life left, we can provide you with a document stating that the roof is five-years certifiable. We often get certification requests for cedar shake roofs in Seattle.

Cedar Shake Roofing

Cedar shake roofing consists of cedar shakes that were made by splitting the wood into long rectangular shakes. They come in different levels of thickness, just like asphalt shingles. Chet’s Roofing & Construction Inc. is one of the few companies left that still installs this type of roofing material. People usually want cedar shake because they want a particular "cottage" aesthetic, or they request this material because their housing development requires it. Cedar shake is more difficult to maintain because you cannot walk on it.

Standing Seam Metal Roofing

Standing seam metal roofing is roofing made of continuous panels that run from the ridge of the roof all the way down to the eaves. Between the panels are seams connected by fasteners, which are raised above the level of the metal roofing. This material got its name because the fasteners where the two pieces of metal meet are standing up out of the panel—hence the phrase "standing seam."

Metal roofs are absolutely the most durable roofing system you can get. If you install a standing seam metal roof, it will most likely be the last roof that structure will ever need. It requires little or no maintenance. This is probably the reason why many government structures and schools are changing to standing seam metal roofing.

Standing seam metal roofing isn’t just for commercial structures, and many people are using it on their homes. Standing seam metal adds a fabulous finish to farmhouses, ranches, cabins or any kind of Seattle or Pacific Northwest home to give it a warm and welcoming cabin appearance. With standing seam metal, you will never have to worry about moss or maintenance. Give a standing seam metal roof some thought when considering your new roofing material.

PVC/TPO

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) roofs are a membrane roof system made for flat or low-slope roofs, and are more commonly seen on commercial buildings because they are more expensive. The bitumen is modified, and it is often known as "synthetic rubberized roofing material". The technician uses a very specific mechanism to adhere the material, called a hot air welder, and it is a heavy-duty piece of equipment.

This mechanism flattens and weighs down the roof at the same time. Most people find that a membrane roof is more aesthetically appealing than a torch down or a hot tar roof. Property owners request this type of material for a rooftop that they know are going to be seen from certain levels of their property on multi-leveled homes and businesses. Many people find that a membrane roof provides a smoother and more finished look. Perhaps you’d like membrane above a porch or deck? Our Seattle technicians are certified in the installation process of PVC and TPO roof systems.