What Are Asphalt Shingles
The different types of asphalt shingles have improved greatly since their first debut in the United States back in the early 1900s. You can find many asphalt shingles types today available in different sizes, colors, and styles to suit different climates and home needs. They are perfect for many homeowners in need of new roofs.
Typically, asphalt shingle types are made of a material mixture including asphalt, granules, sealants, fiberglass, and release film. Stable resin is used to bind glass fibers to reinforce and add durability to the asphalt shingles, while the asphalt allows it to be water-resistant. The granules added to asphalt shingles provide color variety and UV protection. Typically, asphalt shingles are composed of layers: a base mat, layer of waterproofing asphalt, and a layer of ceramic granules.
While there are many types of asphalt shingles, they also come in fiberglass or organic makeup.
Top Asphalt Shingle Manufacturers
IKO
IKO Asphalt Roofing Shingles effectively protect for your home and family against inclement weather. High end options that can mimic the sought-after designer look and beauty of genuine slate tiles or wood shakes. Many have Class A fire ratings. Except for the Marathon and Cambridge, the rest have high wind resistance ratings.
- Traditional 3-Tab
- Cambridge: Basic architectural shingles with straight, not angled, cuts.
- Dynasty: Dimensional shingle with a high wind rating and algae resistance.
- Nordic: Dimensional shingle with a high wind rating, algae resistance and class 4 impact resistance.
- Crown Slate: Performance designer shingle that mimics slate.
- Armourshake: Performance designer shingle that mimics wood shake.
- Royal Estate: Performance designer shingle that mimics slate
Owens Corning
Owens Corning currently offers nine lines of shingles with varying wind resistances. All except the 3-tab come with a limited lifetime warranty. Owens Corning TruDefinition Duration laminated architectural shingles start at $35 and can cost as much as $50, depending on color and style.
- Duration: mid-priced architectural shingles
- Woodmoor: Same as Woodcrest but thicker and heavier.
- Supreme: Standard 3-tab.
GAF
Ready to start your asphalt shingle installation?
Standing Seam And Shingles
Standing seam metal roofing takes careful installation to keep panels from rippling to create clean vertical lines. Installing metal sheets like this is usually more expensive, pricing between $9 and $14 per square foot.
Metal shingles are manufactured to mimic slate, asphalt or wood roofing. These, on average, are about $1 to $3 per square foot less expensive than standing seam.
Don’t Miss: How Do You Get Rid Of Moss On Your Roof
Wind Uplift And Shingle Blow Off
When it comes to protecting your shingles from wind blow off, correct installation is critical. We recommend that you ask your contractor how many nails per shingle he uses 6 nails per row gives the Very Best protection against high winds.
GAF specifies that if you want to extend your warranty coverage for wind blow off from 110 mph to 130 mph, shingles need to have 6 nails. Otherwise, the warranty will be void.
Unfortunately, to save time, some roofers use only 5 nails, and others only use 4.
Thus, it is better for you to actually be home during the install, and make sure that the roofer you hire is doing a proper job. You dont necessarily need to get up on the roof and watch him nail the shingles, but it is important that he realizes that you are there.
You should clearly state your expectations to the company owner and the foreman before the work begins. Then, there is a lot less chance they will do a slack job.
Why Are Asphalt Roofing Shingles Popular
Asphalt shingles are less expensive than other types of roofing materials, which explains their popularity. Asphalt roofing shingles are engineered to beautify and protect your home. Asphalt models offer protection against water infiltration caused by wind-driven rain or ice dams. This material is especially popular with homeowners and contractors for the following reasons:
- Inexpensive: The inexpensive cost of shingles made of asphalt beats the price of other materialslike steel, natural stone tiles or genuine wood shakes.
- Low Maintenance: Has fewer maintenance issues than stone tiles or wood shakes.
- Quick Installation: Quicker and easier to install than other types of roofing materials.
