Types of Asphalt Roofing Shingles

Do you want to use asphalt roofing shingles for your home but don’t know what is available? There are several types, textures and colors to choose from. When you drive through a few neighborhoods, chances are most of the roofs have asphalt roofing shingles. 

Some asphalt roofing shingles are manufactured to resemble tile, wood, cedar shakes or slate, and the shingles are available in multiple colors. With a one-hundred-year proven track record in North America, according to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA), using asphalt roofing shingles is a good choice.   

What are Asphalt Shingles? 

Asphalt shingles are sometimes known as composite shingles. It is a composite product made from a fiberglass or cellulose mat, asphalt and mineral granules. 

This makes asphalt shingles different from wood shake shingles or clay tiles that are made from a single material. 

With the growing awareness of how our habits impact the environment, it is good to know that asphalt shingles can be recycled. According to ARMA, asphalt shingles taken from roof tear-offs are used in pavements and offsets the need for new asphalt and aggregate.     

Cost is always important when choosing roofing materials. Asphalt shingles are affordable and cost-effective as they are widely available, durable and have low maintenance requirements. It is easy to install and repair asphalt roofing shingles. They have excellent fire and uplift resistance, have fewer leak problems than other products, and is neither too heavy nor too light. With asphalt shingles, there is also no need for ice stops.

Types of Asphalt Shingles 

There are three main types of asphalt shingles, strip roofing/three-tab shingles, dimensional/architectural/laminate roofing shingles and Premium/Luxury roofing shingles. We discuss each type in more detail. 

•Strip/three-tab asphalt roofing shingles 

Strip shingles are also known as three-tab shingles because of the number of tabs they have. It is the original asphalt shingle and the most common type on the market.  The single layer of asphalt gives them a very flat appearance that looks like slate. 

Different lighting/shadowing and textural effects can be achieved with strip/three-tab shingles. It depends on the number, alignment and shape of the tabs. Strip shingles weigh and cost less than other asphalt shingles but last fifteen to twenty years.

•Dimensional/architectural/laminate asphalt roofing shingles

Dimensional shingles are also known as architectural or laminate roofing shingles. They are manufactured with two or more layers of asphalt fused with an extra laminate layer. It gives them a richer and thicker multi-dimensional appearance. 

Dimensional asphalt roofing shingles are designed to replicate wood shake and natural slate. They are heavier than strip shingles which improves warranty protection. With appropriate maintenance, these shingles last thirty to fifty years or more.   

•Premium/Luxury/Designer asphalt roofing shingles. 

Premium asphalt roofing shingles are also known as luxury or designer shingles. They are the highest-quality laminated shingle available and offer the most realistic look of old-world shake and quarried slate roofing. Premium shingles last twenty-five to thirty years. 

The Dynamic Benefits of Asphalt 

Modern engineering techniques and the dynamic nature of asphalt resulted in the design of performance shingles. It is an enhancement of existing asphalt shingles. Performance shingles are wind resistant, solar reflective, hail resistant and algae resistant. Fire-resistant asphalt roofing shingles with a Class A rating are also available. 

The performance shingles Bob Harvey Roofing uses are SBS-modified shingles made from rubber-like polymers that give the shingles the ability to withstand extreme weather. These NorthGate® ClimateFlex® asphalt roofing shingles, manufactured by CertainTeed, have a Class 4 impact resistance rating, the highest available. 

Bob Harvey Roofing is a professional roofing contractor in Layton, Utah. We have been in business for more than thirty years. Licensed and fully insured, Bob Harvey and his team provide roofing services for commercial and residential properties. Does your business premises or house need asphalt roofing shingles? Contact Bob Harvey Roofing today.