Over decades in the roofing business we’ve tried a variety of different products, and have worked with many manufacturers. Now we only use what we have found to be the best in each category of roof system. Each has met our demanding standards for quality and value, time after time.
A summary of the types of roof systems we install can be found on our Services page. Here, on this page, you will find detailed descriptions. Please browse the sections below to learn more. We’ve also provided manufacturers’ links to help you with further research.
Above All Quality & Service can build roof systems to fit any budget. We’ll work with you to find the mix of system and materials that is just right for you, and which will deliver great value over the long run – just as our business has been doing for years.
Types of Roof Systems and Materials
Composition
Asphalt, or composition, roof shingles are the most common covering used on residential properties in North America. They are often the lowest-cost option – especially in the short run. They come in different grades and styles, with expected lifespans ranging from 15 to 40 years.
The cheapest shingles available are simply felt mats of wood fibers and cellulose saturated with asphalt, coated on both sides with an asphalt-mineral filler-coat. The tops of these shingles are then covered with mineral granules for resistance to sun and weather, and the bottoms with a material to prevent sticking in storage or shipment. These are your basic 15-year shingles.
Many manufacturers now produce shingles using a fiberglass mat to replace the felt, which gives a longer-lasting roof. Better still are shingles laminated in layers. Best are the “lifetime” laminated shingles. “Grand Manor” is an example. These shingles have multiple layers laminated together, use a higher grade of asphalt, are heavier, and have better internal bonding than any other composition shingle. They are also more resistant to wind and hail damage.
Because asphalt roof systems do not “breathe”, as do wood roofs, for example, attic ventilation is an important concern. We will inspect your attic and advise you if changes need to be made in order to increase the longevity of your roof and protect the health of your house – and your family.
As with all of the major investments we make in life, life-cycle cost must be considered in addition to initial cost. What may appear to be the least-cost option in the beginning may turn out not to be in the long run. From an environmental standpoint, the longer the lifespan of the composition shingle the better. Asphalt shingles do not recycle well. Buying a 30-40 year shingle makes good environmental sense, as well as being a good choice in terms of life-cycle costs for you.
Flat
Flat roofs require special care due to the obvious potential for water pooling and penetrating the building. The old way of working was to melt hot tar, spread it over a roof in several layers, and top it with smooth river stones. Hot tar and gravel: we’ve all seen – and smelled! – those tar melters. Fortunately, there are now better ways.
- Modified Bitumen: Instead of spreading melted tar, this involves placing a manufactured single-ply roll, impregnated with a mineral-based wear surface, on a roof, rolling it out, and torching it down. Much simpler, quicker and better than the old “tar pit” method.
- TPO Membranes: “TPO” stands for Thermoplastic Polyolefin, and this is the latest method of safely and economically roofing flat roofs. TPO-based products have been used in various applications for years, including the automobile industry since the 1980s, and today the TPO single-ply roofing market has grown to the installation of hundreds of millions of square feet annually. It makes up the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. single-ply roofing industry. TPO membranes are heat-reflective and energy efficient roofing systems, with exceptional resistance to ultraviolet, ozone and chemical exposure.
No matter what method is used for installing and sealing a flat roof, some slope is necessary for proper runoff. It has to be pitched, both for common sense and for insurance reasons. Ignore this at your peril. Above All Quality & Service has many, many years of experience in this, and we always measure twice and cut once. We install tapered insulation as necessary, to prevent water from pooling on your roof. We do this in order to eliminate the danger of freeze and thaw in winter, and of Oklahoma winds and thunderstorms in other seasons, to ensure that water cannot find a way to penetrate your roof.
We were born here, we live here, we know what Oklahoma weather is like – and we build roofs to guard against it.
Metal
Metal roof systems come in two basic styles and a wide variety of colors. They are very resistant to damage from hail and fire, are low-maintenance, and have a lifespan of 20-50 years depending upon the product. Metal roofs are moderately priced – which is why you see so many new offices, schools, and branch banks built with them, as well as homes.
The two basic styles are R-panel and Standing Seam:
- R-panel is composed of ribbed sections with overlapping joints.
- Standing Seam has raised ribs at the edges to interlock with adjacent sections.
