TYPES OF ASPHALT SHINGLES AND CERTAINTEED SHINGLES
When the time comes to put a new roof on your house or a place of business, you want to do your homework. It is important to know what roofing products are available because choosing the best roof shingles is not an easy decision. Choosing the type of roof that is the best for your situation can require a great deal of time, effort, and in the end, money. Especially if you don’t choose the best roof type for your situation.
There are multiple types and styles of roofing materials available on the market. The most well known and widely used types of roofing include asphalt shingles, cedar shake shingles, metal roofing, slate tile roof, and Spanish tile roof. In order to decide which roofing material suits your needs best, you will need to consider all options and different qualities they each have. Roofing materials, like any other construction materials vary greatly in different aspects, such as:
- Quality of material
- Appearance
- Difficulty of installation
- Difficulty of maintenance
- Durability
- Life expectancy
- Energy efficiency ratings
- Environmental friendliness
We will help you to make the right decision that won’t end up costing you more money down the road. Here, we will talk about asphalt roofing shingles as they are by far the most commonly used roofing material in North America.
WHAT ARE CERTAINTEED SHINGLES?
Residential asphalt roofs are not a solid sheet of material as some may think but instead they are made out of asphalt shingles. Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roofing material used in the US and Canada. CertainTeed asphalt shingles are a superb quality asphalt shingle that is manufactured right here in the United States.
Asphalt Shingle Roof Contractor in Columbus Ohio
These roofing materials are typically made out of a fiberglass or organic material base that is saturated with asphalt. More asphalt is applied to one or both sides of CertainTeed shingle before it gets yet another coating. The top coating varies greatly depending on the type, color, and style of the shingle. The top coating material can be a mixture of mica, schist, quartz, slate, ceramic and/or stone. The backside of Certainteed shingles get a coating as well. The base coat is usually made of sand, talc or mica that prevents tiles from sticking together. Asphalt shingles are the most common and widely used roofing material in North America for multiple reasons.
PROS AND CONS OF ASPHALT SHINGLES
Like any other roofing material, asphalt roofing shingles have advantages and disadvantages. Asphalt shingles are the most popular type of roofing material, not just among homeowners, but business owners and contractors as well. The reason for this popularity is that the pros outweigh the cons by far. Various sources will give you a different variety of benefits that asphalt shingles provide. Here, we’ve collected the pros that are agreed on by all professional builders, installers, and manufacturers of asphalt shingles.
PROS OF USING ASPHALT SHINGLES:
1. Affordability
Asphalt shingles are the most affordable of all roofing materials. They cost a fraction of slate or cedar shake shingles. Unfortunately, getting a new roof is not an inexpensive or stress-free matter. For most homeowners, affordability is the main deciding factor when choosing a new roofing material. Asphalt shingles won’t break the bank, especially if a new roof is been an issue for which you’ve been financially preparing.
2. Durability
Asphalt shingles last 20-30 years on average. With proper installation done in optimal weather conditions, they can last a lifetime. Statistically speaking, most homeowners do not occupy the same house longer than a decade. In that case, asphalt shingles are the most cost-effective solution for anyone. In combination with affordable price, asphalt shingles offer the most durability for the price compared to other roofing materials.
3. Appearance
Asphalt shingles are made in a great variety of colors, textures, and styles. There are plenty of options to choose from to suit any taste and architectural style of home. There are also different options depending on your budget. When it comes to asphalt shingles, saving money does not mean sacrificing your personal touch and taste. Depending on the type, they may even look like natural slate at a fraction of the cost. Some asphalt shingles offer a beautiful multi-dimensional look of natural stone with depths and shades of color that will bring joy to anyone.
4. Easy installation
Compared to other roofing materials, asphalt shingles are relatively easy and fast to install. The whole process of new shingles installation can be done by a professional team in 1-2 days. Removal of old asphalt shingles is also easy and can be done fairly quickly. Another advantage of asphalt shingles is that in some cases removal of old shingles is not necessary. If the structural integrity of the roof is intact, new asphalt shingles could be installed right on top of the old ones. This opportunity doesn’t only save a lot of time but also money since the removal of old shingles is not required. Asphalt shingles can also be installed in virtually any weather conditions.
5. Low maintenance
Asphalt shingles require little to no maintenance. Broken or cracked shingles are easy, fast and cheap to replace and can be done by almost anyone. A lot of basic maintenance and repairs can be done by the homeowner, but a professional should always be consulted if you are unsure.
6. Energy efficiency
Asphalt shingles are generally very energy efficient. Some that are rated higher could even potentially save you some money during tax return season. Check out the current government regulations on STAR energy-efficient home improvements available at the time of your purchase.
