The right shingle for a Memphis roof is not the cheapest one
Asphalt shingle is on the large majority of homes across Memphis, DeSoto County and Crittenden County, and for good reason: it is affordable, it looks right on the brick ranches and two-story colonials the region is built from, and a good architectural shingle properly installed will give twenty-plus years here. But not all shingle is the same, and the Mid-South is exactly the climate where the difference shows. Three-tab shingle that is perfectly adequate in a mild state gets lifted by our spring wind and bruised by our hail. Architectural (laminated) shingle is heavier, holds its seal better in wind, hides minor hail impacts, and is what we recommend as the baseline.
Above that sits Class 4 impact-rated shingle, engineered to take hail without cracking the mat. In a region that sees hail most springs, it is often the smartest money on the roof, and some insurers reduce the premium for it. We install both and price both, and we will tell you which one makes sense for your house and your budget.
Tile is a different animal. Concrete and clay tile last a very long time, look distinctive on the right architecture and shrug off UV, but they are heavy enough that the structure has to be checked before they go on, and the underlayment beneath them is doing most of the waterproofing. We install tile on homes built for it, and we re-roof under existing tile where the tiles are sound but the underlayment beneath them has reached the end of its life.
- Architectural shingle as the baseline: better wind rating, better hail resistance and better looks than three-tab.
- Class 4 impact-rated shingle for homeowners who are tired of hail claims. Ask about the insurance discount.
- Concrete and clay tile, including structural assessment before the load goes on.
- Tile underlayment replacement, lifting and re-laying sound tile over a new waterproofing layer.
- Full color and profile range from the major manufacturers, matched to the brick and trim of the house.
- Installed to the manufacturer's specification so the warranty is real: correct nailing, starter, ridge cap and ventilation.
How we approach shingle and tile work
Assessment
What is on the roof now, how the structure is built, what the attic ventilation is doing and what the house looks like from the street. On a tile job, whether the framing can carry the load.
Material and color selection
We bring samples and lay them against the brick. Color matters more than people expect on a roof that covers a third of what you see from the street, and the wrong shade on a brick house is a mistake you look at for twenty years.
Installation
Tear-off if there is an existing roof, deck inspection, ice-and-water shield, synthetic underlayment, new flashing, then the shingle or tile laid to the manufacturer's pattern. Tile takes longer and needs its own battens and fastening.
Walkthrough and warranty registration
We register the manufacturer warranty for you where the product offers one and walk the finished roof with you before the invoice.
Why homeowners choose LASIM for shingle and tile
Honest about three-tab
We will not sell you a three-tab roof in a hail corridor. Architectural or impact-rated, priced side by side.
Color chosen on the wall, not on a screen
Samples against the actual brick in the actual light. It is a small step that avoids a long regret.
Tile done with the structure in mind
We check the framing before a tile load goes on, and we replace the underlayment that is actually doing the waterproofing.
Warranty that means something
Installed to spec and registered, so the manufacturer warranty on the box applies to the roof on your house.
Shingle & Tile Roofing Questions
Three-tab is a single flat layer cut into tabs; architectural (or laminated) shingle is two or more layers bonded together, which makes it heavier, thicker and more dimensional. Architectural shingle carries a higher wind rating, resists hail better, hides minor damage and lasts longer. In the Mid-South the price difference is small against the difference in performance.
For most Memphis-area homes, yes. Class 4 shingles are tested to resist a two-inch steel ball dropped from twenty feet without cracking the mat, which is roughly the hail that comes through here most springs. Fewer claims, a longer life, and often a homeowners' insurance discount that offsets part of the cost.
Only if the structure was built for it or can be reinforced. Concrete tile weighs roughly three to four times what asphalt shingle does, and putting it on framing designed for shingle is not safe. We assess the structure before quoting tile, and we will tell you if the house is not a candidate.
Almost certainly the underlayment. On a tile roof, the tiles shed most of the water but the underlayment beneath them is the actual waterproof layer, and it wears out long before the tiles do. The fix is to lift the tiles, replace the underlayment and flashing, and re-lay the sound tiles, which is far cheaper than a new tile roof.
A properly installed and ventilated architectural shingle roof realistically gives twenty to twenty-five years here, despite the longer number on the warranty. Heat, hail, wind and ice all shorten shingle life, and poor attic ventilation shortens it further. Impact-rated shingle and good ventilation are the two things that push the number up.
Usually close, rarely perfect. Shingle colors change between manufacturing runs and weather over time, so a new shingle next to a ten-year-old one will show. We match as closely as the current product line allows and tell you honestly what to expect. On a small repair it is rarely noticeable from the street.