Roof Types

Homeowners have many roofing product choices – from budget to luxury in many colors and styles.   Raindrop Roofing Northwest has over 20 years local experience working with homeowners to choose the best roof for their money and installing it correctly no matter which manufacturer’s products you ultimately choose.

We’ve created this overview to help homeowners sift through some of the basic roofing options. We don’t expect you to have all of the answers before you call. We’re happy to discuss any of these options and the many styles, price points, and warranties that accompany them in depth when we visit you for a free estimate.

Raindrop Roofing Northwest’s Roof Types: Steep Pitch Roofs, Flat Roofs, and Green Roofs

Which type of roof do I have?

Most single family homes in Oregon and Washington have steep pitched roofs.  Some front porches, decks, additions, or freestanding garages have flat roofs. Modern homes, Rummer homes.   If you aren’t sure, just call us at 503-526-3887 or contact us to set up an appointment for a free estimate.

Can both steep pitch roofs and flat roofs be converted to green roofs?

Absolutely.   Check our green roof options below and then schedule a free estimate to learn more.   Beyond solar shingles and preparing roofs for plants, we offer energy efficient and Energy Star rated roofing options for both steep pitched and flat roofs.

[ Download material choice and supplier spreadsheet (.xls format) ]

Raindrop Roofing Northwest is a certified installer for CertainTeed, GAF, and Firestone, Genflex, and Weather Bond.

Steep Pitch Roofs: Products & Benefits

1. Laminate/Composite Asphalt Shingles
   • Wide range of colors and styles
   • Top quality options from budget to luxury
   • Warranties range from 30 years to lifetime – depending on shingles chosen
   • Simple maintenance
2. 3-Tab Shingles
   • Recommended by the Oregon Historical Society.
   • Similar cost to 30 year warranty laminate shingles
   • Good, affordable alternative to cedar shingles
3. Cedar Shingle & Cedar Shake Roofs
   • Beautiful color of natural cedar ranges from red to white
   • Cedar gives roof more dimension than typical asphalt roofs
   • Sustainable resource grown locally in Pacific Northwest & western Canada
   • Warranties range from 20 to 50 years
4. Metal Roofs
   • Durable and often comes with a lifetime warranty
   • Resistant to rust, fading, and chipping
   • Many color choices
   • Great for snow loads
5. Tile Roofs
   • Various styles and colors
   • Lifetime warranty
   • Complements historic and modern Mediterranean architecture
   • Essential to have an experienced roofer to correctly maintain them

Flat Roofs: Products & Benefits

Many flat roof product manufacturers certify Raindrop Roofing N.W.’s work with their highest confidence and full, manufacturer-carried warranties. We are certified installers for CertainTeed, Firestone, Genflex, and Weather Bond.

1. Membrane/Single Ply Roofing
   Membrane or single ply roofing makes roofing over feasible and installation is both simple and safe. It's an ideal option for flat roofs because it's lightweight, waterproof, and easy to maintain.  Advances in product design have dramatically increased effectiveness against leaks since it's introduction in the 1970s.

Within this roofing type, we offer several options:

A.  TPO (Thermoplastic olefin)

• • Color options: White, grey, and black
  • Excellent UV stabilizers
  • Few seams in the roofing where water can leak in
  • Energy Star rated for efficiency

We can offer Genflex or Weather Bond materials and labor warranties carried by the manufacturer.   Genflex’s TPO roofing systems include 15 or 20-year warranties.  Manufacturer carried warranties means that even if the roofing contractor is no longer in business that the manufacturer will cover any warranty repairs (both labor and materials).

B. PVC Roof

• • Color choices: White or grey
  • Expands and contracts easily with weather patterns
  • Different PVC thicknesses offer property owners budget to long-lasting options
  • Few seams in the roofing where water can leak in
  • Energy Star rated for efficiency

Raindrop Roofing Northwest installs Johns Manville PVC and Duro-Last’s PVC roof products. Duro-Last has a 15-year labor and materials warranty and is one of the only manufacturers whose warranty covers leaks, damage to your building or contents, and ponding water.

C. Basic black rubber roofing (EPDM)

• • Contains UV stabilizer
  • Installed with adhesive solvents
  • Good shorter term option

2. Torch Down Roofs

• Smooth torch down and granulated torch down products available
• Warranties range from 10 to 20 years with full system (labor and product) coverage
• Redundancy of layering ensures water protection
• Granulated torch down products are offered in many decorative colors.

Raindrop Roofing Northwest is one of the only roofers in the Portland metro area appropriately certified and authorized for Torch Down roofing.

Our company is a Silver Star-certified installer for CertainTeed.   That means that CertainTeed has enough confidence in our work that they offer a no-dollar limit warranty on our flat roof installations.

Green Roofs: Products, Benefits, & Services

1. Reflective shingles
   • Contains UV reflective granules that prevent attics from heating up
   • 30 year, 40 year, 50 year, and lifetime warranties depending on shingle
   • LEED certified options
   • Recycled materials used in some products
   • Landmark Solaris and Malarkey's Eco Oasis are the two most common types
     
2. Solar Panel Preparation & Roof Maintenance
   Our competent team installs brackets and feet for solar panels – preparing your roof for solar panel installation.  We can also maintain roofs with solar panels.  We partner with several solar panel installation companies.
3. Eco Roofs (i.e. rooftop gardening)
   Raindrop Roofing Northwest lays down a Torch Down, PVC, or TPO membrane to prepare both flat and steep pitch roofs for gardens.    We partner with EcoRoofs Everywhere to help homeowners prepare and plan for rooftop gardening.
4. Photovoltaic shingles
   Coming in late 2010, these shingles look exactly like typical composition shingles but they pack a special punch. We carefully drill small holes through your sheeting to run the tiny wires from these special shingles into your attic.  The wires then plug into a battery pack that can then generate energy for your home.

The bottom line… We want you to love your roof every time you come home.  Raindrop Roofing Northwest’s team has over 20 years local experience working with homeowners to find the right choice for their aesthetics and budget.

Contact us, call, or email today for a free estimate or to learn more about any of these roofing products or roof types.