Part of our roof replacement service. Compare against metal roofing before you decide.
Asphalt shingle is what covers the large majority of homes in Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, and the rest of Middle Tennessee, and for most homeowners here it remains the right choice. Roof Commander is a GAF certified and Owens Corning Preferred contractor, which means we install manufacturer backed systems to specification and can offer enhanced warranty coverage that uncertified installers cannot.
Three tab is the older flat single layer shingle with the cutout tabs. It is the cheapest option and it still shows up on rental property and budget builds. In this climate expect fifteen to twenty years, with lower wind ratings and a flat appearance. We install it when a customer specifically wants it, but we rarely recommend it. The cost difference to move up is smaller than most people expect and the life difference is significant.
Architectural, also called dimensional or laminate, is a multi layer shingle with a heavier mat and a textured shadow line. Better wind ratings, twenty to thirty years of service life here, and a much better appearance. This is what goes on nearly every roof we do.
Premium and designer lines replicate the look of slate or wood shake at a higher price point. These come up on the larger homes around Brentwood and Governors Club, and on historic properties where the appearance has to be right.
This is where roofs actually succeed or fail, and it is where cheap bids cut corners you cannot see from the ground.
Decking. Solid plywood or OSB with no rot and no soft spots. This gets inspected after tear off, and anything bad gets replaced.
Ice and water shield. Self adhering membrane at the eaves, in the valleys, and around penetrations. It seals around the fastener and it is the last line of defense where water volume is highest.
Synthetic underlayment. Across the field of the roof, over the decking. Lighter, tougher, and far more water resistant than the old felt paper.
Drip edge. Metal at the eaves and rakes that directs water into the gutter instead of behind it. It is required by code and it is one of the most commonly omitted components on a cheap job.
Starter course. A dedicated starter strip at the eave with the adhesive in the right place. Using cut up field shingles as starter is a shortcut that shows up as wind damage on the bottom course.
Flashing. New metal at chimneys, walls, skylights, and dormers. Reusing old flashing on a new roof is how a brand new roof leaks in year one.
Ventilation. Balanced intake at the soffit and exhaust at the ridge. Get this wrong and the shingles cook from underneath.
If a bid is meaningfully cheaper than the others, one or more of those items is missing. Ask which.
Manufacturer certification is not a sticker. Certified contractors are vetted on licensing, insurance, and installation quality, and only certified installers can offer the enhanced system warranties, which cover the full roofing system rather than just the shingle, and often include workmanship coverage for a defined period.
Roof Commander holds GAF certification and Owens Corning Preferred status. On top of the manufacturer coverage, we back our own labor with a two year workmanship warranty.
The practical point: a shingle manufacturer's warranty is contingent on installation to specification. A roof installed outside of spec by an uncertified crew can leave you with a warranty that will not pay when you need it.
More consequential than people think, and effectively permanent for twenty five years.
Darker colors absorb more heat, which matters in a Tennessee summer, though the effect on attic temperature is smaller than ventilation quality. Lighter and reflective colors run cooler. Weathered wood, driftwood, and charcoal tones are the safe performers on resale across most of Williamson County.
Two practical tips. Look at samples outdoors in daylight against your actual brick or siding, never under showroom lighting. And drive your own neighborhood, because seeing a full roof in a color tells you far more than a twelve inch sample. If you are in an HOA, check the approved list before you fall in love with something.
We bring samples to the house as part of the quote.
A shingle rated for thirty years is rated under test conditions, not under a Tennessee August.
Realistically, architectural shingles in Middle Tennessee run twenty to twenty five years with good ventilation, sometimes pushing thirty. Three tab runs fifteen to twenty. Heat and humidity are the main drivers, followed by hail exposure and how well the attic breathes.
The single biggest controllable factor is ventilation. We see roofs that failed at fifteen years purely because the attic could not exhaust heat, and roofs at twenty eight years still in decent shape because it could. Ventilation is checked and corrected on every replacement we do rather than treated as an add on.
Catfishin TN, whose review specifically mentions Chad being helpful in choosing the right roof for the house.
