Seattle Roof Installation: Finding the Jewel for your Emerald Home

For many homeowners, Seattle roof installation is likely to be the single biggest investment you'll make in your home. As big as the investment is, it's also just as important. The basic protection of any home, your roof must endure the seven-month onslaught of near constant rain and humidity. Fortunately, you may not have the same insulating demands of your roof as homeowners in other parts of the country, but you're still going to need a high-quality roof to throw back the uniquely stressful climate of the Pacific Northwest.

Types and Cost of Roof Installations in Seattle

• Asphalt Shingle Roofing: By far the most common type of roofing, it's also the cheapest. If you don't have a lot of savings and don't feel like taking out a homeowner's loan, this may be your only viable option. For homeowners with the wherewithal, however, it's often not the best option. Whereas most other roofing materials have warranties lasting several decades, asphalt shingles are likely to begin to break down after 10 years or so. And, in Seattle, that's if you're lucky.

• Metal Roofing: The benefits of metal roofing speak for themselves: durability, waterproofing, fire and pest resistance, and warranties that extend several decades. What most homeowners don't know is that many of the old complaints of metal roofing are a thing of the past. Metal roofs are no noisier than any other roofing. They have great decorative finishing and are among the more eco-friendly roofs out there. Though metal roofing is several times more expensive than asphalt, metal roofing tends to look best on taller, narrower homes that have less roofing area, making the total cost of installation more than manageable.

• Composite Roofing: This type of roofing is a fairly ambiguous category. It's exactly what it sounds like, a combination of materials compressed together into a strong composite. Wood, fiberglass, and polyester are just a few of the more common components. Composite roofing combines strength of more highly durable materials with a high-end finish for optimal curb appeal.

• More Roofing Options: Traditional tile, slate, and rubber roofs are among the less common roofing options, although they each have qualities (rubber is great for flat roofs) that make them attractive to particular homeowners.

Tip: If you're replacing a primary asphalt shingle roof, you may be able to put a new layer right on top of the old. This can give your roof another five or ten years in which you can save for a longer-lasting roofing solution.

Seattle Roofing Contractors: Finding Trusted Roof Installation Pros
The good news is that the sheer size of a roof installation helps insulate you from the more brazen scams associated with roof repair and roof inspections. Still, your choice of Seattle roofing contractor may just be the most important contractor decision you'll make for your home. At the very least, get three estimates and investigate with the professionals the best options from different roofing materials, coatings, and finishes. Listen to this advice from one Seattle homeowner: "Get several bids from different contractors. Check to see whether the contractor is certified by the roofing manufacturer. Check their credentials and get addresses of other roofing projects the contractor has done."