As you drive around and look at metal roofs, you will probably see more of the Standing Seam type. We’ll be happy to show you both types, and discuss their pluses and minuses for your installation.
And, you won’t have to tear off your old roof before installing your new metal roof. Less mess!
Wood
For many people a wood roof is the best-looking system available. For others, the way the appearance changes as the wood ages is not an effect they like. But it is a natural product, after all. In any case, a wood roof system can provide strength and beauty for a very long time, and adds to the value of your home when compared to many other options. And because wood roofs “breathe”, attic ventilation is not the concern it can be with composition systems.
Natural cedar roof systems come as either shingles or shakes:
- Shingles are sawn from wood blocks; they are tapered and generally have a relatively smooth surface, and are generally uniform.
- Shakes are split from wood blocks and are less uniform than shingles. Shakes seem to be the more popular option, but we offer both.
Wood roofs require a little more minor maintenance than some other systems, but are also relatively easy to work on. They are more difficult to hail-out than composition roofs – an important consideration in our part of the world.
Above All Quality & Service specializes in Brazilian Ironwood, which is very, very dense. It is a specialty wood, and is not cheap. However, it gives as good as it gets. It is rated Class 4 for impact resistance – the highest. It’s also rated Class A for fire resistance. It has top ratings for strength, hardness, and durability, and has been proven again and again in demanding commercial applications, such as the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk. Ironwood has been been known to last 100 years without decay and without treatment even when in contact with the ground (as on a deck). It’s also incredibly beautiful. We’d be happy to show you samples.
Tile
Tile is a beautiful material which has proven itself over hundreds of years and is the preferred roofing product in many European countries. Roofing systems of tile can easily last 50+ years. They come in a variety of shapes and colors, and can be the perfect finishing touch for a classic house in the Southwestern or Mediterranean style.
Traditional tile is clay-based, but there are now engineered versions which are concrete-based. The traditional products are slightly more expensive than slate, while the engineered is less expensive. Both are highly durable.
Advantages of tile include durability, superior resistance to ultraviolet rays, wind and fire; low maintenance; and easy repair. Disadvantages, particularly for traditional tile, include breakage from impact (for example, from a fallen tree branch), weight, and initial price – not life-cycle cost – when compared to composition. The structural integrity of your home will be important, due to weight considerations.
Our sole source for clay-based tile is Ludowici Roof Tile, makers of fine tiles for more than a century. Their tiles are warrantied for 75 years, and are natural, recyclable, and energy-efficient. The Italians have been doing this for a long, long, long time. On the other hand, engineered tiles have been growing in popularity due to their broader range of colors and slightly reduced cost. You can’t go wrong with either type.
For the right house, nothing looks better than tile. Please ask us for samples.
Slate
We carry both natural and engineered slate - or stone - roof systems. The natural is Vermont green slate, while the engineered, “Slate/Select”, comes in a variety of colors. Both are lifetime roof systems, and both are beautiful.
There are two basic styles of slate roofs: textural and graduated.
- Textural uses rough-textured slates with uneven butts and varied thickness. The resulting roof has a very rustic look.
- The graduated style use slates which vary in size and often in thickness, with larger slates at the eaves, smaller and with less shingle exposure at the ridge. This style makes the roof and building look larger and taller than it actually is.
There are several different sources of natural slate, and we have found Vermont slate to be head and shoulders above the rest in terms of quality, beauty and durability. 
We install from this source exclusively. Professional estimates of the lifespan of a Vermont slate roof range from 100-200 years to “indefinitely” - much higher than other natural slates.
Our engineered slate from Slate/Select is a proprietary cement matrix with reinforcing non-alkaline glass fibers. It is a concrete and fiberglass composite material with great strength and durability for all climate conditions. It is cast in molds made from pieces of natural slate, and appears almost identical to real slate. It is about twenty-five percent less expensive than real slate, and comes in a variety of colors.
We recommend that you hold both types of slate in your hands while standing in front of your house, visualize them on your roof, and consider your budget and long-term goals before making any decisions. We’ll bring samples to you; just give us a call.
We at Above All Quality & Service would be pleased to show you the initial and life-cycle costs for all of our roof systems, and answer all your questions about different materials such as brand names, life span, thickness, design, available colors and warranties, so that you can make a truly informed decision.
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