Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roofing material used in the US. If you’re building a new house or replacing the roof, roofing contractors may have suggested asphalt roofing already to you. Let’s know if you should go ahead with this roofing option by weighing its pros and cons.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are also called composite shingles. They are produced with asphalt, fiberglass or cellulose mat, and mineral granules. They are sort of rectangular tiles that are installed in a flat or overlapping manner. Asphalt shingles can last from 7 to 20 years depending on the quality.
Pros Of Asphalt Shingle Roofing
Various Styles
There are three major styles of asphalt shingles that enable homeowners to choose the style they prefer. There are low-cost three-tab shingles, durable architectural shingles, and premium shingles.
- Three-tab shingles: They are installed as flat shingles and are the cheapest asphalt shingles. Three-tab shingles are entry-level shingles and don’t last more than 7-15 years. They can only withstand wind gusts up to 60mph.
- Architectural shingles: These shingles are thicker and more durable than three-tab shingles. Moreover, they are installed in layers, creating texture and depth to the roof. Architectural shingles are the most common types of asphalt shingles used in the US. They can withstand wind up to 120mph and can last from 18-20 years.
- Premium or designer shingles: They are called luxury shingles as well and are designed to appear similar to slate. Designer shingles are the most durable and largest of the three asphalt shingle options. For the highest curb appeal, designer shingles are used. They are the most resistant to weather as well and can last for 30 years. If they are maintained well, they can last for 40-50 years as well.
Affordable Roofing Material
Asphalt roofing is the most cost-effective roofing material on the lot. The exact cost of asphalt shingles depends on the type you choose.
Three-tab asphalt shingles are the cheapest asphalt shingles. However, they are the lowest quality as well and last for 8 years. On the other hand, the price of architectural shingles is usually 30% more than three-tab shingles. There are much more durable and long-lasting than three-tab shingles as well. You can also avail of warranty options with architectural asphalt shingles.
Designer shingles are the most expensive type of asphalt shingles. Their cost is double the price of architectural shingles. They are for people who want the most durable asphalt shingle with the best curb appeal.
However, keep in mind that the most expensive asphalt shingles (designer shingles) are still less costly than other roofing materials.
Material Warranty
There are types of roofing warranties. Workmanship warranty from the contractor and material warranty from the manufacturer.
You can get a contractor warranty for any type of roofing material. But beware that contractor warranties can differ from one contractor to the other.
Material warranty options are provided by the manufacturers of asphalt shingles. You’re provided a standard warranty that covers problems with the asphalt shingles. They don’t cover other materials that were used for the installation of the shingles.
However, you should get try to qualify for an enhanced warranty. For this, your roof installation should use all the components and materials from a single manufacturer. After the installation of the roof, you can register your roof with the manufacturer for qualifying for an enhanced warranty.
For architectural and designer asphalt shingles, manufacturers providers a 50-year non-prorated enhanced warranty. Prorated warranty means that the manufacturer will pay less as the years pass. A non-prorated enhanced warranty gives you full coverage for the entire period of the warranty.
Beware that some factors can avoid your standard or enhanced warranty like improper roof installation and improper attic ventilation.
Color Options
The roof of your house plays an important part in the curb appeal of your house. So, selecting the right color of the selected roofing material can enhance curb appeal. This is easy with asphalt shingles because many different colors are available.
Although black and brown are the most common colors for asphalt shingles, there are other colors as well. You can also select gray, brown, red, green, and blue shades.
Therefore, you can choose various colors and improve your home’s exterior at a reasonable cost of asphalt shingles.
Easy To Install
They are lightweight and easy to cut into shapes. Moreover, no special equipment is needed for installing asphalt shingles. This enables DIYers to install asphalt shingle roofing themselves, mostly without any problems.
However, to ensure that the material warranty doesn’t void, you should have experienced roofers Tallmadge install the roof.
Easy To Repair
Asphalt shingles are easy to repair and replace as well should they get damaged or some shingles go missing due to bad weather or the age of the material. However, the replaced asphalt shingles may appear different than the entire roof because of weathering.
Fire-Resistant
Asphalt shingles are fire-resistant and can withstand fire for a few hours before catching fire. Most asphalt shingles for homes have a class B fire rating while some other asphalt shingles do come with a class A fire rating.
Cons Of Asphalt Shingle Roofing
Short Lifespan
The cheapest quality of asphalt shingles lasts for 7 years while the best quality can work for 30 years. However, the most common type of asphalt shingles used is architectural asphalt shingles that last for 20 years.
This lifespan is shorter compared to other roofing materials like metal, steel, slate, tile, and concrete and can last for more than 50 years.
Vulnerable To Winds
The common quality of asphalt shingles is architectural shingles that can withstand 120mph of wind. So, they are prone to wind gusts damaging or ripping them off their place. The lower-quality of asphalt shingles are even more susceptible to wind damage.
Should Be Installed In Warmer Temperatures
You can’t install asphalt shingles at any time of the year. Installation of asphalt shingles in cold temperatures, especially below freezing can damage them during the process. They will wear out very soon and also cause leaks and other problems.
Asphalt Can Crack
Asphalt shingles are light and easy to install, but this is a disadvantage as well because they can also crack easily. Moreover, Fluctuations in the temperature can make the asphalt shingles even more vulnerable to cracking due to the expansion and contraction of the material with the change in the temperature.
Requires Yearly Inspection And Maintenance
Every roofing material requires inspections and maintenance. As asphalt shingles are not as durable as metal or slate, they need more upkeep and inspections to prevent problems and extend their life. You should make sure to have it inspected at least once a year.
During this, a roofer will check for problems and fix them before they become bigger and more expensive.
Moreover, debris buildup on the asphalt shingles is also cleaned in roof maintenance. If it isn’t, the debris will saturate the material over time reducing the life of asphalt shingles.
Conclusion
Asphalt shingles are affordable and last for 20 years if you select the mid-range quality. They are also easy to install and replace. On the downside, they don’t last that long and are vulnerable to weather damage. Consult roofing companies Twinsburg for more information.
