New Roofs in Massachusetts

What Materials For a Roof in Massachusetts?

Replacing a roof might seem as simple as signing a contract then waiting for the roof to be done, there’s actually a few choices to be made along the way. In this short roof guide for Massachusetts Roofs, we’ll walk you through some of the most common materials and choices you have to make.

Type of Roof Shingle

There are two basic types of roof shingles – 3 tab and Architectural.

3-tab shingles are lighter and secured with fewer nails. These are the lowest end shingle and come with the shortest life expectancy for your roof of about 20-25 years, though this depends on weather conditions, location, and maintenance.

Architectural shingles are abought 50% heavier and secured with more nails. So your new roof will last much longer. Additionally there is much more wind resistance as there are more nails holding each individual shingle down to your roof.

Architectural shingles used to come rated in 30, 40, 50 year or lifetime ratings but as of 2011 all of them are considered “lifetime” and most come with 25 year warranties for your roof. Even with this designation as “lifetime” shingles for your roof, many lines have a good, better, and best option. The better ratings generally mean a heavier and thicker shingle which increases the wind rating as well.

The good thing about Massachusetts roofs is most roofs can actually achieve or exceed their 25-30 year ratings due to mild summer temperatures and few hurricanes, tornadoes, or hail storms.

When to Use 3-tab vs Architectural?

You’ll generally want to always use architectural shingles if you are doing a new roof. They cost a little more in labor and materials but there is almost no situation where 3-tab shingles are the better options, even considering budget.

That is unless you are adding a 2nd layer to the roof. If you have an existing layer of 3-tab shingles you can add a second layer of shingles to the roof according to code. It’s usually better to strip and replace the roof, but if the budget is extremely tight then some labor and dumpster costs can be saved by adding a 2nd layer of 3-tab over an existing 3-tab roof in Massachusetts.

What Color Roof Should I Get?

The colors vary by manufacturer but there is a wide variety. Roof colors include light grey, black, brown, and even green.

If you have a shed or detached garage, you’ll want to match the color as closely as possible. If you don’t then generally you’ll want a roof color that matches well with your siding color. Some people light to compare to the neighbors as well and choose a slightly different color so all the roofs in the neighborhood don’t look the same.