- Massive Variety: Asphalt is widely available in a huge assortment of colors, pattern designs and sizes.
Don’t Miss: How To Secure Yourself On A Roof
Testing The True Shingle Coverage
Its important to remember that 3 bundles of shingles dont always equal a square.
This is because not all manufacturers include the same number of shingles in each bundle.
Some include more shingles and other manufacturers include less.
If a manufacturer includes more shingles in each bundle, then that in turn saves contractors money.
In that sense, big shout out to Atlas, both IKO shingles, and BP for their performance in this category.
If youre a contractor and youre looking to maximize your budget, Atlas, IKO, and BP offer tremendous value.
The Official Unbiased Government Verdict
Different roofers have deals with different shinglemanufacturers. A roofer in GAFs preferred roofer program is more likely tosuggest GAF offers the best shingles. FEMA, on the other hand, doesnt have amonetary incentive to push any specific roofing brand, so the best practicesthey suggest can be relied upon for unbiased information.
If asphalt shingles are being installed anywhere with highwind or hurricane risk, FEMArecommends:
- Using roofing nails, not staples
- If the roof is within 3,000 feet of salt waterthe nails should be stainless steel
- Six nails per three-tab shingle
- Warranty length is indicative of durability
- Organic-reinforced shingles are more resistantto tearing
There are a lot of other best practices FEMA recommends tomake your roof as hurricane-resistant as possible. If you need a roofreplacement in Florida, you may want to read through their RoofCoverings and Best Practices documents.
Its worth noting that organic shingles havent beenmanufactured since about 2006, but some people may still have them on theirroofs since some types can last upwards of 30 to 50 years in the rightclimate.
Florida tends to be the wrong climate for organic asphaltshingles due to the heat and humidity, so its less likely Florida homeownershave them on their roofs. Organic shingles had a base made from wood chips andrecycled rags, paper and cardboard, which is what made them both heavier andmore flexible than modern fiberglass shingles.
Read Also: How Long Does A New Roof Usually Last
Fix Curled Roof Shingle Corners With Caulking
As asphalt shingles get older, their corners often begin to curl downward or upward. If you notice a shingle starting to curl, you can forestall the inevitable curling by gluing down the curled section.
Use a caulking gun to apply a dab of roofing sealant under the corner. Weigh it down with a brick leave the weight in place for at least 24 hours until the sealant dries. That’s all there is to it.
How Do Roofing Shingles Qualify For A Class 4 Rating
Back in the mid-1990s, after a series of catastrophic hail storms across the U.S., the roofing industry developed a test to evaluate their products resistance to impact. This standardized test is known as the Underwriters Laboratory 2218 , and is also nicknamed the steel ball test. Based on the results of this test, UL assigns one of four ratings to a shingle, with Class 4 being the highest possible rating.
During this testing method, asteel ball is dropped from a specified height onto an installed roofing shingleseveral times. The shingle is then turned over and inspected for any breaks orcracks that could potentially allow water to leak through.
To receive a Class 4 rating, aroofing shingle must withstand having a 2-inch steel ball dropped multipletimes from a height of 20 feet. For more perspective, if this same test isrepeated on a 4-inch concrete paver, the force of the steel ball would crackthe paver in half.
While Class 4 is the highestrating for impact resistance, there are also lower ratings a shingle can receive,such as Class 3 and Class 2. The difference between the ratings is that Class 3shingles withstand a smaller steel ball dropped from a lower height, andlikewise for Class 2.
You May Like: Can You Do Roofing Yourself
Types Of Roofing Shingles
In addition to maintaining the integrity of your roofs structure and helping to keep out water, roofing shingles also add a tremendous amount of curb appeal and value to your home. The type of roofing shingles you choose can also affect your roofs durability against wind, rain, hail, and other weather events.
Learn more about the different types and styles of roofing shingles.
