We initially were leaning towards replacing the roof with cedar shake again. But the more we thought about it, and the more we had daily encounters with spiders & silverfish in our second story, the more we knew that an asphalt shingle is the route to go. As it was explained to us, cedar shake is an organic product and insects are drawn to it…remove the shake, remove the bugs. SOLD!
So now that the decision was done, it was a matter of shingle selection. We slapped up a few samples and couldn't stand them. First we tried GAF's Timberline shingle in Weatherwood as it is manufactured to mimic the look of shake. It did not.
The undertones were green and just made the whole house look nondescript. And when the sales rep said it was the most popular shingle, that put the nail in the coffin for me. After all the work we put into our home to make it reflective of our individual family, the last thing we want to do was plop down some major coin for something we felt indifferent about and is on every other house in the subdivision.
We went back to the shingle brochure and this time picked out Woodland Designer shingle (again GAF) in Cedarwood Abbey. Once the samples went up it was clear that this one wasn't it. The shingles lacked depth and even though they were an upgrade from the Timberline they looked cheaper. Plus the color was underwhelming.
Disheartened, I turned to pinterest and poured through my pins of inspirational exteriors and discovered the common thread: light exteriors & dark roofs. Then serendipitously a YHL post documenting their new roof showed up in my bloglovin feed. Each and every time we looked throughout he GAF brochures, we never noticed the Camelot II because it was featured on the front interior cover and we just blew right past it…duh! Well you know what they say, third times a charm.
We negotiated back and forth with two different roofers and in the end opted to pay a bit more for a family owned business that does not use subcontractors. And after one day of work, I have to say it was the right decision. The crew is pleasant, respectful & super tidy! Fingers crossed the rest of the job goes just as smoothly (it's a big one scheduled to be 4 full days). Can't wait to share the reveal with you all!
I agree with everything you typed! I cannot wait to see your reveal! I am just like you, I love the dark(er) roof shingles!
ReplyDeleteGee! Never would have guessed that there was so much variety in the style of the shingle. I thought all shingles looked like the first one except in different colors. Learn something new with every blog!
ReplyDeletePaige
Great work you mention some valuable points above,
ReplyDeleteWhat you wrote regarding the shingled roof is true since 30 years is a pretty long time and recurring problems can be a burden. I'm glad to know that you made the right choice in hiring professionals that would make a shingle that's worth your every penny. Congrats! Just remember to check your new one for parts that might need replacement or repairs.
ReplyDeleteNeil Hirsh @ A1 Property Services
I love how much thought you put into choosing your new roof shingles! Not a lot of people really think that a roof can be representative of so much. I'm glad you were able to go with a company that did the job perfectly as well.
ReplyDeletePaying attention to every detail of the roof that you want will go a long way. How is it now? Shingles help in both protecting your house from unfavorable weather while contributing to the insulation. Just remember to have it checked from time to time for areas with nicks or damage that may deter your new roof's effectiveness.
ReplyDeleteLue Madson @ DryTech Roofing Company
Glad you went with shingles! I always thought it was the best choice for roofing. They're stylish and they look amazing in suburban areas. I just think that they really fit in well with the suburban lifestyle. Anyway, I love the Camelot II shingle you picked out. I hope you're enjoying your new roof guys. All the best! :)
ReplyDeleteFredda Dangelo @ Accurate Roofing and Siding