2025: A year of satisfying curiosities

By Jenny Yu.  

Look back on AskARoofer's top stories, podcasts and videos! 

It’s almost the end of the year, so it’s time to reflect on the incredible learning our readers have done through engaging with podcasts, videos, articles and social media content. A recurring theme of the top content from this year, regardless of medium, was the curiosity of our readers that inspired engaging conversations.  

Top podcast 

Composite versus asphalt roofing

Our top podcast of the year features Megan Stone from DaVinci Roofscapes and Anthony Walsh from DuraShield Roofing & Contracting as they discuss what today’s homeowners should consider when weighing material options for a reroof project. Megan and Anthony break down the pros and cons of both composite and asphalt roofing on durability concerns, frequency of required maintenance, overall performance and value for the price. 

Top videos 

YouTube video: Barndominiums with The Barndominium Company™ 

This year’s top YouTube video was also the top minisode of the year! This video is short and sweet but full of interesting ideas. Stacee Lynn, founder of The Barndominium Company, gives listeners a taste of barndominiums — the metal buildings taking the industry by storm due to their flexibility, durability and style. Listeners definitely left this minisode wanting more! 

YouTube playlist: AskARoofer Podcast playlist

With a total of 120 episodes, our AskARoofer Podcast playlist on YouTube was our most popular playlist. A deep well of resources, listeners and viewers were able to quench their roofing curiosities by diving into topics ranging from roof warranties to solar panel systems and everything in between.  

Top articles 

Heartwarming stories from roofs around the country - by Emma Peterson 

Early in the year, our readers gravitated toward stories of kindness and generosity. Emma’s article highlights families in Iowa, Nevada, Wisconsin, Virginia and North Dakota that received new roofs free of charge. Each project served a family in need, whether it was a home destroyed by a tornado or a veteran’s home infested with leaks and rodents. Each family expressed their gratitude for the act of charitable support, and each roofing contractor shared equal appreciation for the opportunity to give back. 

Q&A – Why do some homes not have gutters?

You asked; we answered! The top question of 2025 came from Alex in Northwest Arkansas, who noticed most of the homes in their neighborhood (including Alex’s home) did not have gutters, despite the frequent rainfall the climate brings. Our readers resonated with this curiosity, and two experts offered their insights. Katie Clymer from Armored Roofing shared that this could be due to the area’s relatively stable foundation, as they said, “that is normally why gutters are installed; to keep water away from the foundation.” Scott Edwards from Mammoth Roofing and Solar agreed, specifically mentioning the absence of basements or crawl spaces that “often require gutters to redirect water away and prevent flooding.” Both mentioned that gutters can always be installed for comfort or to address ponding water concerns. 

What is an impact rating and why does it matter? By Emma Peterson. 

Emma breaks down another important topic on homeowners’ minds: impact rating. This article outlines the key points shared in this episode of Roofing Road Trips® in which leaders from IKO Industries explain why the company committed to a minimum rating of Class 3 for three lines of laminate shingles. “The higher a rating a product gets (on a scale of 1-4), the better it will hold up against storms and other natural phenomena because it is more durable,” Emma wrote.  

Top social media posts 

TikTok: What is a steep slope roof?

AAR Expert Henry Staggs tops our TikTok once again with a concise explanation of steep slope roofing. The slope is the roof’s incline, and a steep sloped roof measures 12 inches of “run,” or horizontally, for every 3 inches of “rise,” or vertically. This creates a 3:12 ratio, and any slope that is 3:12 or greater is considered to be a steep slope roof.  

Instagram Reel: Why you must have real hip and ridge shingles on your roof

In September, a reel that captured our Instagram audience came from Travis Jones of Smart Roof and Home Performance. Travis warns against taking a shortcut when it comes to hip and ridge shingles, which are designed to withstand heavy windstorms. Travis gives an example of a time when a contractor installed three-tab shingles instead of actual hip and ridge shingles which blew off during a windstorm. In an attempt to save a few hundred dollars, this shortcut ended up putting the roof — and the entire property — at risk, likely increasing insurance premiums as well.