Asphalt shingle roofs in Ohio and Michigan

Asphalt shingles cover most homes in Ohio and Michigan. They are relatively quick to install, widely stocked, and most roofers work with them. This guide explains what you are buying and what a good written proposal should cover.

The two common types

• Architectural (laminated or dimensional) shingles are made of two or more bonded layers. They are thicker and have a textured look. Most replacement proposals today use them.
• 3-tab shingles are a single flat layer with cutouts. They are thinner and less widely stocked than they used to be.

Premium or “designer” shingles are heavier laminated products made to look like slate or shake. Treat them as a separate product, not as a percentage bump on architectural shingles.

Brands you’ll see on Ohio and Michigan quotes

Owens Corning and Atlas are two manufacturers you are likely to see on residential proposals here. Their best-known architectural lines are Owens Corning Duration and Atlas Pinnacle Pristine. How to compare them:

• Warranty tier, not just the shingle. Both makers offer a standard limited warranty on the shingle, plus enhanced system warranties only through contractors in their certification programs. Owens Corning’s extended coverage goes through its Preferred and Platinum contractors. Atlas offers its Signature Select warranties through its certified contractors. Ask which warranty the proposal includes, whether it covers workmanship, and whether it transfers to a buyer.
• Wind and algae coverage. Wind ratings often depend on the nailing pattern and starter strips, and algae (dark streak) coverage varies by product. Read the current written warranty for the exact terms.
• Same system, same brand. Enhanced warranties usually require that brand’s starter, ridge cap, underlayment and ventilation. A proposal that mixes brands may only get the basic shingle warranty.

We don’t rank brands or recommend one over another. The company our founder works for installs Owens Corning and Atlas shingles, which is why they are the examples here. See our disclosures.

What a replacement usually includes

A full replacement normally means:

1. Removing the existing roofing down to the wood deck (tear-off).
2. Checking the deck and replacing damaged sheets.
3. Installing underlayment, ice barrier where required, drip edge and flashing.
4. Installing starter strips, field shingles, hip and ridge caps and ventilation.
5. Cleanup, disposal and any required inspection.

Ask every contractor to list these items in writing. Comparing proposals is much easier when each one states the roof area in squares (1 square = 100 sq ft of roof surface).

Freeze-thaw details that matter here

Ohio and Michigan winters bring snow, ice and repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Where the adopted code requires it, the model code calls for an ice barrier from the eave edge up the roof to a point inside the exterior wall line. It can be two cemented layers of underlayment or a self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen sheet. Your local building department decides which code edition applies and how.

Ice dams usually start with heat escaping into the attic. New shingles alone rarely fix them. Ask how the proposal handles attic ventilation and insulation.

Tear-off or roof-over?

Installing new shingles over old ones (a “recover” or “roof-over”) is sometimes allowed. Model codes generally do not allow it over two or more existing layers, over wet or badly deteriorated roofing, or over certain materials. It also hides the deck. Most Ohio and Michigan proposals for older homes call for a full tear-off. See our roof recover guide.

Permits and contractor checks

Roof replacement usually needs a permit. In Ohio, permits and inspections are handled locally, and the state points roofing work to the Ohio Building Code. Michigan licenses residential builders and maintenance-and-alteration contractors through LARA. Look up a contractor’s license before you sign.

Get certificates of liability and workers’ compensation insurance. Avoid paying the full price up front.

Repair or replace?

GAF’s homeowner guidance lists several signs that point to replacement rather than repair. They include multiple leaks, widespread curling or missing shingles, a sagging deck, and daylight through roof boards. A single, traceable leak on an otherwise sound roof is often a repair. Age helps you plan, but it does not decide on its own.

Plan your project

• Measure the roof with the roof size calculator.
• Work out bundles with the shingle calculator using the coverage printed on the product you choose.
• Build a scope list and see our clearly labeled early budget range in the replacement planner.

Signs a shingle roof is near the end

You can check most of these from the ground or the attic, without climbing on the roof:

• Curling or cupping shingles, especially on the south and west slopes that take the most sun.
• Granules in the gutters or at the bottom of downspouts, beyond the loose ones you see after a new install.
• Missing or creased tabs after wind storms.
• Daylight or water stains on the roof deck when you look from the attic with a flashlight.
• Repeated leaks in different places. One leak is a repair. Leaks that move around usually mean the roof is wearing out.
• Moss or dark streaks. Streaks are usually algae and cosmetic. Moss holds water and can lift shingles.

If you see two or three of these, measure the roof with the roof size calculator, get a planning range from the roof replacement planner, and ask for an inspection before winter.

How to use this guide with the calculators

1. Get the roof area and squares from the roof size calculator or the roof size by house size chart.
2. Check the pitch on the roof pitch chart. Steep roofs cost more to work on.
3. Run the roof replacement planner for a scope list and a planning range.
4. Use the shingle bundle calculator with the coverage printed on your exact product if you are buying materials.
5. Compare proposals with our quote comparison checklist.

Tip: a quote that doesn’t say how many squares it prices isn’t comparable to one that does. Use the quote comparison checklist (PDF).

Run your numbers