Are Luxury Shingles Worth It

What are Luxury Shingles

Luxury shingles, also known as Designer shingles, are asphalt roofing shingles that prioritize appearance. Luxury shingles often more closely resemble real wood shake, such as Owens Corning’s Woodmoor or natural rock slate, like GAF’s Slateline. Luxury shingles are often thicker and heavier than other shingles. Needless to say, they’re also often more expensive. Luxury shingles often last 30-50 years if professionally installed and well maintained.

Are Luxury Roofing Shingles Worth the Extra Cost

In some cases, yes, some luxury shingles are worth the extra cost. However, some are not. A Class-4 impact rated luxury shingle is worth the additional cost. Northern Colorado gets hail storms. Therefore, it’s a good idea to get a Class-4 impact rated shingles, luxury or not. If you’re considering a non-Class-4 impact rated shingle, they might not be worth it. You might be better off getting a Class-4 impact rated shingles, such as Owens Corning’s Duration Storm.

Alternatives

One alternative to luxury/designer shingles is any Class-4 impact rated shingles, such as Owens Corning’s TruDefinition Duration Storm or Tamko’s StormFighter Flex. These highly durable shingles prioritize durability and strength. That’s not to say they’re not attractive. Tamko’s Stormfighter shingles are available in a number of attractive colors, such as Black Walnut, Thunderstorm Grey, and Rustic Slate.

If you like the appearance of luxury shingles but don’t want to sacrifice durability or longevity, consider stone-coated steel shingles. Stone-coated steel shingles are a great alternative to luxury or designer shingles for a number of reasons. Steel shingles are recyclable in our area, unlike traditional asphalt shingles. They also last 2 to 3 times longer than normal shingles. Also, because they last so much longer than traditional asphalt shingles, you’re being inconvenienced less often by the re-roofing process.

For those looking for a roof that more closely resembles real wood shake, consider Westlake Royal Roofing’s Pine-Crest Shake. Steel holds a profile or shape better than flexible fiberglass, which is why Westlake Royal Roofing’s Pine-Crest Shake is a great alternative to real wood shake. For those that prefer the look of traditional shingles, consider their Cottage Shingle line.

The Bottom Line

Prioritizing appearance sometimes comes at a cost. For example, GAF’s Grand Sequoia AS luxury shingles are Class-4 impact rated. Yet, their Slateline luxury shingles are not. Owens Corning’s Woodmoor luxury shingles are Class-4 impact rated and come with a Limited Lifetime Warranty and a 130mph wind warranty, just like their Duration Storm shingles. However, they do not come with Storm’s Weatherguard Technology or their SureNail Technology. CertainTeed’s Presidential Shake shingles are classified as Luxury shingles and are among they’re most expensive, but they’re not Class-4 impact rated.

If appearance is your top priority, Owens Corning’s Woodmoor and GAF’s Grand Sequoia AS Luxury shingles are very attractive, Class-4 impact rated, and should serve you well. If you want an attractive shingle that also lasts a very long time, consider stone-coated steel.