Asphalt Shingles – Why Do We Use Them?

Quick Facts

• America overwhelmingly favors asphalt shingles compared to any other material
• Self sealing and sure nail technology is nearly standard with all designer shingles
• Removal of the old roof is not necessary for every roof – this can save the homeowner money on labor cost
• Cool roof technology makes asphalt shingles more appealing than ever

There are several types of shingles used on pitched roofs, including asphalt shingles, tile roofing shingles (clay or concrete), slate shingles, wood and sash shingles, and metal shingles. But out of all these types of materials, the overwhelming favorite, the one that is universally useful, easy to install, and the one that is most affordable, is an asphalt shingle roof. Asphalt shingles are long lasting, affordable, and available in a variety of textures and colors. The most common styles of asphalt shingles are the “strip” or “laminated” style.

While quite durable, asphalt shingles are still subject to damage, and you should have your roof checked out after severe hail or windstorms. Also, you should always ensure your roof is adequately ventilated.

Affordability

The average price for an asphalt shingle is about $1-$6 a square foot of materials. Asphalt roofing is cheap in comparison to other types of roofing and has a life expectancy that is around 15 to 40+ years. Professional installation of an asphalt shingle roof is approximately $2.5-$3 a square foot, which results in approximately 70% of the total cost of the project. Arizona Pristine Roofing is honored to announce that we work with nearly everyone – because we want people to be happy and that is starts with having a good roof.

Designed for Arizona

Asphalt shingle roofs need little maintenance and repairs! However, check the roof regularly to look for trouble spots or problems. Check that no missing shingles are present, and that there are no branches and loose, lying debris. It is also important to occasionally clear your gutters. If there are bare spots where the shingles are supposed to be, these need to be replaced ASAP to avoid any damage happening to the roof.

The most common types of asphalt shingles homeowners will install are fiberglass or organic mat-based shingles. The shingles will have an organic, cellulose-fiber-based, asphalt-saturated base, such as wood or paper, or they may have a fiberglass-based or mat-based substrate. Organic-matted shingles may contain 40% or more asphalt content than fiberglass, making them heavier, thicker, and more expensive. However, they are also stronger, more flexible, and can withstand greater amounts of damage over time.

• Durability and strength
• Manufacturing technology has made the material lighter and thinner
• The fire rating is better than other organic material varieties
• Longer warranties

Fast Installation

The first obvious step is removing the old roof. While you may feel the temptation to keep the old materials to reduce the cost of labor, you are better off than installing a new roof on top of an old roof. It is very possible and sometimes even better to keep some of the old underlayment (if it is in good shape). However, it is normally best to do away with the old underlayment.

Removing an old roof allows you and your contractor to see any potentially faulty timbers that will need replacing. Starting over from scratch helps to make sure that your roof will last longer, with no deterioration and no problematic materials underneath.

Read moreLow & Flat Roofing with Polyglass LS MAX Self Adhered Membrane

Then, protective felt underlayment or synthetic underlayment is laid down prior to applying shingles. Ice and water protection barriers are attached to the drip zone. Next, layers of the base covering are applied, overlapping each band, across the roof. Then, metallic drip caps and valley flashing are fastened into place, prior to applying asphalt shingles. Then, the shingles are attached, starting from the eaves, working up to the peak of the roof.

Any roof vents that are needed are installed down the road. For those homeowners looking to make a switch to greener, more energy-efficient homes, several manufacturers across the industry are beginning to make Energy-Efficient Asphalt Shingles.

Using Cool Roof Technology, the shingles are now designed to absorb less heat from the sun. This reduces the amount of energy that you need to run the air conditioning on those warm summer days.