Most shingle roofs we install across Chicagoland and the North Atlanta metro are architectural asphalt. The rest break out between DaVinci synthetic shake, natural slate, clay tile, and the occasional metal panel. I am Don. I inspect every roof myself, so this guide is the same shingle material breakdown I give a homeowner standing in their own driveway in Roswell or Alpharetta, with the honest reasons we recommend what we do.
Before you weigh materials, it helps to know what you are actually replacing and why. A storm can total a roof in twenty minutes, but plenty of the roofs I look at are simply worn out. If you are not sure which camp you are in, our guide on how long a roof actually lasts walks through the real lifespan of each material and the signs a roof is aging out. That timeline matters here, because it decides whether spending up on a premium material pays back before you sell.
Architectural asphalt shingles (GAF Timberline HDZ, Owens Corning Duration, CertainTeed Landmark). These are the workhorse of the trade, and they are what we install on the large majority of homes in our markets. Three-tab is effectively gone, most policies now cover architectural-grade replacement only. The warranty story is strong: typically 25 years on the material and, on top-tier products installed by a certified contractor, lifetime non-prorated coverage on the system. Insurance treatment is the easiest of any material, architectural asphalt is universally accepted and claim-friendly. Curb appeal is dimensional, with enough shadow line to read like wood shake from the street. For most homes in the Atlanta and Chicago suburbs, this is the right answer.
On cost, I will give you a real anchor instead of a national-sounding range: architectural asphalt is the baseline everything else gets priced against, and on the quotes I wrote across these two markets this past year it sat at the bottom of the cost ladder by a wide margin. The exact number depends on your roof's pitch, the number of valleys and penetrations, and how many layers we have to tear off. That is why we put it in a written scope after an inspection rather than quoting a per-square-foot figure over the phone.
DaVinci synthetic shake and slate. This is engineered polymer molded to look like cedar shake or natural slate. From the street you cannot tell it from real cedar, and up close the texture holds up well. It carries a Class A fire rating, a Class 4 impact rating (the highest, which matters in a hail-prone market), and a 50-year warranty. Expect it to cost a meaningful multiple of architectural asphalt installed. On insurance, it is covered like-for-like: if your existing roof was synthetic, an approved claim pays for synthetic replacement, not a downgrade to asphalt. That like-for-like principle is the same idea that drives how a policy actually pays out on a roof claim, so it is worth reading your declarations page before you assume the upgrade is covered. DaVinci makes sense for homes under HOA covenants that require a shake or slate look, historic homes, and owners who plan to stay long enough for the premium to earn out.
Natural slate. True slate installs are rare in our markets, but we do them when a home calls for it. It is the most expensive shingle option by a wide margin, several times the cost of architectural asphalt installed. The payoff is lifespan measured in generations rather than decades, far longer than any asphalt product. The catch is weight: slate is several times heavier per square than asphalt, heavy enough that many homes need a structural engineer to confirm the framing can carry it before we install a single tile. Insurers will usually ask for documented historical use, so slate is mostly a fit for historic homes where authenticity outweighs budget, or for replacing an existing slate roof in kind.
How we actually recommend. Our default is architectural asphalt from GAF, Owens Corning, or CertainTeed, with the specific product chosen for how its warranty and wind rating map to your roof's geometry and exposure. We install all three brands and have no kickback or hidden preference among them. If you want something different, DaVinci, slate, clay tile, or standing-seam metal, we install those too. The conversation always starts the same way: I walk the roof, then you get a written scope with no upsells and no surprises. If you would rather size up your roof yourself first, our ground-level DIY roof check shows what to look for before you call anyone.
One more thing on the insurance side, because homeowners ask every time. When a storm is involved, you work with your insurer and we document the roof and do the work. We do not file, negotiate, or handle your claim, that line is drawn clearly in Georgia and Illinois law, and any roofer who offers to absorb or waive your deductible as a perk is steering you into trouble. What we do is inspect, photograph, and write a scope to the standard that survives a second look. If you want the full picture on materials, coverage, or just an honest read on your roof, the fastest path is a free inspection from the Atlanta roofing company that puts the owner on your roof, not a sales rep. Reach us through the contact page and we will get you on the schedule.
