The honest answer is that installation matters more than the material. A well-installed architectural asphalt shingle will outlast a badly installed premium product every time. That said, materials do behave differently in our climate. We live with months of rain, moss, pine needles, marine air and a roof surface that expands in the afternoon sun and contracts overnight, year after year. Some products handle that better than others.
Below is how we think about each option. If you want the most climate-resistant roof you can buy, we point people to EuroShield recycled rubber. For most homes, a Malarkey architectural shingle installed to spec is the best value in Snohomish and King County.
Call Wallace Roofing & Exterior Construction for roofing materials & roof types in Lake Stevens, Snohomish County, North King County and the Eastside.
(206) 679-3461
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We are a Malarkey Certified Residential Contractor because we chose the shingle first and the certification second. Malarkey uses a rubberized asphalt that stays flexible through the expansion and contraction cycles that crack cheaper shingles, and their granules are bonded to resist the algae streaking we see on north slopes near the water. We did not choose them for the flashiest warranty. We chose them because the product holds up.
A warranty is only as good as the installation behind it. Every Malarkey roof we install follows the manufacturer's specification so the coverage is real, not a piece of paper.
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Metal roofing, which we install with Nu-Ray Metals products, sheds needles and moss better than anything and handles snow load in the foothills around Granite Falls, Gold Bar and Sultan. It costs more up front and it needs a crew that knows how to detail the seams and penetrations. EuroShield recycled rubber, made in Canada from old tires, is the most durable product we work with for our freeze, soak and bake cycles. Cedar shake is beautiful and traditional in the Northwest, but it needs maintenance and ventilation to last under tree cover, and we will tell you that before you choose it.
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What each material does well here, what it does not, and what it asks of the installer.
The most common and most affordable roof in Snohomish County. A three-tab asphalt roof installed properly will give you 15 to 20 years here. Quality of installation, ventilation and moss control decide where in that range you land.
Our most-installed roof. Thicker, dimensional shingles with better wind ratings and algae resistance than three-tab. Malarkey architectural shingles are our go-to for Lake Stevens and Snohomish County homes.
The classic Northwest look. Cedar needs airflow and regular debris removal to last, especially under fir cover. We install, repair and replace cedar roofs, and we will be honest about the maintenance it takes.
Long-lasting and heavy. Tile requires a structure engineered for the weight and careful underlayment work, because in our climate the underlayment does most of the waterproofing. Common on Eastside homes built in the 1980s and 1990s.
Additions, garages, mid-century homes and commercial buildings. Low-slope roofs need a membrane system, not shingles. Drainage and seam detailing are everything, and standing water is the enemy.
Sheds moss and needles, handles snow, lasts decades. We install Nu-Ray Metals standing seam and panel systems for homes in the foothills and anywhere a homeowner wants a roof they will not replace again.
EPDM and TPO membranes for flat roofs, and EuroShield recycled rubber shakes and shingles for pitched roofs. EuroShield is our top recommendation for climate durability in Western Washington.
Natural stone that can last a century when the structure and flashing are done right. A specialty install that depends entirely on the craftsmanship of the crew setting it.
No hidden line items. This is what the work includes when Wallace Roofing & Exterior does it.
Other work that usually comes up alongside roofing materials & roof types.
Complete tear-off and re-roof with the attic evaluated before we quote, so the number you approve is the number you pay.
Learn moreA real roof walk and attic check, not a satellite quote. You get an honest read on remaining life and a written plan.
Learn moreLeaks, flashing, pipe boots, storm damage and wind-lifted shingles fixed properly, with the repair credited toward a future replacement.
Learn moreLocal details for roofing materials & roof types in the cities we serve most, from our home base in Lake Stevens out to the Eastside.
Google reviews from roofing, siding, window and deck projects across Lake Stevens, Snohomish County and North King County.
Straight answers from Wallace Roofing. For more, read the Q&A.
For most asphalt and composite roofs, 15 to 20 years. Manufacturers print longer numbers, but our rain, moss, debris and expansion-contraction cycles are harder on a roof than the national average. Installation quality and maintenance decide where you land in that range.
For homes under heavy tree cover or in the foothills with snow, often yes. Metal sheds needles and moss, lasts decades and handles weight. It costs more up front and needs a crew that knows how to detail it.
A recycled rubber roofing product manufactured in Canada from old tires. It is our top recommendation for durability in the Pacific Northwest climate because it does not crack, split or shed granules through years of wet and dry cycles.
No. A warranty is a marketing document until the roof is installed to the manufacturer's specification. We pick products for how they perform in our climate, not for the number printed on the wrapper.
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