The renovated exterior of this home features Brava’s asphalt-style shingles, offering a similar look to asphalt, but with updated materials. Photos: Stinson Services
Homeowners seek long-term solutions that outlast the traditional shingle.
Roofs are often an underrated part of a building, but they don’t have to be. While many homeowners and commercial property owners default to the traditional asphalt shingles, several stunning and durable options are overlooked. Edina resident Bill Powell chose a slate roof to preserve the historical charm of his home. “A slate roof will last 100 years,” Powell says. “My roof is a pretty prominent part of my house, and if I were to put an asphalt shingle, it would destroy the look. I get nothing but compliments on my roof.”
Powell hired Stinson Services, a family-operated roofing company founded in 2002. “The most typical roof system that we’re going to do is an asphalt shingled roof system with laminated architectural shingles,” says Heidi Stinson, director of sales for Stinson Services. “It’s robust. It has about a 20- to 25-year lifespan for that shingle, and it comes in a variety of different colors.” While asphalt dominates the roofing market because of its stability, Stinson says it is not the only choice, or always the best one.
The home’s previous look featured standard asphalt shingles in a traditional layout.
Another popular roofing option is cedar shake, which offers a natural appearance but it can have maintenance and insurance issues. “Most roofing materials, you don’t have to worry about maintenance, except for a cedar roof system,” she says. “Cedar is organic and porous, making it prone to moss, mold and mildew growth. It requires regular cleaning and treatments. I’m not seeing as much cedar shake installation due to the maintenance and insurance coverage.”
The life expectancy of asphalt shingles and the maintenance required for cedar are reasons why more people are looking for a longer-lasting and aesthetically pleasing alternative such as metal. “Longevity-wise, it’s a forever roof. You’re not going to have to do that replacement,” Stinson says. However, metal roofs can have a major drawback. Some insurance policies have metal exclusions that exempt the metal roof from insurance coverage for any cosmetic damage.
A way to achieve the look of cedar shake without the hassle is Brava, which Stinson says is becoming a more popular option for homeowners who want a high-end look without the fragility of natural materials. It’s made from a durable and visually appealing composite roofing material. “Brava comes in a variety of different profiles, like Spanish tile profile or cedar shake,” Stinson says. “The beauty in the material is that it is made to last. This material is never going to weather. Maintenance-wise, it’s really easy to be able to pop one of those out and pop it back in. Cost-wise, it’s going to come in comparative to a cedar roof system, but unlike cedar, the maintenance is gone.”
An even more classic choice is slate, known for its elegance and longevity. Because it is natural stone, slate gives a unique finish with subtle color variations.
“Homeowners are saying, ‘Get me a more robust system, so I can decrease my insurance premiums, take on that higher deductible, knowing that I have a Brava or other roof system that I don’t have to worry about,’” Stinson says.
Slowly, there is a shift happening in the roofing industry, one that is leaning toward quality over quantity and long-term solutions. As homeowners begin to look for less standard options, look out for roofs to become more colorful, durable and stylish.
Stinson Services
7391 Bush Lake Road; 763.218.1136
