Choose the whole roof system
Roofing materials for Olympia homes.
Compare Olympia roofing materials by the roof they need to work on, the details they depend on and the finish you want. A useful choice connects the covering to the complete assembly.
Start with the roof shape
Which systems belong in the comparison?
Roof slope and the manufacturer’s approved assembly narrow the useful options before appearance does.
A pitched roof
Compare covering, fastening, weight and junction details for a sloped roof.
A low-slope roof
Compare membrane or panel assemblies with the drainage, seams and penetrations designed for that system.
A product or building requirement
Resolve the exact manufacturer system, substrate and installation details before comparing proposals.
Twelve systems · Different decisions
Compare the options that fit your roof.
| Roofing material | Where it fits | Decision to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | A pitched roof whose slope, deck and details meet the chosen shingle manufacturer’s instructions. Three-tab and architectural describe appearance and construction, not permission to install on every roof. | Three-tab shingles create a flatter, more uniform roof pattern; architectural shingles build depth from laminated layers. |
| Metal roofing | Use the profile designed for the roof geometry and assembly. Standing seam, exposed-fastener panels and metal shingles have different seams, fasteners and transitions, so their instructions are not interchangeable. | Standing-seam panels join at raised seams; clips or fasteners are concealed beneath the seam. |
| Synthetic and composite roofing | A roof whose slope, deck and details meet the selected product’s instructions. Brava, for example, describes its own cedar-look roofing as polymer/composite; that wording does not define other synthetic products. | Synthetic profiles can evoke slate, shake or tile without being quarried stone, wood or fired clay. |
| Cedar and wood roofing | A steep-slope roof using a wood shingle or shake product whose installation instructions match the assembly. CertainTeed distinguishes machine-sawn wood shingles from hand-split shakes. | Wood shingles are machine-sawn; shakes are traditionally hand-worked, giving them a more varied surface. |
| Slate roofing | A steep-slope roof with structure and support suitable for the selected slate product and installation system. Natural slate can be heavier than other roof coverings and may require structural review. | Natural slate preserves the character of real stone, and its weight calls for structural review of the specific roof. |
| Tile roofing | A steep-slope roof whose structure and underlayment system suit the selected clay, concrete or ceramic product. Tile Roofing Industry Alliance guidance covers concrete and clay tile; each model’s instructions govern its assembly. | Clay and concrete tiles differ in material, shape and product weight; neither tile name alone establishes structural fit. |
| PVC roofing | A low-slope roof whose selected PVC assembly is specified for the building, substrate and exposure. The membrane is only one part of the assembly: attachment, insulation, edges, drainage and penetrations matter too. | PVC seams are heat-welded; attachment may be adhered, mechanically fastened or another system-specific method. |
| EPDM roofing | A low-slope roof whose selected EPDM system fits the substrate and project conditions. Attachment, seams, insulation, edges and any recover option must match the chosen manufacturer’s instructions. | EPDM is a thermoset rubber membrane; the material is not heat-welded like thermoplastic TPO or PVC. |
| TPO roofing | A low-slope roof whose TPO assembly matches the substrate and project requirements. The complete specification should identify membrane, attachment, insulation, drainage, seams and perimeter details. | Heat-welded TPO seams fuse adjoining membrane sheets; the specified method and quality checks belong to the system. |
| Modified bitumen roofing | A low-slope roof whose exact SBS or APP assembly matches the building and project conditions. GAF lists multiple application methods, so the modifier name alone does not tell you how a roof will be installed. | SBS means styrene-butadiene-styrene; manufacturers describe SBS membranes with added elongation or flexibility. |
| Built-up roofing | A low-slope commercial roof where the selected built-up system is specified for the building and substrate. GAF publishes a built-up roofing system specification. | BUR uses several reinforcing plies with asphalt between layers rather than one membrane sheet. |
| Roll roofing | A roof where the exact roll product’s instructions support the slope, substrate and exposure. GAF lists roll roofing for low-slope accessory structures, but that does not make every roll product suitable for every flat or low-slope roof. | A mineral-surfaced asphalt roll uses a surfaced bituminous sheet and product-specific laps. |
More than the visible surface
A roof is a connected assembly.
The covering works with the layers beneath it and the details at every edge and opening.
- Roof coveringThe selected material and its fastening or attachment system.
- Water-shedding layersCompatible underlayment or membrane details, edges, valleys and flashings.
- Roof deck & structureThe sound, prepared substrate that supports the selected system.
- The building beneathVentilation, insulation and interior protection coordinated with the roof work.
Which roofing choice creates less waste?
Keeping serviceable material in use avoids replacing it unnecessarily. When a roof needs replacement, compare the complete system, its maintenance needs and the disposal plan.
- Separate the parts that can be repaired from material that must be replaced.
- Compare product-specific environmental declarations and verified recycled content, where available.
- Confirm which removed materials a local recycler will actually accept; theoretical recyclability is not a disposal plan.
EPA guidance on reducing, reusing and recycling construction materials
Which materials can the instant tool price?
The replacement budget tool compares three-tab shingles, architectural shingles and standing-seam metal. Other systems need a product-specific proposal; these material guides do not add unsupported prices to the model.
Try the whole-roof replacement toolRead the model assumptionsConnect the roof and the home
Your project.
One clear scope.
Bring roofing, adjoining exterior work and restoration into a project estimate that identifies the materials and the work around them.
Compare repair and replacement