Every house needs a durable roof that protects the family that lives inside from every type of weather. Snow, rain, hail, ice – a good roof needs to be able to shrug all of this off with impunity. This is especially true in Lowell, MA, where the winters can be surprisingly severe. So do asphalt shingles make sense as a roofing option for local homeowners?
We went to a roofing company near Lowell for some answers. And here’s what we learned, in a nutshell: Asphalt shingles are affordable, durable, easy to source – even with current pandemic-driven shortages going on – and they do the job they’re intended to do. Many, many homes in the Lowell area have shingled roofs. They’re attractive and aesthetically appropriate for most homes – even the most traditional and upscale.
So what’s the downside to asphalt shingles? Well, like everything else in the universe, they just don’t last forever. If your home doesn’t suffer any storm or extreme weather damage, you can expect the typical asphalt shingle roof to last between 25-30 years, although some do last longer. For a more durable, longer lasting roof, you’ll want to talk to your Lowell roofing contractor about metal roofing – typical useful life of 100 years – or slate tile roofing, which lasts as long as rocks do. The downside to both of these options is the higher cost, and in the case of the slate roof, a significant lifelong commitment to maintenance.
This is probably why nearly 90% of the homes in America have asphalt shingle roofs. There are some regional variations, of course, but here in Lowell, shingled roofs are in the majority. Asphalt shingles are available in a variety of colors, with black, gray, and brown being the most popular, followed by green and red. The time needed to have a new shingled roof installed in Lowell ranges from a few days to up to slightly more than two weeks, depending on the size and complexity of the house.