Talk To The Asphalt Roofing Experts
If youre interested in exploring different types of asphalt shingles, reach out to Long Roofing for expert advice on your roofing project. Whether youre looking for a roofing estimate or have questions about the best asphalt shingle for you, were here to help. Contact us online or give our knowledgeable team a call at 417-5664.
You May Like: How To Insulate A Garage Roof
When Choosing Roofing Materials Consider The Following Questions
- How heavy is this material and will it require special framing?
- Is the material available in a variety of colors and styles that complement your home?
- Does the material meet the fire codes in your local area?
- Are there special installation and maintenance issues to consider?
- Does this material offer good performance in extreme weather conditions that are common in your area?
- What is the cost, life span and warranty for this product?
The answers to those questions will help you determine the best choice for your home. There are lots of options for roofing materials available and here is a rundown of some of the most popular ones.
Are Fiberglass Shingles Right For Your Climate
High Heat Climates:
Manufacturer warranties currently guarantee fiberglass shingles for 15-30 years. The large variance in those warranties are typically based on climate, weather, and other environmental factors in your area. Homeowners in areas where their roofs will be enduring long summers with high heat like an asphalt roof in Austin, TX may need to replace roofing sooner than homeowners in cooler regions.
Colder Climates:
In areas known for severe winters, ice may aggravate tiny cracks and fissures. Algae and fungus growth can also be potentially damaging for roofing in perennially damp or subtropical areas. Algae-resistant shingles are available. The ceramic granules on the shingles are simply coated with leachable copper to prevent discoloration and long-term damage from algae and moss growth. Keep in mind though, this protective treatment can add 10 to 15% installation cost to your roofing materials budget.
Also Check: What Can I Use To Seal A Tpo Roof
Improper Installation Vs Manufacturers Defect
The roof shingle warranty discussion must start with the blame game. Anyone thats been involved with failing asphalt shingle roofs will tell you that the blame typically falls on bad installation. The reality is that asphalt shingle manufacturers are good at manufacturing shingles in a controlled factory environment. Once shingles leave the package they end up being installed in a not so perfect environment with varying degrees of supporting construction, weather and labor skill.
If you read the shingle warranty carefully you ill quickly realize that it only covers defects as a result of manufacturing. Asphalt shingle warranties do not cover defects due to poor installation or defects in the structure. Furthermore it becomes quite difficult to distinguish and prove what has caused the defecting roofing. Of the few successful warranty claims that Ive personally heard of they have all been a result of non-matched color and/or texture between packages of shingles.
Fiberglass Asphalt Shingles Have A Hidden Secret In Hail Storms
Fiberglass shingles are still a type of asphalt shingle however the mat is made from fiberglass as opposed to standard asphalt shingles in which the mat is made of special papers and wood product. And while fiberglass shingles can last longer than standard asphalt shingles, they tend to make it difficult to detect and distinguish hail pock marks on them as the impacts from hail make it look more like the granules are simply falling off as a type of manufacturer defect.
CertainTeed Shingles the “Cadillac” of Asphalt Roofing Shingles
Asphalt shingles are manufactured by many roofing materials companies including Atlas, Owens Corning, Iko, Tamko and more. However, the premier brand for architectural dimensional shingles continues to be the CertainTeed brand shingles line. That is because CertainTeed Roofing Shingles contain more asphalt than most other brands. This added weight can translate into better durability and more importantly, impact resistance which matters a lot in hailstorm damage.
Please call our office 24/7 to schedule first a full storm and roof inspection, designed to mark, note and record all the damage to the property. Then, one of our 5-months trained roof inspection specialists will sit down with you and go over the entire process and illustrate to you the written acknowledgement as discussed here for your review and satisfaction.
You May Like: What Is The Cost Of Tesla Solar Roof
Your Guide To Buying Roof Shingles
If you want to improve or repair your houses roofing, there is a wide variety of roof shingles. There are many materials and styles available. Besides aesthetics, roof shingles have to ensure securing your roof against wind and water damage. Its important that the shingles will last. Good quality shingles will be able to withstand the elements for 25 to 30 years.
