Choosing a new roof is a major decision, especially when your home has distinctive architecture or you want a roofing material that contributes to its overall appearance. Standard asphalt shingles work well for many properties, but some homeowners want more depth, character, and visual detail from their roof. Luxury shingles and natural slate are two options that can meet those goals in different ways.
At Roland Slate Service Co., Inc., we have worked with premium roofing systems since 1989. Slate roofing is one of our specialties, and we also install high-quality asphalt roofing products from leading manufacturers such as CertainTeed. Our experience with both materials allows us to help homeowners understand their options based on their home, roof design, personal preferences, and plans for the property.
If you are considering luxury shingles or slate for an upcoming roof replacement, understanding how each roofing material is made and how it looks on a finished home is a good place to start.
What Are Luxury Shingles?
Luxury shingles are a premium category of laminated asphalt shingles. They are manufactured with greater visual depth, richer color blends, and more detailed profiles than basic three-tab shingles. CertainTeed describes luxury shingles as high-end laminate products developed to provide sophisticated designs and greater protection from the elements.
One of their defining features is dimensionality. Instead of creating a flat or uniform roof surface, luxury shingles use layers, shadow lines, varied shapes, and color combinations to give a roof more architectural character.
That makes them particularly appealing for homes where the roof represents a large portion of the visible exterior. Steep roof pitches, gables, dormers, turrets, and other architectural elements can make the roofing material a significant part of the home’s overall design.
At Roland Slate, the CertainTeed luxury and premium shingle options we offer include Grand Manor®, Carriage House®, Belmont®, and Presidential®. Each provides a distinct appearance that can complement different architectural styles.
Understanding Natural Slate Roofing
Natural slate has been used as a roofing material for centuries and remains closely associated with historic homes, churches, estates, and other architecturally significant buildings.
Unlike an asphalt shingle, natural slate is quarried stone. Each piece is cut to the appropriate size and installed as part of the complete roofing system. Natural variations in the stone contribute to the depth and character that make slate roofs so recognizable.
At Roland Slate, slate roofing has been a major part of our work for decades. We repair existing slate systems, replace slate roofs, and perform detailed restoration work on historic properties throughout Maryland.
Our slate expertise also gives us a valuable perspective when installing premium asphalt products that draw inspiration from traditional roofing styles. We understand the roof details, proportions, color combinations, and installation quality that contribute to the finished appearance of a high-end roofing system.
Rather than viewing luxury shingles and slate as competing materials, homeowners can think of them as two distinct premium roofing options. The right choice depends on the home itself and what the owner wants from the finished roof.
CertainTeed Luxury Shingle Options Available from Roland Slate
CertainTeed manufactures several premium roofing products with distinctive profiles and color combinations. At Roland Slate, we offer four options that give homeowners different ways to add architectural character to their roofs.
Grand Manor®
Grand Manor is one of CertainTeed’s premium slate-inspired roofing products. It uses a multi-layer construction with random tabs, shadow lines, and substantial dimensionality to create an authentic slate-style appearance. CertainTeed currently classifies Grand Manor as UL 2218 Class 4 impact resistant and gives it a Class A fire resistance rating.
The visual depth makes Grand Manor worth considering for homes with prominent rooflines. Dormers, steep slopes, gables, stone exteriors, brick facades, and other traditional architectural features can provide a strong setting for its detailed profile.
Grand Manor is also available in several blended colors. This allows us to consider how the roof will work with siding, masonry, trim, shutters, and other permanent exterior materials instead of selecting a roof color in isolation.
Carriage House®
Carriage House has a distinctive scalloped-edge design inspired by natural slate. CertainTeed uses a super-heavyweight construction and an irregular pattern to create the depth and character associated with hand-crafted roofing.
Its shape makes Carriage House particularly interesting for homeowners who want the roof itself to become an architectural feature.
This can work well on older homes and properties with detailed exterior designs. Roof pitch and visibility are important considerations because the pattern becomes a significant part of the finished appearance.
Belmont®
Belmont is another slate-inspired option, but it has its own visual character. CertainTeed uses layered construction, blended coloration, rich tones, and contrasting shadow lines to reproduce the dimensional appearance associated with quarried slate.
Belmont can be particularly attractive on steep-slope roofs where more of the roofing surface is visible from the ground. CertainTeed’s color palette includes deep blacks, grays, and browns with shadow lines that create additional depth across the roof.
For homeowners replacing an existing asphalt roof, Belmont provides an opportunity to make the new roof a more noticeable part of the home’s exterior design.
