Advantages of Asphalt Roofing Shingles
There are four basic reasons. Asphalt roofing shingles are:
Widely available
Inexpensive
Lightweight
Easy to install
You will never need to look for a specialist in exotic roofing to install and do maintenance on your roof is you choose asphalt roofing shingles. Any roofer will have plenty of experience working with them, while roofing materials like slate demand special training in handling, cutting, and laying on the roof.
Asphalt roofing shingles, like all types of roofing materials, are available in different grades. The higher grades of shingle, of course, cost more than the lower ones, but the wise homeowner will pay the extra expense upfront and avoid having to pay to replace damaged shingles in the future. Class IV shingles can stand up to hailstorms with no problem.
Asphalt roofing shingles now come in a wide range of attractive colors and not just the familiar gray, and are constructed of a combination of fiberglass and an organically produced blend of paper and felt with an asphalt binder. Organic asphalt roofing shingles will cost more than older ones, but they weigh more and are less apt to tear away from the roof in sever weather. If your home needs re-roofing, going with organic asphalt roofing shingles could pay off handsomely should you ever decide to sell.
Many asphalt roofing shingle manufacturers back their products with warranties which last for decades. If you have a favorite manufacturer of specialty asphalt roofing shingles, like eagle or Elk, you can request that your roofing contractor to order those
Maintaining Your Asphalt Roofing Shingles
You shouldn’t expect, however, that your new asphalt Roofing shingles will last indefinitely without help from you, and you should take the time to inspect your roof every two years. That should be often enough to prevent minor problems from developing into major ones, as you discover any damaged or loose shingles. One of the big advantages of having asphalt roofing shingles is that they can be replaced very easily because of their wide availability.
Another factor overlooked by many homeowners concerned with properly caring for their asphalt roofing shingles is the ventilation in their attics or under-roof crawlspaces. There are times when the variance between your home’s exterior and interior temperature will be extreme, making your roof shingles much colder on one side than the other. Continued exposure to wide temperature variances will put severe stress on your shingles. What can you do?
Create an insulated buffer zone between the underside of the roof and your attic or crawlspace, and you will effectively eliminate the stress on your shingles. But before you do that, you need to remove any traces of water, damp, or mold from your attic or crawlspace!
