Most Boise-area homes have asphalt shingle roofs. Here they deal with hot, dry summers (UV is hard on shingles), freeze-thaw cycles in winter, and spring and summer storms. When a roof has curling or cracked shingles, lots of granule loss, or keeps leaking, replacing it often costs less over time than repeated repairs.
Materials worth asking about
- Architectural asphalt shingles: the most common choice and usually the lowest cost.
- Class 4 impact-resistant shingles: built to resist hail. Some insurers give a discount for them, so check with your carrier.
- Standing-seam metal: sheds snow well, lasts a long time, and resists embers.
- Fire ratings: if you live near the foothills or another wildland-urban interface area, ask about Class A fire-rated roofing assemblies.
Questions to ask any contractor
- Are you registered with the Idaho Contractors Board? You can verify this yourself through the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL).
- Will you pull the city permit? Boise, Meridian, Nampa and other cities have their own permit rules.
- Is ice-and-water shield included at the eaves and valleys?
- What do the manufacturer warranty and the workmanship warranty each cover, in writing?
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