Presidential®
Presidential takes its design inspiration in a different direction. Rather than recreating a slate profile, CertainTeed’s Presidential Shake® products are designed with sculpted edges and staggered patterns that create the appearance and texture associated with wood shake roofing.
This gives homeowners another premium aesthetic to consider. A shake-inspired profile can work especially well with homes that incorporate wood, stone, brick, traditional siding, and other natural-looking exterior materials.
The key is selecting the roof as part of the complete exterior. Our team can help homeowners consider how a Presidential roof will relate to the home’s architectural style, roof pitch, exterior colors, and other design features.
Luxury Shingles Can Make the Roof Part of the Design
Roofing has an obvious practical purpose, but it is also one of the largest exterior surfaces on many homes.
This becomes especially noticeable on properties with steep roof pitches. Depending on the architecture, someone viewing the house from the street may see almost as much roofing as siding or masonry.
Luxury shingles give homeowners an opportunity to treat that surface as part of the design.
Color is one consideration, but it is far from the only one. Tab shape, shadow lines, dimensionality, pattern, roof pitch, and surrounding exterior materials all influence the final appearance.
For example, a home with detailed stonework may benefit from a roofing color that picks up subtle tones within the stone. A brick home may call for a different combination. Historic architecture may place greater emphasis on selecting a profile that complements the original character of the building.
These decisions are easier to make when you look at the entire property instead of selecting shingles based solely on a small sample.
Where Does Slate Fit Into the Decision?
Natural slate remains an excellent roofing choice for homeowners who want an authentic stone roof and for properties where slate is already part of the architecture.
For a historic home with an existing slate roof, maintaining or restoring that material may be an important part of preserving the property’s character. For a custom home or major renovation, a new slate roof can also become a defining architectural feature.
Luxury shingles provide another premium design path.
Grand Manor, Carriage House, and Belmont draw visual inspiration from slate, while Presidential provides a shake-inspired appearance. CertainTeed develops these products specifically to create greater dimension and architectural interest than conventional asphalt shingles.
What Should You Consider Before Choosing?
The appearance of the roofing material is important, but it should be considered alongside several other factors.
Start with your home’s architecture. A roofing material should feel connected to the design of the house rather than looking like an unrelated addition. Roof pitch, dormers, valleys, gables, masonry, siding, trim, and surrounding properties can all affect which roofing profile looks appropriate.
The existing roof also matters. If you own a historic home with original slate, your considerations may be very different from those of a homeowner replacing an asphalt roof on a newer property.
You should also think about how long you plan to own the home, the level of exterior maintenance you are comfortable with, available manufacturer warranties, and your overall roofing budget.
Installation quality remains critical regardless of which premium material you select. Even the highest-quality roofing product needs to be installed correctly as part of a complete system that includes flashing, underlayment, ventilation, drainage, and other components.
Upgrade Your Home’s Roof with Roland Slate
A new roof can change the entire appearance of a house. If your home has distinctive architecture or you simply want your roof replacement to contribute more to its curb appeal, luxury shingles are worth exploring.
If you are considering luxury shingles or a slate roof for your home, contact Roland Slate Service Co., Inc. to schedule a consultation. We can evaluate your existing roof, discuss your design preferences, review the CertainTeed luxury shingle options we offer, and help you select a roofing system that complements your home for years to come.
FAQ
Which CertainTeed premium shingles does Roland Slate install?
We offer Grand Manor, Carriage House, Belmont, and Presidential shingles from CertainTeed. Each provides a distinct architectural profile, ranging from slate-inspired designs to the dimensional appearance of wood shake.
Are luxury shingles a good choice for historic homes?
They can be a strong option for certain historic homes, especially when the goal is to add architectural depth while using an asphalt roofing system. We consider the home’s original design, roof shape, exterior materials, and historic character before recommending a roofing material.
What should I consider when choosing between slate and premium shingles?
Consider your home’s architecture, existing roofing system, desired appearance, budget, maintenance expectations, and long-term plans for the property. Since we work with both natural slate and premium shingles, we can help you evaluate which roofing system best fits your home without favoring one simply based on material.
Brittany Rich co-owns Roland Slate, where her expertise in roofing and dedication to craftsmanship have established the company as a leader in durable, beautifully designed roofing solutions. Brittany’s focus on high-quality materials and innovative installation techniques ensures that each roofing project is both aesthetically appealing and built to last. Under her direction, Roland Slate is committed to redefining roofing excellence, sharing knowledge on the benefits of slate roofing and how it can enhance the beauty and value of any property.