Asphalt shingle roofing was first developed around the year 1900. By 1939, 11 million squares of shingles were being produced for homes throughout North America. And while these lightweight roof toppers have seen quite a few iterations since then, today, asphalt shingles are more popular than ever. In fact, 80% of all North American homes are graced with these types of shingles on their roofs.
You may be wondering why so many homeowners choose asphalt shingles over other roofing materials like metal, tile, and clay. The answers may surprise you. Here are twenty amazing benefits asphalt shingles have over other common residential rooftops.
Shingle Roofing Benefits:
1. Shingles Have Style
The design of asphalt shingles varies widely. The shingles can be made to look any which way, which can make your home stand out when compared to your neighbors.
There are three primary types of asphalt shingles.
- 3-tab shingles come with fewer aesthetic options than the other two types. They also come with blow-off issues and have a shorter lifespan.
- Dimensional asphalt shingles boast a multi-dimensional appearance but cost a bit more than 3-tab shingles.
- Luxury asphalt shingles, which also come with a multi-dimensional appearance, tend to be more affordable than slate or wood alternatives.
Within these three types are dozens and dozens of styles to choose from. This means that, together with your roofer, you can choose the type of roof you want. You can decide on a sloped roof or a flat one, for example. You could go with a uniform installation or an overlapping design to create a 3D effect. With shingles, you are only limited by your imagination and personal preference, which puts you in charge of your roofing installation.
2. Myriad Textures for Added Protection
Shingles are textured to give them added durability. There is a wide selection of shingle textures to choose from. Each one is designed to protect your home from the elements, such as hail and high winds. Some textures make the shingles resistant to tearing or fire, while others help to keep the colder temperatures from seeping into your home.
3. Colors
Asphalt shingles come in a wide array of rich, gorgeous shades. Want shingles that complement the way your home is painted? You can find asphalt shingles in blue, green, red, and so many other colors. More colors of asphalt shingles are being developed all the time. You might even want to mix light and dark tones or experiment with different colors. Some professional roofing services use special software that will allow you to see the color of shingles on your roof before a single tile is installed.
You can also find shingles in various patterns to enhance the appearance of your home. And some roofing manufacturers will accommodate custom options that meet your specific needs.
4. Cost-Effective
Shingles are extremely affordable for the average homeowner, especially when compared to metal, clay, and wood shingle roofs. Shingles cost less because they can be mass-produced in bulk quantities. When you compare how long asphalt shingles last compared to other roofing materials, you will see that the lowered cost makes asphalt shingles the best “bang for your buck” when it comes to roofing or re-roofing your home.
5. A Range of Pricing Options
Unlike other roofing materials that come with high price tags, you might be surprised to find that you can get asphalt shingles for as low as $2.00 per square foot. Of course, it all depends on what type of shingle you are looking for. You can also find shingles for $5.50 per square foot. This means you should take your time shopping for asphalt roofing materials that match your budget and the quality you expect. Ask your roofing expert to help you find asphalt shingles that fall within your price range.
6. Shingles Last a Long Time
While asphalt shingles cost less to install than other roofing materials, that benefit would quickly be mitigated if you had to re-roof your home every few years.
The good news is that installing shingles one time should keep your home protected for decades or more. Depending on the quality of shingles you decide upon, you will notice that each type and brand comes with a different longevity rating. Some last ten years, some twenty, and some even longer.
Choose the asphalt shingles that offer the longest life, and that comes with the longest roof warranty if you want to save the most throughout the life of your rooftop.
7. Durable
Asphalt shingles do a fantastic job of protecting your home. Modern shingles can even withstand hurricane-strength winds of up to 130-150 MPH. That means that no matter what Mother Nature throws your way – rain, hail, high winds, or bad storms – your home and everything inside will remain safe with the right type and texture of asphalt shingles. Ask your roofing contractor to help you find shingles that are designed for the level of protection your home will need. If you live in a hurricane-prone area, for example, you’ll want to install shingles that offer maximum protection from hurricane-strength winds.
