There is no best roofing material. There is the one that fits your building, your budget and the weather it has to survive — which here means 4 to 5 hail days a year, 57 days above 90°F, and 89 nights below freezing.
Start here
The short version
Find the line that sounds like you. It will be right more often than a brochure will.
Varies with membrane thickness and the insulation under it.
Depends entirely on the attachment method — mechanically fastened, ballasted or fully adhered.
Commercial buildings, shops, churches, and any low-slope section on a house.
Service life and performance depend on the specific product, ventilation, deck condition, installation quality, exposure and maintenance. These ranges are general industry guidance, not a guarantee, and not a quote.
In detail
What each one is actually like
Architectural asphalt shingle
The default around here, for good reasons: cost, availability, and it can be repaired.
Maintenance
Low. Occasional repairs; keep the gutters clear and the attic breathing.
Service life
25–30 years
The trade-offs
— Hail bruising is invisible from the ground and shows up as ordinary ageing two or three summers later
— Colour matching an older roof for a repair is often impossible — shingle lines get discontinued
— Life depends heavily on attic ventilation, which older homes here frequently never had
There is no best one, and anyone who answers that question without looking at your building is selling something. The honest answer depends on your budget, the shape and slope of your roof, how exposed the site is, and how long you plan to be there. For most homes around Miami, architectural asphalt shingle is the right answer.
Do Class 4 impact-resistant shingles get me an insurance discount in Oklahoma?
Not automatically, and not by law. We checked the full text of Oklahoma Statutes Title 36 — it does not contain "UL 2218" or "impact resistant" at all, so no discount is mandated. Some carriers offer one anyway. Ask your agent what they offer and what documentation they need before you pay the upgrade.
Does metal roofing get dented by hail?
Yes, cosmetically. Ottawa County averages four to five hail days a year with stones over three-quarters of an inch, and stones that size will dimple a metal panel. The panel keeps doing its job — the dispute is usually about appearance and insurance, not performance.
How much does the material actually decide how long my roof lasts?
Less than people think. The ranges on this page assume the roof went on correctly, over sound decking, with adequate attic ventilation. Get the ventilation wrong and a 30-year shingle is a 15-year shingle — and older homes here frequently never had proper intake and exhaust to begin with.
Can I put a new roof over the old one?
Usually not. Oklahoma amended the residential code to require a tear-off rather than shingling over an existing roof in defined conditions. That is not a sales upsell — it is also the only way anyone can see the decking underneath, which is the one part of the job nobody can quote accurately in advance.
Free Inspection
Not sure which one your roof needs?
Tell us what you're seeing. We'll arrange an inspection, explain the findings, and provide clear next steps without pressure.
• A real look at the roof, not a sales visit
• Photos of whatever we find, and what it means
• A written quote if you want one — and an honest “you don’t need us yet” if that’s the answer
