In this guide, we present a side-by-side comparison of cedar shingles and shakes vs. asphalt roofing, with focus on material composition, installation costs, plus pros and cons and ROI of each option. Let’s get started!
The Difference Between Wood Shingles & Cedar Shakes
When used in roof covering, wood can be either shakes or shingles. Wood shakes have been used for centuries. They are split from logs and often left as split to retain the textured, rough-hewn effect.
A wood shake is instantly recognizable by its thick butt end. With the advent of commercial sawmills, a wood shake was often sawn after splitting to achieve a uniform back side.
These sawmills also produced a completely uniform product with an even taper and identical thickness by sawing shakes on both sides. This manufactured product is known as a wood shingle.
California redwood, western red cedar, cypress, spruce, and pine are all used to manufacture wood shakes and shingles. Cedar is the most popular wood for shakes, southern yellow pine is also popular. Wood shakes and shingles can be pressure treated with fire retardants and chemical preservatives.
Living in the hurricane-prone areas like coastal Florida, Georgia, Carolinas, and Gulf states like Texas and Louisiana, means your roof needs to withstand extreme weather—high winds, heavy rain, and flying debris. Choosing the right hurricane-grade roofing system is critical for safeguarding your home and family during hurricane season.
Let’s explore the most durable roofing systems, focusing on wind resistance, durability, and cost, so you can make an informed decision.
Why Hurricane-Grade Roofing Matters
Hurricanes can produce winds of over 150 mph, which can easily tear off a poorly installed or low-quality roof. A hurricane-resistant roof provides wind resistance, waterproofing, and impact protection, ensuring your home can withstand the elements and minimize damage.
Best Roofing Systems for Hurricane Zones
1. Metal Roofing
Standing seam metal roof on a single-story home
Durability and Longevity: 35+ years Wind Resistance: Up to 160 mph Cost:$11.50 – $20.50 per square foot installed
Average Roof Replacement Cost:
Low End
$7,500
Mid-Range
$10,500
High End
$14,500
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Metal roofing is one of the most wind-resistant roofing systems available, with interlocking panels and shingles that offer superior protection against wind uplift. Not only are they lightweight and durable, but they also reflect heat, reducing home energy costs.
Types of Metal Roofing:
Standing Seam: Vertical panels interlock to form a strong barrier against wind and water.
Stone-Coated Steel Roofing Shingles and Tiles: These mimic the appearance of traditional materials like clay or slate, while offering the durability and wind resistance of steel. The stone coating adds extra protection against corrosion and provides an aesthetic appeal.
Solar tile roofs are becoming a popular option for homeowners who want to use renewable energy. Instead of installing solar panels on top of your roof with a racking system, photovoltaic cells are integrated directly into the shingles or tiles that make up your roof.
Both BiPV shingles and traditional solar arrays offer a service lifespan of 25 years or more, and they make sense from a financial standpoint. However, if you’re among the homeowners who prefer the look of a traditional roof without PV modules, you might be interested in a solar roofing system.
GAF is an established provider of high-quality roofing materials, and they recently developed the Timberline Solar Energy Shingles. This product is characterized by being the first nailable solar shingle in the market, which makes the installation process much simpler.
GAF has designed a solar shingle that can be easily installed by roofing contractors, making the overall process easier for homeowners.
Normally, homeowners need to contact two separate companies to install their roofs and solar panels.
GAF offers complete roof replacements that include solar shingles, similar to how Tesla Solar Roof works. In other words, you cannot use their solar shingles for a partial roof upgrade. This is not a problem for new construction projects and homes that require a complete roof replacement.
However, if your roof is relatively new and in good condition, traditional solar panels have a lower cost and a quicker payback period. There are also solar shingle providers who offer partial upgrades, where only the roof areas that will be used to generate electricity are upgraded.
GAF: Innovation is a part of their DNA
GAF stands for General Aniline & Film, and they are currently the largest provider of roofing and waterproofing solutions in North America.
GAF introduced the Timberline roof shingle in 1967, and it became one of the most popular roofing products in the US. One of the companies that merged to create GAF was RUBEROID which launched the first individually cut asphalt shingle in 1912, and the first interlocking shingle in 1933.
GAF Energy was created in 2019 as a separate business unit, with the goal of providing solar solutions for residential and commercial buildings. GAF and GAF Energy are sister companies, both owned by Standard Industries. There are two main product lines:
The DecoTech system integrates solar panels into the roof structure, allowing a flush installation without separate racking.
The Timberline Solar roof system uses solar shingles instead of traditional PV modules, and GAF has developed the first nailable solar shingle in the world.
GAF Timberline Solar shingles installation Source: GAF Energy
Source: Kuhl’s Contracting
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