The world is full of copper lovers, and lovers of the copper roof are by no means an exception. There are essentially two different types of copper roof you can buy, there is the solid copper roof that consists solely of sheet copper on your roof. It is very resilient to weathering and will protect your house for decades but it is incredibly costly, as you can imagine. On the other hand, copper roof shingles are made by attached sheets of copper around standard asphalt shingles. All in all, the cost is likely to work out less than a slate roof but once the copper roof shingles have aged and been weathered they will take on the magnificent green look that only copper can create.

Can I use copper roof shingles?

One of the advantages that copper roof shingles offer over other forms of long lasting roofs, especially the solid copper roof, is that the shingles are actually surprisingly light and most roofs and structures can usually cope with the load admirably. As long as you are prepared to pay approximately per square foot (compared to for standard asphalt but up to for solid copper) there is unlikely to be any good reason why you can not use copper roof shingles on your roof.

What kind of life can I expect from copper roof shingles? This is something of a confusing issue. Asphalt roof shingles will normally only last 20 years, but covered in copper sheeting the life of the asphalt shingles can easily be extended to between 30 and 40 years. However, the copper sheet itself will last an average of about 150 years. Obviously the copper roof shingles themselves will only last as long as the asphalt roof shingles that are found underneath the copper.

The cost of copper roof shingles.

Copper roof shingles are by no means a cheap alternative to other styles of roofing but if you like the look of copper and you want a longer life than asphalt shingles can offer then copper roof shingles are an excellent option. The copper sheet doesn’t an excellent job of protecting the asphalt shingles underneath effectively giving them an extended life of around 30 to 40 years. The copper sheeting also protects the shingles from most general wear and tear meaning that with good, regular maintenance you won’t need to have repairs done too often. On a yearly basis copper roof shingles do work out cheap but not overall and not for the initial installation.

Standard asphalt roof shingles usually cost around per square foot, whereas solid copper roofing will set you back around per square foot. Copper roof shingles are available at approximately to per square foot so they are 4 times more expensive than asphalt but considerably cheaper than a full solid copper roof. However, you are undoubtedly paying for the attractive looks of a copper roof but for less money than covering the entire roof in an expensive metal.

The world is full of copper lovers, and lovers of the copper roof are by no means an exception. There are essentially two different types of copper roof you can buy, there is the solid copper roof that consists solely of sheet copper on your roof. It is very resilient to weathering and will protect your house for decades but it is incredibly costly, as you can imagine. On the other hand, copper roof shingles are made by attached sheets of copper around standard asphalt shingles. All in all, the cost is likely to work out less than a slate roof but once the copper roof shingles have aged and been weathered they will take on the magnificent green look that only copper can create.

Can I use copper roof shingles?

One of the advantages that copper roof shingles offer over other forms of long lasting roofs, especially the solid copper roof, is that the shingles are actually surprisingly light and most roofs and structures can usually cope with the load admirably. As long as you are prepared to pay approximately per square foot (compared to for standard asphalt but up to for solid copper) there is unlikely to be any good reason why you can not use copper roof shingles on your roof.

What kind of life can I expect from copper roof shingles? This is something of a confusing issue. Asphalt roof shingles will normally only last 20 years, but covered in copper sheeting the life of the asphalt shingles can easily be extended to between 30 and 40 years. However, the copper sheet itself will last an average of about 150 years. Obviously the copper roof shingles themselves will only last as long as the asphalt roof shingles that are found underneath the copper.

The cost of copper roof shingles.

Copper roof shingles are by no means a cheap alternative to other styles of roofing but if you like the look of copper and you want a longer life than asphalt shingles can offer then copper roof shingles are an excellent option. The copper sheet doesn’t an excellent job of protecting the asphalt shingles underneath effectively giving them an extended life of around 30 to 40 years. The copper sheeting also protects the shingles from most general wear and tear meaning that with good, regular maintenance you won’t need to have repairs done too often. On a yearly basis copper roof shingles do work out cheap but not overall and not for the initial installation.

Standard asphalt roof shingles usually cost around per square foot, whereas solid copper roofing will set you back around per square foot. Copper roof shingles are available at approximately to per square foot so they are 4 times more expensive than asphalt but considerably cheaper than a full solid copper roof. However, you are undoubtedly paying for the attractive looks of a copper roof but for less money than covering the entire roof in an expensive metal.

Asphalt shingles are by far the most commonly used option for covering a residential roof. There is no doubt about it, the fact that they are relatively inexpensive and durable make them the most popular roofing option.

Asphalt shingles are basically made of either fiberglass or paper backing soaked with tar. Then by using adhesive, small granules are embedded onto backing. The process described makes the shingle waterproof and makes the shingle more resilient to wear and tear caused by weathering.

Other than pricing, another factor that makes asphalt shingles so popular is the fact that they can make a home very attractive. There are many different manufactures, each with their own color options giving the homeowner a simple and inexpensive way to greatly improve the overall curb appeal of his home.

Manufacturers of asphalt shingles all comply with standards set by the roofing industry, however the quality of the tiles may vary depending on brand. A good way to determine the quality is by closely examining the warranty offered by the maker backing the product. For the most part you will see a range of warranties anywhere from 5 to 10 years. However in some instances you can find warranties on the higher end of 20 to even 30 years. This type of guarantee will likely come from one of the top asphalt shingle producers, and you can expect the price of the shingles to reflect so accordingly.

When looking at the overall project, keep in mind that you can tell the difference between a 5 year manufacturer’s backed shingle and one which is guaranteed for 20 years. The cheaper shingle will appear flatter, may be less decorative and most importantly may have less surface granule content. You will also be much more limited when it comes to selecting color and pre-made trim options. The best option to take for the average homeowner would be to find a mid-range shingle with a decent warranty. This way you can have a very nice looking roof for a moderate price.

Asphalt shingles are easy to install, however due to the need for tools, carpentry skills, ventilation and weather considerations, roofing a house with asphalt shingles is best left to professionals. The end result of a newly shingled house is beauty at an inexpensive price. With cost and time savings considered, asphalt roof shingles are often the way to go when you are deciding on a new roof for your home.

You can learn more about roofing shingles, and get much more information, articles and resources about roof shingles by visiting Roofing Shingles

Tim Carter, of AsktheBuilder.com, demonstrates just how easy it can be to replace a broken roof shingle.