Choosing a new roof isn’t just about finding a shingle color that looks good with your house. Your roof has to handle everything Southern Illinois weather throws at it—from summer heat and thunderstorms to high winds, freezing temperatures, and winter weather.
So, what is the best type of roof for Southern Illinois homes?
For most homeowners, asphalt shingles are a practical, versatile roofing choice. They offer a good balance of performance, appearance, cost, and options for different styles of homes.
At Barringer Brothers Roofing, we’ve served homeowners throughout Southern Illinois and the Metro East since 2004, earning 200+ five-star reviews. We install CertainTeed asphalt shingles on roof replacements and new construction homes throughout the area.
Here’s why asphalt roofing makes so much sense for our part of Illinois—and what homeowners should actually consider when choosing a roof.
What Should You Look for in a Southern Illinois Roof?
The best roofing material for a home in Southern Illinois needs to do more than look nice.
Our roofs experience very different conditions throughout the year. A roof can be sitting under intense sunshine and high temperatures during the summer, then dealing with freezing temperatures a few months later.
Add thunderstorms, wind, hail, heavy rain, snow, ice, and the occasional dramatic Illinois temperature swing, and your roof has quite a job.
When you’re choosing a new roof, it’s worth considering:
- Performance in changing weather conditions
- Wind resistance
- Durability
- Maintenance and repair
- Cost
- Available colors and styles
- Manufacturer warranty options
- The quality of the installation
There isn’t one roof that’s perfect for every house, but these factors help explain why asphalt shingles are so common throughout Southern Illinois.
Why Are Asphalt Shingles So Popular?
Drive through almost any neighborhood in the Metro East and you’ll see asphalt shingle roofs everywhere.
There’s a reason.
Asphalt shingles offer homeowners a balance between performance, affordability, and appearance without requiring you to sacrifice the look of your home.
They’re also available in many colors and styles, which means they can work on everything from older homes in established neighborhoods to brand-new construction.
For homeowners who want a dependable roofing system without making the roof itself an unusually complicated part of the house, asphalt shingles make a lot of sense.
How Do Asphalt Shingles Handle Southern Illinois Weather?
Southern Illinois weather can change considerably throughout the year, so roofing materials need to be selected and installed with local conditions in mind.
Summer Heat
Your roof receives direct sunlight for hours at a time during the summer.
While you’re enjoying the air conditioning inside, the exterior of your roofing system is exposed to significantly different conditions.
Quality roofing materials are designed with outdoor exposure in mind, but the roofing system as a whole matters too. Proper attic ventilation, for example, is another important part of managing heat and moisture within the home.
Thunderstorms and High Winds
Severe thunderstorms are nothing unusual in Southern Illinois.
Strong winds can put stress on a roofing system, particularly if shingles are already damaged, deteriorated, or improperly installed.
When choosing asphalt shingles, homeowners can compare product specifications and wind ratings rather than assuming every shingle performs exactly the same.
Heavy Rain
One of your roof’s most important jobs is pretty simple: move water away from your home.
But shingles aren’t doing that job alone.
Underlayment, flashing, valleys, roof penetrations, gutters, and other components all play a role in managing water.
That’s why choosing good shingles is important—but choosing a contractor who installs the entire roofing system correctly is just as important.
Winter Weather
Then Illinois decides it’s winter.
Your roof may experience freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and repeated freeze-and-thaw cycles.
A roofing system has to perform throughout the year, not just during ideal weather.
What Kind of Asphalt Shingles Should You Choose?
Even after deciding on asphalt shingles, you still have choices to make.
Not every asphalt shingle is identical.
Different products can offer different appearances, features, warranties, and performance characteristics. That’s why it’s worth discussing the actual shingle being quoted rather than simply asking whether a contractor installs “asphalt.”
At Barringer Brothers Roofing, we install CertainTeed asphalt shingles.
CertainTeed offers a variety of shingle options and colors, allowing homeowners to choose a roof that works with both their home and their priorities.
Does Shingle Color Matter?
For performance, your roofing system and installation are much more important than whether you picked brown or gray.
For your happiness every time you pull into the driveway?
Yeah, color matters.
Your roof makes up a large portion of your home’s exterior, especially on homes with prominent rooflines. A different shingle color can noticeably change the overall appearance of the house.
Consider the colors already present in your:
- Siding
- Brick
- Stone
- Shutters
- Gutters
- Trim
- Garage doors
It’s usually better to look at the house as a whole instead of choosing your favorite shingle color in isolation.
