Roofing Materials for Summerville, SC Homes

Asphalt Shingles: The Most Popular Choice in Summerville

Asphalt shingles cover roughly 80 percent of homes in the Summerville area. They are affordable, available in hundreds of colors and profiles, and well understood by local building inspectors and insurance adjusters. But there is an enormous range of quality within the asphalt category. The builder-grade 3-tab shingles that came standard on many Cane Bay and Summers Corner homes ten years ago are a fundamentally different product from today’s premium architectural and designer shingles.

As an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, Right Hand Roofing installs the full Owens Corning shingle lineup. That relationship matters because it gives our customers access to enhanced warranty coverage — including the Owens Corning Preferred Protection Limited Warranty — that is only available through certified contractors.

3-Tab Shingles: The Budget Option

Three-tab shingles are the entry-level asphalt product. They consist of a single layer of material with uniform cutouts that create a flat, repetitive pattern on the roof. For decades, 3-tab shingles were the default choice on new construction in the Summerville area.

What you need to know about 3-tab shingles:

• Typical cost: $7,000 – $10,000 installed on a standard Summerville home (1,500–2,500 sq ft roof area)
• Lifespan: 20–25 years under ideal conditions, but Lowcountry heat and humidity often reduce that to 15–20 years in practice
• Wind rating: Most 3-tab shingles carry a 60–70 MPH wind warranty — below the sustained wind speeds of a Category 1 hurricane
• Appearance: Flat, uniform look with visible horizontal lines
• Warranty: Typically a 25-year limited warranty

We install 3-tab shingles when a homeowner requests them, but we are transparent about the tradeoffs. In our Lowcountry climate, the cost difference between 3-tab and architectural shingles is modest — usually $1,500 to $3,000 on a typical home — while the performance difference is significant. If you are replacing a roof you plan to live under for ten or more years, architectural shingles are almost always the better investment.

Architectural Shingles: The Most Popular Upgrade

Architectural shingles (also called dimensional or laminated shingles) are built with two or more layers of asphalt bonded together. That layered construction creates a thicker, more textured profile that adds depth and shadow to your roofline. More importantly, the multi-layer design makes architectural shingles significantly more resistant to wind uplift and impact than single-layer 3-tab products.

Architectural shingles are, by a wide margin, the most popular material we install in Summerville. Homeowners in Cane Bay, Nexton, Summerville Historic District, Pine Forest Country Club, and Limehouse Village overwhelmingly choose them when upgrading from builder-grade 3-tab.

Owens Corning Architectural Shingle Lines We Install:

• Owens Corning Duration Series: The flagship architectural shingle. Duration shingles feature Owens Corning’s patented SureNail Technology — a reinforced nailing strip that provides a 130 MPH wind warranty, the highest in the industry for a standard architectural shingle. That wind rating matters in Summerville, where tropical storms and hurricanes are a genuine threat every season. Duration shingles carry a Limited Lifetime warranty and come in more than 20 colors.
• Owens Corning TruDefinition Duration: The TruDefinition line uses the same SureNail Technology as standard Duration but adds Owens Corning’s TruDefinition Color Platform. The result is a shingle with greater color depth, richer contrast, and more visible dimension on the roof. If curb appeal is a priority — and for most Summerville homeowners upgrading from 3-tab, it is — TruDefinition Duration is the sweet spot between performance and aesthetics.
• Owens Corning Duration FLEX: Duration FLEX is engineered with a rubberized asphalt formulation that makes the shingle more flexible and resistant to cracking, especially in cold weather installation or on complex roof geometries with tight valleys and curves. For Summerville homes with steep pitches, multiple dormers, or intricate architectural details, Duration FLEX provides a cleaner finished installation and long-term performance on areas where standard shingles can be difficult to seat properly.

Architectural shingle quick facts:

• Typical cost: $10,000 – $16,000 installed
• Lifespan: 25–30 years, and often longer with proper ventilation
• Wind rating: Up to 130 MPH with Owens Corning Duration and SureNail Technology
• Appearance: Rich, dimensional look with natural shadow lines
• Warranty: Limited Lifetime warranty from Owens Corning (enhanced coverage available through Preferred Contractors like Right Hand Roofing)

Designer Shingles: Premium Aesthetics, Maximum Protection

Designer shingles sit at the top of the asphalt shingle category. They are engineered to replicate the look of natural slate, cedar shake, or old-world tile while delivering the durability and weather resistance of modern laminated asphalt. For homeowners who want to make a statement with their roof — or who live in neighborhoods where curb appeal directly affects property values — designer shingles offer a dramatic upgrade over standard architectural products.

Owens Corning Designer Shingle Lines We Install:

• Owens Corning Berkshire Collection: Berkshire shingles replicate the appearance of natural slate with an oversized profile and artisan-crafted shadow lines. They are available in muted, earth-toned colors that complement Lowcountry architecture beautifully — particularly Colonial, Georgian, and traditional Summerville home styles. Berkshire shingles carry a 50-year Limited Lifetime warranty and an industry-leading wind resistance rating.
• Owens Corning Woodcrest: Woodcrest shingles deliver the rustic look of hand-split wood shake without the fire risk, maintenance, or insect vulnerability of real wood. The thick, sculpted profile creates deep shadow lines that add character to Craftsman, Lowcountry, and cottage-style homes. Woodcrest is an excellent choice for homeowners in neighborhoods like the Summerville Historic District where traditional aesthetics are valued.
• Owens Corning Woodmoor: Woodmoor is the premium tier of Owens Corning’s wood-shake-look line. It features an extra-thick, ultra-dimensional profile with even deeper shadow lines than Woodcrest. Available in rich, variegated color blends, Woodmoor shingles turn a roof into a design feature rather than just a functional covering. They carry a 50-year Limited Lifetime warranty.

