Why shingles still make sense up here
Plenty of homeowners around Loon Lake ask whether they should jump to metal. For a lot of properties, the answer is no - architectural asphalt shingles give you 80 to 90 percent of the performance for a much friendlier price, and they look right on everything from a 1960s lake cabin to a newer four-season home.
Modern laminated shingles are a different animal than the thin three-tabs many of these cabins were built with. They carry heavier weight per square, deeper shadow lines, and wind ratings that hold up when the gusts come across the open water. For owners who want a clean roof without a premium-product budget, shingles remain the value leader north of Spokane.
What the Loon Lake climate does to a roof
Sitting at elevation between the lake and the foothills, Loon Lake roofs get worked hard in every season:
- Winter snow load that piles deep and sits for weeks on shaded north slopes
- Freeze-thaw cycling that lifts and cracks aging shingles and works water under the edges
- Ice dams at the eaves of cabins with older or thin insulation
- Lakeside humidity and shade that feed moss and algae on the north and tree-covered faces
- Strong summer UV at altitude that bakes out the oils and curls the tabs
We spec every Loon Lake shingle roof with these in mind - not a generic install pulled from a catalog.
Architectural vs. three-tab: what we recommend
Three-tab shingles cost less up front, but on a property that sees real snow and wind, the math usually favors architectural (laminated) shingles. They lie flatter, resist wind uplift better, and carry longer manufacturer coverage.
For most Loon Lake homes we install GAF Timberline architectural shingles. As a GAF Master Elite contractor - a credential held by only the top 2 to 3 percent of roofers nationwide - we can register your roof for the GAF Golden Pledge warranty, which backs both the materials and our workmanship for 25 to 50 years. You can read more about our full roof replacement process and how the shingle system goes together underneath.
The full system under the shingles
A shingle is only as good as what sits beneath it. On Loon Lake roofs we build the complete weather barrier:
- Ice-and-water shield along the eaves and valleys to stop ice-dam backup
- Synthetic underlayment across the deck for a second line of defense
- Proper intake and ridge ventilation to keep the attic cold in winter and cut heat in summer
- New flashing at chimneys, walls, and skylights - the spots that actually leak first
- Algae-resistant shingles for the shaded lakeside slopes prone to streaking
Skipping any of these is where bargain roofs fail early.
Local crew, local accountability
DG Contracting is a family-owned company that has been roofing homes across the Inland Northwest since 2013. We are licensed and insured in both Washington and Idaho, and we carry a 5.0 rating across 288 Google reviews because we show up, clean up, and stand behind the work.
Every shingle roof we install comes with our 15-25 year workmanship warranty on top of the GAF product coverage. If you are pairing a new roof with new gutters, we include a 15-25 year workmanship warranty - a real help on lakeside homes fighting roof runoff and ice. Flexible financing is available, and estimates are always free.
Serving Loon Lake and the surrounding lakes
We work throughout the Loon Lake area and the smaller lake communities nearby - the cabins, seasonal getaways, and year-round homes strung along Hwy 395 between Deer Park and Chewelah. Travel from our Colbert shop keeps us close enough to schedule promptly and respond fast when a winter storm tears something loose.
If your shingles are curling, losing granules, growing moss on the shaded side, or you have simply lost count of the patches, reach out. We will give you an honest read on whether a repair or a full re-roof is the right call for your property.