Are More Expensive Shingles Always Better?
Not automatically.
A higher-priced product may offer features or an appearance that matters to you, but price alone doesn’t determine whether a particular shingle is the right choice for your home.
The better question is what you’re actually getting for the price.
Ask about the specific shingle product, warranty, roofing system components, and installation.
And remember: even a high-quality shingle still depends on proper installation.
The Roofing Contractor Matters Just as Much as the Shingle
This is one of the biggest things homeowners can overlook.
You can spend a lot of time researching brands and comparing shingles, but the roof still has to be installed correctly.
A complete asphalt roofing system involves more than the visible shingles. Depending on the home and roofing system, the project can involve decking, underlayment, starter shingles, flashing, ventilation components, hip and ridge materials, and other details.
Many of those components disappear from view once the roof is finished.
That’s why choosing the best roof isn’t only about choosing what’s delivered on the material truck.
You’re also choosing who installs it.
What About the Cheapest Roofing Option?
Roof replacement is a significant home expense, so price obviously matters.
But comparing roofing options based entirely on the final number can be misleading.
Two roofing estimates may not include identical products, components, workmanship, warranties, or scopes of work.
If one estimate is noticeably cheaper than another, find out why before assuming you’re getting the same roof for less money.
Understanding what’s actually included makes it much easier to compare your options.
Is Asphalt Roofing Good for Older Homes?
Yes. Asphalt shingles aren’t limited to newer construction.
One advantage of asphalt roofing is its versatility. Different shingle colors and styles can complement a wide range of homes.
If you’re replacing the roof on an older Southern Illinois home, your contractor should evaluate the existing roofing system and the condition underneath—not simply install new shingles based on the age or style of the house.
Is Asphalt Roofing Good for New Construction?
Absolutely.
Asphalt shingles are also commonly used on new construction homes throughout Southern Illinois.
Building a new home gives you an opportunity to think about the roof as part of the overall exterior design from the beginning. You can coordinate the shingle color with siding, brick, stone, trim, and other finishes instead of trying to match an exterior that already exists.
More importantly, you’re starting with an entirely new roofing system rather than replacing an aging one.
How Long Should a Good Asphalt Roof Last?
There’s no single number that can predict exactly how long every asphalt roof in Southern Illinois will last.
The specific shingle product matters, but so do:
- Installation quality
- Weather exposure
- Storm damage
- Attic ventilation
- Maintenance
- Surrounding trees and shade
- The design of the roof
- Conditions of the overall roofing system
That’s why two roofs installed around the same time—even in the same neighborhood—won’t necessarily age identically.
So, What Is the Best Roofing for Southern Illinois Homes?
For many homeowners in our area, a quality asphalt shingle roofing system installed by an experienced contractor is an excellent choice.
Asphalt shingles offer a combination of durability, versatility, appearance, and value that works well for a wide variety of Southern Illinois homes.
The best roof isn’t simply a particular material.
It’s a quality roofing system that’s appropriate for your home and properly installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Asphalt shingles are a popular and practical option for Southern Illinois homes because they provide a balance of performance, appearance, versatility, and cost. The specific roofing system and quality of installation are also important.
Asphalt roofing is commonly used throughout Illinois and is designed for exterior weather exposure. Choosing quality products and having the roofing system properly installed are important for handling the changing conditions we experience throughout the year.
Barringer Brothers Roofing installs CertainTeed asphalt shingles for roof replacements and new construction roofing.
No. Shingle products can vary in appearance, features, warranty coverage, and performance specifications. Ask your roofing contractor exactly which product is included in your estimate.
Color is primarily an aesthetic decision, but it’s an important one because the roof is a major part of your home’s exterior. Consider your siding, brick, stone, trim, shutters, and other exterior colors when choosing shingles.
Yes. Asphalt shingles are widely used for new construction and give homeowners or builders a variety of styles and colors to coordinate with the rest of the exterior.
Both matter. Quality roofing materials need to be installed correctly to perform as intended. When comparing contractors, consider the products being used as well as the roofing system, workmanship, experience, and scope of work.
Choosing a New Roof in Southern Illinois?
You don’t have to sort through all the roofing options on your own. Barringer Brothers Roofing has been installing asphalt roofs throughout Southern Illinois and the Metro East since 2004.
Want more information about which roofing option makes sense for your home?
Call Barringer Brothers Roofing at (618) 703-3036 or fill out our online contact form to ask questions, learn more about our CertainTeed roofing options, or request a free estimate.
