Affordable, stylish, durable, eco-friendly: If these are the words you envision yourself using to describe your new roof, then composite roofing is the way to go. An alternative roofing option to more traditional materials like cedar and asphalt, composite roof shingles are synthetically made, offering a more protective and longer-lasting option for keeping your family and belongings safe.
Composite roofing is known for its ability to withstand the elements (looking at you, Portland climate), its aesthetic look and, better yet, its price tag, as composite shingles are often less expensive than traditional roofing materials. Composite roof shingles can also help prevent moss growth, which is a common #OregonProblem.
If your roof needs replacing, here are some reasons why you should consider composite shingles as your roofing alternative.
Composite Roofing Benefits
Composite roof shingles are created by taking the best roofing materials and mixing them together into a single, highly effective roofing alternative. These materials may include plastics, rubber, asphalt and more, and the combination plays to the strengths of each.
Here at Roof Life, we’re partial to using products that will stand the test of time, which is why we use Brava composite tiles as our shingles of choice. While Brava shingles are made of composite, they mimic the look of high-end roofing materials like wood shakes, slate and clay tiles, so you don’t have to compromise on looks. They also provide a wide range of other benefits – including safety features – that will leave you feeling confident in your purchase.
Curb Appeal
Brava composite shingles come in three styles that look identical to their natural counterparts:
- Synthetic slate tiles: Achieve the beautiful, quarried look and color of natural slate without the drawbacks. Real slate tiles are among the heaviest roofing materials available, making them difficult and costly to transport and install. The easy installation of composite slate tiles will save you money in labor costs alone.
- Synthetic clay tiles: Brava’s composite barrel tiles give your home the unique Spanish-style charm of a clay roof at as little as a third of the price. With these tiles adorning your roof, your home will be the envy of the HOA.
- Synthetic cedar shakes: Don’t get us wrong – we love a good, natural cedar roof. But when real wood isn’t in the cards for your home, composite shakes are the best contender. We’ve seen a LOT of cedar shakes in our more than 37 years of business in the Portland area, and we still have a hard time distinguishing them from Brava’s composite tiles.
Better still is that all three of Brava’s composite roof product lines offer tiles that are available in virtually any color, bringing you closer to the custom roof of your dreams. And let’s not forget that a better-looking home also creates curb appeal, which can increase your home’s value.
Durability
Roofs are like clothing – you want them to be fashionable, but they also serve a practical purpose. Composite roof shingles are incredibly durable, offering you peace of mind when it comes to sheltering you from whatever life tosses your way.
- Fire Rating: All Brava tiles are available in a Class A or Class C fire rating, meaning they’ve been third-party tested in relation to their protection against high temperatures, smoke toxicity and flame spread. A Class A fire rating demonstrates the highest level of fire resistance, placing some of Brava’s composite shingles in the same category as materials like brick and concrete. Fire resistance should receive special consideration if you live in an area that’s prone to wildfires.
- Impact Resistance: Brava’s composite roofing also comes with a Class 4 impact rating, which is the highest rating given for impact resistance. To achieve this rating, the tiles had to survive a 2-inch steel ball being dropped repeatedly from a height of 20 feet and come out unscathed. If your composite roofing is backed by this rating, you should be OK in a hailstorm.
- Wind Resistance: High winds don’t stand a chance against Brava’s composite roof shingles, which have been proven to withstand winds of up to 110 mph. Wind is one of the top causes of roof damage and can lead to costly repairs, so this feature will save you from headaches down the road.
- Moss Resistance: Because of Portland’s wet climate, mold and moss growth are often constant concerns for local homeowners. If left untreated, these growths can cause leaks around your home and threaten the structural integrity of your entire roof. Brava’s composite tiles absorb far less moisture than traditional materials, helping to stop mold before it even takes root.
- Warranty: Brava’s products are backed by a 50-year limited warranty. If Brava wasn’t confident in “walking the walk,” this wouldn’t be a thing.
Despite their impressive durability, all of Brava’s composite tiles are also incredibly lightweight, so they don’t require the extra support that’s necessary for installing heavy clay, concrete or slate roofing. This also means they can be installed on any roof without special tools or modifications, and they’re easier to fasten in place.
Sustainability
In case you’re not yet sold on the amazing benefits of composite roofing, allow us to throw in the fact that Brava tiles are made using recycled materials. That plastic soda bottle you threw away yesterday that was destined for a landfill? It’s now being used to create a beautiful roof that is, in itself, also recyclable.
With recycled materials, there’s no mining, extracting or harvesting of natural resources. This reduces your carbon footprint, protects the environment and also hits lighter on your wallet, as recycled materials are much easier for manufacturers to come by than natural materials like slate.
Composite Roofing Alternatives in Portland, OR
Thinking it’s time to make the switch to composite roof shingles as your roofing alternative? We support that decision. Our roof replacement services come with a Lifetime Workmanship Warranty, guaranteeing that, in addition to utilizing the highest quality products around, your installation will be free of defects in workmanship.
Contact us to learn more about our composite roof offerings and get your roofing estimate today.