8. Easy to Maintain
Asphalt shingle roofs are largely set and forget. That means that once your shingle roof is installed, there’s not much else to do. As long as your install involved high-quality shingles, and the installation was done well, your rooftop should continue to look like new long into the future.
What if the shingles on your roof do become damaged? When this happens, the weather is typically to blame. Either shingles will blow away in a bad storm or a tree branch (or other object) may make contact with your roof, leading to a need for repairs.
You will be pleased to know that shingles are one of the simplest and least expensive to repair out of all other roofing materials. Replacing shingles is easy for experienced roofing contractors, which should save you in roof repair costs down the road, if they become necessary.
9. Can Resemble Other Roofing Materials
What if you don’t want shingles like everyone else? What if you want wood or slate instead?
Believe it or not, asphalt shingles can be manufactured to look like wood, slate, or even cedar. These types of shingles are often called synthetic tile, synthetic roof shingles, or synthetic wood shakes. That means you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg getting your home’s roof to look a certain way. You can save by installing shingles, and you’ll still end up with the roof you want. No one has to know your roof is topped with asphalt unless you tell them.
10. Excellent Fire Resistance
Unlike wood roofing materials, asphalt shingles can last upwards of two hours in a fire before catching. Some shingles come with added fire resistance, giving you even more time. These critical hours can help your family get to safety in case of fire. The added time can also keep your belongings protected as fire crews work to extinguish your home. If safety is your utmost concern, look for shingles with a high fire rating class with Class A being the highest.
11. Uplift Resistance
Some roofing materials require membranes which help to provide uplift wind resistance. Asphalt shingles have some natural uplift resistance, no membrane required. Here’s what that means.
As wind travels, it tends to move up the walls of your home and over your roof with varying degrees of pressure. Uplift pressure is the highest at the corners and edges of your roof, which makes these areas vulnerable to wind damage. As wind moves across the roof’s surface, negative pressure (suction) is created, which may lift or suck up the shingles off your roof deck.
Even though some shingles come naturally resistant to uplift, that resistance can be hindered by low quality shingles and shoddy installation. The more time you put into finding roofing contractors with a solid track record, and choosing higher-quality asphalt shingles, the less trouble wind uplift will give you in the future.
12. Easy to Install
The process of installing shingles is quick and affordable. In fact, most roofers will make quick work of shingle roofs because they are easier to install than other roofing materials. Once again, make sure you vet your roofing company carefully. You want to ensure the easy installation is done well. Doing so will keep you from having to re-roof your home so soon after the initial installation.
13. No Additional Structure Required
Some roofing materials are so heavy they require added structures underneath to make up for their bulkiness. Asphalt shingles do not need any supportive structures because they are so lightweight.
When you are not forced to buy additional roofing materials, your installation costs drop even lower. No wonder so many homes have asphalt over heavier options like metal, clay, or wood.
14. Shingles Dampen Sound
Asphalt shingles are excellent at filtering out any noises that exist outside your home. Rain pattering on the roof, barking dogs, and loud thunderstorms are all reduced to a whisper with a quality shingle installation.
15. Shingles are Recyclable
When shingles reach the end of their useful life, recycling services exist in every metro city for recycling the roofing materials. Most scrap from the production of asphalt shingles is recycled also, making shingles an incredibly environmentally friendly investment.
16. Energy Efficient
Many shingles manufactured today come with cool-roof technology, which means they absorb less heat from the sun’s rays. Your home will remain cooler without forcing the air conditioner to work overtime, which helps to keep your energy bills more affordable during the sweltering summers.
That means, with shingle roofing, you save on materials, roofing, maintenance, repairs, and energy savings! What’s not to love? With all the money you’ll save, you’ll have to treat yourself with something fancy once your roofing installation is complete.
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