Designer shingle quick facts:

• Typical cost: $14,000 – $22,000 installed
• Lifespan: 30–50 years
• Wind rating: Up to 130 MPH (varies by product line)
• Appearance: Replicates natural slate or wood shake
• Warranty: 50-year Limited Lifetime warranty from Owens Corning

Metal Roofing: Long-Term Value for South Carolina Homes

Metal roofing has grown steadily in popularity across the Summerville area, and for good reason. In a climate where heat, humidity, and hurricanes test every building material to its limits, metal roofing offers a combination of longevity, energy efficiency, and storm resistance that no other material can match. The tradeoff is a higher upfront investment — but for homeowners who plan to stay in their home long-term, the math often works out in metal’s favor.

Standing Seam Metal Roofing

Standing seam is the premium metal roofing system. It consists of long, continuous metal panels that run vertically from ridge to eave, joined by raised seams that interlock and conceal all fasteners. Because the fasteners are hidden beneath the seam, standing seam roofs have no exposed screws or nails that can loosen, corrode, or create leak points over time.

• Typical cost: $18,000 – $30,000 installed on a standard Summerville home
• Lifespan: 40–60 years, with many standing seam roofs lasting 70+ years
• Wind rating: Rated for 140–160 MPH winds when properly installed — exceeding the wind speeds of a Category 4 hurricane
• Energy efficiency: Metal roofs reflect solar radiant heat rather than absorbing it. In Summerville’s intense summer heat, a standing seam metal roof with a reflective coating can reduce cooling costs by 10–25 percent compared to dark asphalt shingles. Many metal roofing products qualify for Energy Star certification.
• Maintenance: Virtually maintenance-free. No granule loss, no moss or algae growth, no cracking or curling

Standing seam metal is particularly well suited for Lowcountry modern, farmhouse, and coastal architectural styles. We are also seeing growing demand in established Summerville neighborhoods where homeowners want a “one and done” roof they will never need to replace again.

Metal Shingles

Metal shingles bridge the gap between traditional asphalt aesthetics and metal durability. They are individual panels stamped and coated to look like asphalt shingles, slate, wood shake, or tile — but they are made from steel or aluminum with stone-coated or painted finishes. From the street, many metal shingle products are virtually indistinguishable from the materials they replicate.

• Typical cost: $14,000 – $24,000 installed
• Lifespan: 40–60 years
• Wind rating: 120–150 MPH depending on product and installation method
• Best for: Homeowners who want the longevity of metal but live in neighborhoods where a standing seam look would not fit the architectural character, or where HOA guidelines require a shingle-style appearance

Metal Roof vs. Shingles in South Carolina: The Real Comparison

We get this question constantly: “Is a metal roof worth the extra cost in South Carolina?” Here is the honest answer.

A standing seam metal roof costs roughly 1.5 to 2.5 times more than an architectural shingle roof upfront. But metal lasts two to three times longer, reduces energy bills every month, often qualifies for insurance premium discounts in hurricane-prone areas, and requires almost zero maintenance over its life. If you plan to live in your Summerville home for 15 years or more, a metal roof will likely cost less per year of service than shingles — and you will never face a second replacement.

That said, architectural shingles remain an excellent choice for Summerville. Owens Corning Duration shingles with SureNail Technology deliver genuine hurricane-grade wind resistance at a more accessible price point, and they look outstanding on most home styles. The right answer depends on your budget, your timeline, your home’s architecture, and your personal priorities.

Tile Roofing: A Distinctive Option for Select Homes

Tile roofing — both concrete and clay — offers a distinctive aesthetic that suits specific architectural styles in the Summerville area. While less common than asphalt or metal in our market, tile can be the perfect choice for the right home.

Concrete Tile

Concrete tiles are cast from a mixture of Portland cement, sand, and water, then cured and coated with color. They can replicate the look of clay barrel tile, slate, or wood shake at a lower cost than the natural materials. Concrete tile is extremely durable, fire-resistant, and impervious to insect damage.

• Typical cost: $16,000 – $28,000 installed
• Lifespan: 40–60 years
• Wind rating: Excellent when properly installed with mechanical fasteners
• Best for: Mediterranean, Spanish Colonial, and Mission-style homes

Clay Tile

Clay tile is the original premium roofing material. Made from natural clay fired at high temperatures, clay tiles offer rich, warm colors that will not fade because the color runs through the entire body of the tile rather than sitting on the surface. Clay tile roofs on historic buildings in Charleston have lasted well over a century.

• Typical cost: $22,000 – $40,000 installed
• Lifespan: 75–100+ years
• Wind rating: Excellent with proper installation and hurricane clips
• Best for: Coastal, Mediterranean, and high-end custom homes where the investment is proportionate to the home’s value

Important: Structural Assessment Required

Both concrete and clay tiles are significantly heavier than asphalt shingles or metal. A standard concrete tile roof weighs 9–12 pounds per square foot, compared to roughly 2–4 pounds per square foot for asphalt shingles. Many Summerville homes, especially those built with standard truss systems in newer developments, were not designed to carry that load.

Before committing to a tile roof, a structural assessment of your home’s framing is essential. If your home cannot support tile weight without reinforcement, the cost of structural upgrades can add $5,000 to $15,000 or more to the project. We will evaluate your home’s structural capacity as part of our initial consultation and give you an honest assessment of whether tile is a viable option.