You could say the first half of 2013 has been a busy one for roofing manufacturers. All of the major residential roofing manufacturers have already rolled out several new roofing products and they’re not done yet for the year. The common thread running through the new residential roofing products is a focus on meeting the wants of consumers.
“Homeowners are looking for choices and a variety of options to choose from in terms of aesthetic look, price and durability,” points out Maria McDonagh-Forde, director of marketing communications at CertainTeed Roofing, a leading North American manufacturer of building materials. “Given the choice, most homeowners want to be educated and involved in the roofing decision process. Since a roof takes up more than 40 percent of a home’s exterior, homeowners understand the importance of finding a shingle that looks good and is affordable. In addition, homeowners want a shingle that is low maintenance and won’t require a lot of upkeep.”
Impact Resistant Shingles
TAMKO Heritage IR Olde English Pewter Classic impact resistant shingles. (Photo courtesy of TAMKO Building Products Inc.)
Both TAMKO Building Products Inc., one of the nation’s largest independent manufacturers of residential and commercial roofing products, and GAF, North America’s largest manufacturer of residential and commercial roofing, have introduced impact resistant shingles earlier this year. “Customers are looking for performance and value,” explains Ron Cook, director of communications at TAMKO. “Simply, they want a shingle that performs well at a reasonable cost.”
TAMKO’s Heritage IR impact resistant shingle meets both those requirements. An expansion of the company’s Heritage series of laminated asphalt shingles, the Heritage IR features reinforced construction that meets UL 2218 Class 4 impact resistance standards. The Heritage IR shingles are made of fiberglass mat and non-woven polyester fabric reinforcement with a fine pattern of thermally bonded polyester fibers throughout the fabric providing additional strength. Designed to look like wood shakes, the laminated asphalt shingles are available in six color choices.
GAF’s Grand Sequoia IR Shingles. (Photo courtesy of GAR)
GAF rolled out its Grand Sequoia IR Shingles in its Grand Sequoia Lifetime Designer specialty shingles category. Made of asphalt and fiberglass, the Class 4 impact-resistant shingles are designed with oversized tabs to give them a rugged wood shake look.
New Solar Roofing Systems Meet Demand from Consumers
The Apollo II solar roofing system from CertainTeed. (Photo courtesy of CertainTeed)
In the first half of 2013, CertainTeed released two solar roofing systems to respond to homeowners’ desires for more energy efficient roofing products that can be added to their existing roofs. The Apollo II™ is the next generation solar roofing system to CertainTeed’s Apollo tile solar roofing system. Like its predecessor, Apollo II integrates into existing roofing shingles or with the installation of a new roof. However, Apollo II features enhanced deck integrity with new water channels and raised fastener locations, as well as easier wiring installation with its open space under the modules. The rack-mounted system has 54-watt monocrystalline photovoltaic (PV) panels. Weighing only 12 pounds, each module features 14 high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells for a power rating of 54 watts per module. Apollo II is lightweight, yet resistant to wind uplift and is designed to give a clean, seamless appearance.
“The desire for improved energy efficiency among consumers has had a significant impact on the building products industry over the past couple of years,” notes McDonagh-Forde. “Local and regional building standards and incentives in various markets have also been updated to encourage environmentally responsible home design and renovation.”
The Solstice Solar Roofing System from CertainTeed. (Photo courtesy of CertainTeed)
The Solstice® Solar Roofing System, available in AC and DC versions, features monocrystalline photovoltaic (PV) panels. Each 47-pound module contains 60 solar cells that produce a maximum electric power rating of 250 watts per module. The attractive and durable rack-mounted, high-performance modules can be easily installed on low-slope or steep-slope roofs.
Shingles Take On Architectural Designs
StormMaster Slate featuring HP Technology from Atlas Roofing. (Photo courtesy of Atlas Roofing)
At Atlas Roofing, product innovation is the theme for 2013 with the unveiling of Pinnacle Pristine, StormMaster Shake and StormMaster Slate featuring Scotchgard™ and High Performance (HP) Technology. According to company spokesperson Christopher Burk, CSI, of the Think Agency, HP Technology is Atlas Roofing’s new asphalt shingles design for its dimensional architectural shingle.
“It’s an oversized shingle, so there are fewer shingles required per square and it carries a 130 mph high wind warranty,” he explains. The design saves the contractor time, labor, materials and money without sacrificing quality. The installation savings translate into savings for homeowners as well. Atlas Roofing considers HP Technology the future of residential shingles, which is why the manufacturer released an entire line of architectural shingles.
Adding to its line of artisan-crafted shapes and architectural dimension, GAF has introduced a diamond-shaped design as part of its Sienna™ Lifetime Designer Shingles line. The shingle design provides an Old World elegance with its clean lines and rich appearance. The exclusive design offers a unique alternative to standard architectural shingles.
New Roofing Shingles Colors
The new River Rock Brown roof shingle color from TAMKO. (Photo courtesy of TAMKO)
New roofing trends also emerged in the first half of 2013, with several roofing manufacturers unveiling new shingle roof colors. TAMKO added River Rock Brown to its MetalWorks steel shingles. It joins the Sierra Slate Grey and Vermont Blue colors in the StoneCrest® Slate line. The company says River Rock Brown offers a classic, yet bold look to any roof.
GAF’s new TruSlate color line, Americana Collection. (Photo courtesy of GAF)
GAF ushers in a new TruSlate color line comprised of the Americana Collection and the International Collection. The genuine slate color line features five Vermont-sourced quarried roofing slates in meadow green, antique purple, autumn dusk, charcoal and rustic red. The three international collection slate colors are onyx black, greystone and mystic grey. The colors can be mixed and matched to create a design or a unique roof color scheme.
The Roofing Annex On Top Of It All
At the Roofing Annex, we’re on top of all the new roofing products and roofing trends being unveiled by roofing manufacturers. We have access to all the latest building products at our fingertips and can provide you with information about the most recent roofing materials. When you’re ready for a new roof, get in touch with the Roofing Annex for all the latest news on roofing styles, roof shingle colors and roofing designs. There’s a roof design waiting especially for your home!