Also, if you want to effect repairs to your roof yourself, you probably will want to match the existing design of your roof. Well take a glimpse at the various materials and schemes available, to make it easier to decide. Well also examine some of the safety measures that you can take when repairing or replacing shingles.
Weve composed this buyers guide to help you make the right decision when selecting roof shingles. It’ll help you:
-
Choose the right type of roof shingles,
-
See useful tips about that particular type of roof shingles,
-
Read reviews of different types of roof shingles, and what customers are saying,
-
Select the right brand of roof shingles, and
-
Compare prices and find the best deals.
Gaf Advanced Protection Shingles
If wind is a significant part of your areas weather patterns, our most popular Timberline® Shingles offer all-around durability and performance. And now, Timberline® Shingles with LayerLock Technology may qualify for WindProven Limited Wind Warranty, the industrys first wind warranty with no maximum speed limitation when installed with the required combination of GAF accessories.1
Concerned about hail? Impact-resistant shingles like Grand Sequoia® AS and Timberline® AS II may be good options if your area is impacted by significant hail storms. They have rubber-like flexibility, allowing them to recover from impact.
If heavy sun exposure and energy efficiency are concerns in your area, check out our GAF Timberline Cool Series Shingles. The highly reflective shingles of these cool roofs can help reduce temperatures in your attic and keep your house cooler.
If you are in a region with high moisture and plagued by blue-green algae discoloration, consider Timberline UHD shingles with StainGuard Plus®.
Recommended Reading: How To Determine How Many Shingles Needed For Roof
Metal Roofing Tends To Win
When it comes to resisting 140 or 150 mph winds, metalroofing typically cant be beat. People are more used to seeing metal roofs oncommercial buildings, not homes, but theres no rule that says it cant beinstalled on homes.
The problem is metal is expensive and most people dont likethe look of it on their home . Youmay also have trouble finding a roofer that installs residential metal roofingsince its a somewhat uncommon choice.
There are some attributes that do make metal roofs anattractive option for homeowners. Homeowners that look hard enough can findresidential-oriented metal roofing options designed to look like normal asphaltarchitectural shingles or other common roofing materials instead of thetraditional sheet metal look people are more familiar with seeing. Theres alsothe longevity factor metal roofing can last much longer than traditionalasphalt shingles.
There are also fire-resistance benefits afforded by metalroofing. Some homeowners insurance providers will even offer rate discounts tohomeowners who have metal roofing installed.
On the other hand, theres a potential for hail to dentmetal roofing. It may not do much damage in terms of structural integrity, butit can leave a metal roof with a pock marked appearance.
Design And Color Differences
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and there is no objective way to judge which shingles look better. Some people find that Certainteed roofs have a more upscale look, because they are heavier and have a high contrast color palette.
Others prefer the greater variety of colors that GAF has to offer. Overall, each company strives to provide options for every type of home, from smaller traditional style houses, to high-end contemporary mansions.
The classic Landmark shingles line has 16 colors to choose from. The more upscale Premium and Pro lines share the same pallet each one has 11 colors. Burnt Sienna, Georgetown Gray, Moire Black and Weathered Wood are all favorite options among homeowners.
GAFs basic shingle line, Natural Shadow has 8 colors. These are the shingles which are most often installed by DIY homeowners, since they are available at most local Home Depot locations. The most popular color here is Natural Shadow Charcoal. It has a deep black color and looks very good paired with the majority of siding colors and styles.
A step up are Timberline HD shingles, available in 14 colors. This is the most popular line for GAF and in fact this is the Number 1 architectural shingles sold by volume in the US. The most popular colors here are Williamsburg slate and Weathered Wood.
Similarly, Timberline HD Ultra has a unique set of 11 colors. Charcoal and Slate are very popular options.
Don’t Miss: How Much Does A Roof Cost On A House
