Most homes in the United States of America have asphalt shingle roofs. They are one of the more popular roofing options while building a home. Even while refurbishing old homes, people prefer to change to asphalt shingle roofs.

All You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Asphalt Shingle Roofs

The reasons for the popularity of these roofs among homeowners are innumerable. However, before we understand the benefits and drawbacks of these roofs, let’s take a look at what an asphalt shingle roof is!

What Are Asphalt Shingle Roofs, and What Are They Made Of?

Asphalt shingle roofs are roofs made entirely out of asphalt and other components. Asphalt is a sticky semi-solid block of petroleum—a by-product of refining crude oil. In addition to asphalt, the roof shingles are primarily made with fiberglass and felt paper. Since fiberglass is less expensive, more durable, and considerably lighter, they have been the more popular option among house owners and construction companies.

Each fiberglass shingle has multiple layers, each made of different materials like woven fiberglass, ceramic, and waterproof coating.

On the other hand, asphalt shingles made from felt paper use more asphalt and are thus more expensive. They are also heavier and not as resistant to temperature changes.

Different Types of Asphalt Shingles For Roofs

Asphalt shingles can be classified into three different types: 3 tab shingles, three-dimensional shingles, and luxury asphalt shingles.

Three-Tab Shingles

Three-tab shingles are the more popular type of asphalt shingles. They are single-ply shingles that are lightweight and comparatively cheaper. The shingles look the same and, when used, make your roofs look like a single block of uniformity. Although aesthetically pleasing, they do not offer much variety to roofs.

Dimensional Shingles

Dimensional shingles are also called architectural shingles or laminated shingles. As the name suggests, these shingles offer a multi-dimensional look to your roofs when used in roofing. Architectural shingles include an additional asphalt layer that adds a three-dimensional look to the shingles. Each shingle is unique and has a different shape and size. Dimensional shingles can also be made into different colors to be more aesthetically pleasing.

Because of the variety and color combinations available in dimensional shingles, they are more expensive than three-tab shingles. However, three-dimensional asphalt shingle roofs are a priority when homeowners want to put their property on the real estate market.

Luxury Asphalt Shingles

Although luxury shingles may seem similar to dimensional shingles, they are not the same. Luxury shingles are created to be more visually pleasing. They are thicker compared to other types of asphalt roof shingles. Luxury shingles can look like other materials like wood or tile. However, these shingles are expensive, and people buy them to boost the look of their homes.

Benefits of Asphalt Shingle Roofs

Cost-Effective

Unlike other roofing options, even luxury asphalt shingles are less expensive. Therefore, it is beneficial for people who want to stay within a budget but still get quality roofing options.

Variety

Dimensional and luxury shingles can be manipulated to up the aesthetics of a shingle. Depending on the person’s choice, color and material can be changed to fit the home’s overall design. If you can spend more on roofing options, you can even get your roofs to look like tiles or wood.

Easy To Install

Unlike other shingles, asphalt shingles can be attached directly to those already existing on the roofs. Therefore, as long as the bottom layer is without many faults, you can easily install asphalt shingles on the roofs.

How To Install Asphalt Shingle Roofs

While it is easy to install asphalt shingle roofs, it may take between a day or a week, depending on the size of the roofs to be installed, the weather conditions of the day, and even any unexpected problems in the roofing system.

Here are a few tips for installing asphalt roofs:

• Work from one corner to the other and the bottom of the roof. This ensures uniformity and helps progress faster.
• Ensure that all seams and planes are filled correctly with the correct flashing. These edges are where most leaks may occur. Make sure you use top-quality materials to leaf-proof the roofs completely.
• Ensure that you are using shingles from a single manufacturing lot. There may be color variations or discolorations between one or two bundles. Using shingles haphazardly could take away from the look of the roof.
• Attach shingles with adequate nails. In areas prone to storms or wind, use as many nails as possible without ruining the roof’s aesthetics. You also need to ensure that you use good quality nails for nailing down the asphalt shingles.

When Should Asphalt Shingle Roofs Be Repaired?

Even if the materials in asphalt shingles are highly durable, they are prone to wear and tear to weather changes. Rain or snow may seep into cracks and gradually ruin the entire roof. The more common damages seen in roofs are leaks, damage due to hail, rain, storm, and damage to individual shingles.

If you do regular maintenance, your roofs will last longer. You need to ensure that you regularly check your roofs for any cracks, leaks, or damage.

Once you identify any damages, you need to contact a roofing contractor who can help repair any damages to the roof.

How Can You Keep Asphalt Shingle Roofs Clean?

Keeping roofs clean goes hand in hand with the maintenance of your roofs. The simplest solution is to spray the roofs with a sodium hydroxide solution. Not only does this clean the roof, but it also does not damage the plants and walls. While you can also use bleach to clean the roofs, it is not as helpful as the lye solution.

While homeowners clean their roofs themselves, it is better to hire a professional cleaner to get the job done.

Choosing The Right Contractor For Fixing Your Roofs

Once you have decided on asphalt shingle roofs for your homes, you need to find the right contractor to get the job done.

Matera Roofing Inc has over three decades of experience in roofing homes in the United States. In addition to the usual roofing needs of homeowners, the company also provides emergency services in case of any sudden leaks or damages.

You can walk in for direct appointments or request an estimate to calculate your budget for your asphalt roofs.