Materials · 8 min read
Best Roofing Materials for Ohio Weather
Published
Ohio asks a lot of a roof: a hundred-degree annual temperature swing, wet springs, hail, and enough freeze-thaw cycling to work water into anything with a gap. Not every material handles that equally well.
Architectural asphalt shingles
Still the default for good reason. Wind ratings of 110 to 130 mph, wide color range, easy repairability, and a realistic 22 to 30 year life when properly ventilated. The main weakness is hail, which is where the Class 4 impact-resistant lines earn their upgrade cost.
Standing seam metal
The best long-term performer in Ohio. Snow and ice slide off instead of damming, there are no exposed fasteners to fail, and a Kynar finish holds color for decades. The trade-off is two to three times the upfront cost and the need for a very careful installer.
Synthetic slate and shake
Excellent for historic homes where appearance matters and real slate is impractical. Handles freeze-thaw far better than natural slate does and weighs a fraction as much.
What to avoid
Three-tab shingles are barely cheaper than architectural now and have significantly lower wind ratings. Cedar shake struggles with Ohio humidity and requires maintenance most homeowners won't keep up with.
If any of this applies to your own home, our asphalt shingle roofing crews handle it every week, and you can see how we work in your area on our Troy, Ohio roofing page. Inspections and written estimates are free either way — call 937-749-7767.