Choosing the proper roofing material is a significant decision that affects the curb appeal and the degree of maintenance required by your home. Here, we explain the common types of roof shingles to help you choose the best shingles for your home.
- Asphalt Shingles
- Wood Shingles
- Luxury Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt Shingles
These are the most popular roofing materials provided by roofing contractors as they are durable and affordable. Organic base asphalt shingles are made of paper or roofing felt that is saturated with asphalt, offering them water resistance. Fiberglass base shingles have fiber and glass with asphalt on top, making them waterproof as well. These shingles are then covered in mineral granules to provide a wear surface.
Organic asphalt shingles can be very durable but can be prone to fire and are less environmentally friendly. This is because more asphalt goes into them while manufacturing. If you are concerned about fire hazards, you can go for fiberglass shingles. Asphalt shingles come in two styles, the dimensional laminated shingle, and the strip shingle. The strip asphalt shingle is a strip of shingle material with tabs or cut-outs, the most common one being the three-tab strip shingle. The dimensional laminated asphalt shingle has many layers of tabs to create dimension and texture to the shingle.
Wood Shingles
If you are in search of a beautiful and natural roof installation option for your home, then wood shingles can be a great choice. These shingles are also called by other names like perfections, fivex, 5X, and royals. Wood shingles are accurately cut into specific sizes and are usually made from red cedar as it is commonly available and resistant to rotting. Apart from being used for roofing, wood shingles can also be used as wall siding.
Some less commonly used wood species to make wood shingles are redwood, cypress, and white cedar. These wood species are also rot-resistant. Some wood species that are prone to rot, like pine will need special treatment and installation that can help reduce weathering issues.
Luxury Asphalt Shingles
Luxury asphalt shingles can be a good option for homeowners who wish to have the look of slate roofing or wood shake. These shingles are very thick and laminated and simulate the texture and shadow lines of expensive roofing materials. Many layers of fiberglass coated in asphalt are used to make these shingles. Aggregate granules are then added to provide weathering protection.
The premium manufacturing of luxury asphalt shingles causes them to be referred to as lifetime shingles and they can have warranties of up to fifty years.