Roofer: Metal works well in Basin region

It might not be a problem every year, or every day, but when the time comes for a new roof or roof replacement, it’s hard for homeowners to ignore. Finding the right roof for your home is key.

David Serrato, business partner with Guardian Roofing & Exteriors, at 805 S. Penn Ivy St. in Moses Lake, discussed what customers are choosing in a new roof and some of the different factors to consider. Serrato said his company handles siding, windows and, of course, roofing.

The most popular choice with homeowners is the classic asphalt shingle roof, or composite asphalt. Asphalt shingle roofs are typically rated for a 40-year limited lifetime warranty, but Serrato said often they will fail closer to the late 20s or early 30-year range.

He said the company buys a rubberized composite asphalt shingle out of Portland, Oregon, which are very flexible shingles.

Color-wise, he said most people stick to the standard, neutral colors. A lot of homeowners are going with grays and blacks when renovating their homes, with darker grays a popular choice. Some homeowners worry about going with darker colors for their shingles, which can help trap and absorb heat in the attic and top of the home.

“There was a while where people were choosing green shingles or blue shingles, but that kind of died away,” Serrato said. “Now everything is kind of the same, whether it’s brown, black or gray.”

With shingle roofs, Serrato said one issue he comes across a lot is simply installation error and often finds himself and his company redoing shingles.

The winds that frequent the Columbia Basin can also be detrimental to shingle roofs, and Serrato said there are always a handful of insurance claims going on with people losing shingles to the wind.

Serrato said when a homeowner starts seeing loose shingles out in their yard, flecks coming off in the gutters and driveway, or can clearly see the shine from the fiberglass on their roof, more often than not it means it is time for a new roof.

In regard to differences between builder-grade shingles and slightly pricier mid-level options, Serrato said the difference isn’t that excessive.

“I would say you’re investing in something for 20, 30 years, so you want something that’s going to last that long,” Serrato said. “Builder-grade shingles have a tendency to wear away a lot quicker and a lot faster.”

He said there are certain brands of shingles on people’s homes he’s replaced only about 12 years after the roof was installed. Serrato said there’s no reason someone should need to replace roofing after such a short time.

When it comes to roof-overs, where a new roof is simply placed over the old one, he said those tend to fail a lot more quickly.

An option that has become more popular in recent years is metal roofs, which handle the high winds of the area very well. Metal roofs are what Serrano said he would call “true 40-50 year roofs.”

The big setback with metal roofs is the cost for most customers, with metal roofs about two or two-and-a-half times the cost of an asphalt shingle roof. Customers tend to go with the neutral colors for metal roofs, too, with the exception of some people who prefer more metallic colors, such as copper. Some homeowners don’t want metal roofs because they don’t want their home to look like a shop, but Serrato said there are seamless metal roofs that provide a much more modern look.

The only concern Serrato said he’s seen with metal roofs is a wavy distortion that can happen in the metal called “oil canning.” He said it’s much more noticeable in darker roofs and most often seen in the broader areas of the roof.

In addition to working with homes, Serrato said he does a lot of work around the Potholes Reservoir area on shops and sheds. More often than not, he said customers avoid spending too much and go with an asphalt shingle roof on their shop. But if the shop doesn’t have metal sheeting or is an open-frame building, he said he recommends going with a metal roof, if possible.