CONS OF ASPHALT SHINGLES:
1. Poor performance in extreme weather fluctuations
Asphalt shingles can expand and shrink depending on the weather. Unfortunately, if they shrink too fast regularly, they can become cracked and discolored. Extreme heat conditions and regular, fast, hot to cold weather fluctuations also shorten the life expectancy of asphalt shingles.
2. Not environmentally-friendly
Asphalt shingles are a solid-state petroleum product. They are not easy to recycle compared to some other roofing materials like metal or cedar shake.
TYPES OF ASPHALT SHINGLES
As asphalt shingles differ from other types of roofing materials, they are also not all made the same. There are different levels of quality. This should be noted to ensure you get the level of quality you are looking for. There are many manufacturers of asphalt shingles and this can make finding the right one for your application somewhat difficult. Let’s take a look at the different styles there are on the market.
1. 3-tab asphalt shingles or strip shingles.
3-tab shingles are the original and most basic of all asphalt shingles. They were the most popular in the 1980s when asphalt shingles were introduced to the roofing contractor world. But to this day, they are still the most affordable of all asphalt shingles options. They can be easily recognized by their clean horizontal appearance and offer a slate look.
They are made out of a single layer of asphalt material so they are extremely light and easy to install. The name 3-tab refers to the shape each shingle is cut during the manufacturing process. When properly installed by a professional roofer, 3-tab shingles can last a couple of decades in the right conditions. Nowadays, they are mostly used to replace old and damaged 3-tab shingles on already existing roofs or for trimming or capping roofs. They stay true and are popular for low-cost construction or when you are on a budget. Compared to other types of asphalt shingles, 3-tab shingles withstand less powerful winds and can get blown off more easily than other types of shingles.
Another disadvantage of 3-tab shingles when compared to other types of asphalt shingles is fewer color choices. Limited color variations make 3-tab shingles less aesthetically appealing to both home and business owners.
2. Dimensional or architectural shingles
Dimensional shingles are also known as architectural shingles or laminate shingles. What are architectural shingles? Architectural shingles are extremely durable shingles that are made from two or more layers of asphalt fused together. Most modern houses now use architectural shingles and it’s likely that if a house does not have them, the roof is old.
Architectural shingles combine beautiful multi-dimensional texture and appearance. Combining this with their durability makes them some of the best roofing products on the market.
Architectural shingles provide the best bang for your dollar when it comes to new roof installation! Architectural shingles will cost more than 3-tab shingles to purchase, but they will pay for themselves in the long run with reduced maintenance costs and a much longer lifespan.
Architectural shingles are not only eye-pleasing, they will last significantly longer than 3-tab shingles when installed properly. As they overlap more when installed, they can withstand higher winds and handle severe weather conditions with ease. Architectural shingles are available in a wide range of colors and textures. This allows you to create any desired look and satisfy any homeowner.
They are made out of a single layer of asphalt material so they are extremely light and easy to install. The name 3-tab refers to the shape each shingle is cut during the manufacturing process. When properly installed by a professional roofer, 3-tab shingles can last a couple of decades in the right conditions. Nowadays, they are mostly used to replace old and damaged 3-tab shingles on already existing roofs or for trimming or capping roofs. They stay true and are popular for low-cost construction or when you are on a budget. Compared to other types of asphalt shingles, 3-tab shingles withstand less powerful winds and can get blown off more easily than other types of shingles.
Another disadvantage of 3-tab shingles when compared to other types of asphalt shingles is fewer color choices. Limited color variations make 3-tab shingles less aesthetically appealing to both home and business owners.
3. Luxury or CertainTeed shingles
Luxury shingles are the highest quality product available among asphalt shingles. They offer maximum durability with an unmatched multi-dimensional look. With the beauty of luxury slate look or cedar shake look comes the higher price. CertainTeed shingles are the most expensive out of all asphalt shingles, but still more affordable than real slate or cedar. With multiple layers of asphalt fused together they offer incomparable multidimensional look and unmatched durability. Because of the extra layers of asphalt, they are also much heavier than other asphalt shingles. This heavy weight restricts their use in some building construction and makes them not suitable for every home. However, CertainTeed shingles offer unsurpassed durability and beauty so they are well worth the investment if your contractor determines that they can be used on your home or business.
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Thank you for noting the energy-efficient nature of asphalt shingles. This is a very important thing for me to consider as I am trying to do my best to end up with lower electricity bills this year after spending a lot of my savings on overcharged bills last year. I’ll start looking for a contractor in the area that can help me do a roof replacement so I can get these asphalt shingles for my own home.