Roofing shingles are the exterior covering for a roof that is laid in an overlapping style. Roofing shingle is usually made of wood, metal, or rubber and can be flat or shaped in various patterns. Roofing shingle is a type of roof covering that protects the rooftop from weather, and most are installed with nails. Roofing Shingles generally come in two materials: asphalt or composite.
Composite Roofing Shingles
Composite shingles are asphalt-free roof covering that is made up of a mixture and insulation material. They offer the same weather protection as asphalt roofs. Still, they can be more expensive to install than regular wood or metal shingle roofs because of installation costs for elevated ridge vents and special flashing in areas prone to ice damming.
Composite Roofs have been on the rise for decades now because they last twice as long as traditional Roof coverings. On top of lasting longer, they are also more eco-friendly. Composite Roofs have a cap sheet made of recycled material, and it has an integrated water-resistive barrier to keep the moisture out.
Types of Composite Shingles
Architectural Composite Shingles
Architectural composite shingles are a type of composite Roof shingles that are most commonly installed because they have the look of natural wood without being exposed to ultraviolet light. Architectural composite is made of recycled material and has a cap sheet made of recycled material—sometimes called “the great pretender” because it’s shaped to mimic clay tile, slate, or cedarwood shake. In addition, it has an integrated water-resistive barrier to keep the moisture out. Architectural composite roof shingles are a good option for people who want to maintain the look of wood roofs without sacrificing quality.
Laminate Composite Shingles
Laminate composite shingles are roof coverings made up of two parts: a wear layer and the substrate. The material used in this type can be asphalt, wood fiber, or other recycled materials. Laminate Roof shingles offer good protection against fire because they contain no organic matter to create heat when burning.
3-Tab Composite Shingles
3-Tab composite shingles are roofing shingles that are made of a paper or plastic material. This type is often used in areas where the climate is hot and humid because it can withstand moisture better than other types of composite roof shingles.
Advantages of Composite Roofs
Composite shingles provide several advantages to homeowners because they are:
- The advantages of composite roofs are that they offer insulation features and durability, which is twice as long compared to traditional roof coverings. They also have a water-resistant barrier integrated into them so moisture cannot get through, making them more environmentally friendly.
- More eco-friendly, as composite roofs have a cap sheet made of recycled material, and it has an integrated water-resistive barrier to keep the moisture out.
- Architectural composite roof shingles are a good option for people who want to maintain the look of wood roofs without sacrificing quality.
- Laminate Roof shingles offer good protection against fire because they contain no organic matter to create heat when burning.
- Aesthetically pleasing, as architectural composite Roof shingles are a good option for people who want to maintain the look of wood roofs without sacrificing quality.
- Last twice as long as traditional roof coverings.
- They are more eco-friendly and contain an integrated water-resistant barrier, so moisture cannot get through.
- Offer the same weather protection as asphalt roofs. Still, they can be more expensive to install than regular wood or metal roofing shingles because of installation costs for elevated ridge vents and special flashing in areas prone to ice damming.
- It is a good option for people who want to maintain the look of the roofs without sacrificing quality.
Asphalt Roof Shingles
An Asphalt Roof is a roof laid with asphalt roofing shingles and then covered by tar to make it waterproof. The most common roofing material for those who do not have the ability or equipment to install composite roofs is also the most affordable roofing material. This option is usually cheaper than composite shingles. It can be installed in a shorter amount of time, but they don’t offer insulation features or durability that last as long as their counterpart materials do. Traditional asphalt shingle roofs use tar or bitumen-based product as their base coat for roofing.
Types of Asphalt Roof Shingles
Architectural Roofs
Architectural Roof shingles are made from asphalt or EPDM rubber, and they are often shaped to mimic clay Tile, Slate, or Cedarwood shake roofs. They can be installed in various colors and textures, but the most popular options include brown roof siding with black roofing shingles and roof siding with brown roofing shingles.
3-Tab Shingles
3-Tab asphalt shingle is made up of a paper or plastic material that does not have an integrated water-resistant barrier so that moisture can get through the roofs. This roofing material is often used in areas where the climate is hot and humid because it can withstand moisture better than other types of asphalt roof shingles.
Dimensional Shingles
Dimensional shingles offer Roofers the ability to create a shingle that has three-dimensional effects. It is made of asphalt roofing materials, and it can be installed with other types of Roof siding, including wood or vinyl.
Advantages of Asphalt Roof Shingles
The advantages of asphalt Roof shingles are that they can be installed on any type of roof and do not require specialized materials or equipment to install them, as opposed to composite roofs. In addition, the installation process is relatively quick because you just lay Roof shingles on top of each other and cover the entire roof with tar.
- Residential Roofs usually need to be replaced every 20 years or so. This means that after the initial installation, there will also be additional expenses for maintenance and repairs in the future.
- Asphalt Roofs are less expensive than composite roof shingles. However, they can be more costly to install than roofing shingles made of wood, metal, or slate because of the installation costs for elevated ridge vents and special flashing in areas prone to ice damming.
- Asphalt Roofs have a shorter life expectancy compared with other materials roofs such as composite roofs; typical asphalt roofs will last 20 to 25 years, while a composite roof shingle roof can be expected to last about 40 years.
- Asphalt Roof Shingles are the most affordable roofing material. They do not require specialized materials or equipment for installation; however, asphalt roofs have a shorter life expectancy than other types of roof coverings.
- The installation process is quicker, and they don’t require any special flashing in areas prone to ice damming as with Composite Roofs. Asphalt Roofs are the most affordable roofing material.
Asphalt Roof vs. Composite Roof
An asphalt roof is a type of composite roof, but there are some distinct differences between the two types. The installation process for an asphalt roof usually takes about half as long because it does not require elevated ridge vents or special flashing in areas that are prone to ice damming. Asphalt Roofs also have a shorter life expectancy. They may be less expensive than composite roofing shingles because no specialized equipment is required for installation and the materials cost less.
The main difference between an asphalt Roof and a composite Roof is how long they will last. Roof shingles made of composite roofs have a higher life expectancy and are considered more resistant to wear and tear, but they may also cost much more than asphalt roofs or other types of roofs. Asphalt shingles do not offer insulation as composite roofs do. In addition, they are not as durable as composite shingles since asphalt roof shingles wear out more quickly than composites because they do not have a waterproof barrier.
Roofing Services Manhattan
Are you considering Roofing Shingles for your home? Roofers offer many styles to choose from when deciding what type you want to install on your home’s rooftop. However, having a deeper understanding of the different types of roofing materials helps you choose wisely which type of roof suits you best!