Architectural shingles typically run twenty to twenty five years here, sometimes thirty with good attic ventilation. Three tab runs fifteen to twenty. Heat, humidity, and hail are the main factors.
Architectural shingles are multi layer, heavier, better rated for wind, and last longer. Three tab is a single flat layer and cheaper. The price gap is smaller than the lifespan gap, so we almost always recommend architectural.
Yes. We are GAF certified and Owens Corning Preferred, so we can install systems that qualify for enhanced manufacturer warranties. We also add our own two year labor and workmanship warranty.
Often, though shingle lines get discontinued over time. On an older roof the closest available match may vary slightly in color, and we will show you before installing anything.
Code generally allows two, but we recommend a full tear off regardless. An overlay hides decking problems and shortens the life of the new roof.
Most homes in this area are done in one day. Decking replacement or an unusually large or steep roof can push it to two.
Roof Commander installs full replacement roofing systems across Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, and the rest of Middle Tennessee. We have been doing it since 2001, we are GAF certified and Owens Corning Preferred, and most residential replacements we do are finished in a single day.
Learn about Roof Replacement in Franklin, TNA roof leak does not wait for a convenient time. Roof Commander repairs leaks, storm damage, failed flashing, and missing shingles across Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, and Middle Tennessee, and on urgent leaks we frequently get out the same day you call.
Learn about Roof Repair in Franklin, TNThis page is about the damage and the repair. For how the claim itself works, from filing through the final check, see insurance claim assistance.
Learn about Storm Damage Restoration in Franklin, TNThis page is about the claim process. For what hail and wind actually do to a roof and how we restore it, see storm damage restoration.
Learn about Roof Insurance Claim Assistance in Franklin, TNRoof Commander inspects roofs across Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, and Middle Tennessee at no charge. That includes storm damage inspections, pre purchase inspections on a home you are buying, and annual checkups on a roof you want to keep an eye on.
Learn about Free Roof Inspections in Franklin, TNPart of our roof repair service. If water is coming in right now, call (615) 218-6872 rather than reading further.
Learn about Emergency Roof Repair in Franklin, TNPart of our roof replacement service. Compare against asphalt shingle before you decide.
Learn about Metal Roofing in Franklin, TNSiding is the other half of your home's weather envelope, and it fails quietly. Roof Commander installs and repairs vinyl, fiber cement, and Hardie siding across Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, and Middle Tennessee.
Learn about Siding Installation and Repair in Franklin, TNGutters are the least glamorous part of a house and one of the most consequential. Their job is to take every gallon that lands on your roof and put it somewhere that is not against your foundation.
Learn about Gutter Installation and Repair in Franklin, TNRoof Commander handles interior and exterior painting across Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, and Middle Tennessee. A lot of this work comes at the end of a restoration job, when a storm put water through a ceiling or hail took the finish off the trim, and the homeowner would rather not hire a separate painter to close out the project.
Learn about Interior and Exterior Painting in Franklin, TNRoof Commander is a general contractor, not only a roofing company. Chad and Grover Warren are third generation contractors, and the family business has covered construction, remodeling, framing, drywall, flooring, concrete, stucco, and plastering going back decades.
Learn about Home Renovations and Remodeling in Franklin, TNShingles are not rated for low pitch, and installing them there is one of the most common roofing mistakes we find in Middle Tennessee. If you have a porch roof, an addition, or a section over a garage that keeps leaking no matter how many times somebody patches it, this is almost certainly why.
Learn about Flat and Low Slope Roofing in Franklin, TNSoffit is the panel that closes off the underside of your roof overhang, the part you see when you stand under the eave and look straight up. Most homeowners in Franklin never think about it until it starts sagging, a squirrel gets behind it, or a painter points out that the wood has gone soft.
Learn about Soffit Repair and Replacement in Franklin, TNFascia is the vertical board that runs along the edge of your roof, capping the ends of the rafters. It is the board your gutters hang on.
Learn about Fascia Board Repair and Replacement in Franklin, TN