Are you looking for a reliable roof shingles for your roof solution? Stuck in a pendulous situation between shingles and corrugated metals?
It’s better to go for shingles, especially composite or asphalt ones. Shingles are affordable, easy to install and replace, and can withstand a lot of weather bites.
So, how do you get the right shingles? First, check out what the shingles basically. And read more to find out more details on your query.
Table of Contents
What are Roofing Shingles
Roof shingles are simply a covering on your roof, consisting of particular flat elements?
These segments overlap each other in rows, from the lower edge to the upper edge of your roof.
The layer of shingles is used over the underlayment to protect your house. Also, it increases the beauty of your roofs.
Materials Used for Shingles
Shingles are made of varieties materials, including asphalt, slate, metal, wood, plastic, flagstones, and many more.
In addition, composite materials like fiber cement are also used for shingles.
5 Popular Roof Shingles Type
There are many shingles of different kinds of materials on the market. It’s a little bit confusing, but this article will talk about the most popular materials like-
- Wood
- Asphalt
- Metal
- Composite
- Slate
Wood Shingles
Wood Shingles are the best choice when you need a natural-looking plus a favorable environmental solution.
They are found in two categories, shingles, and shakes. Shingles are sawn. On the other hand, shakes are split pieces, and thicker and larger than shingles.
However, both types of wood shingles are prepared from oak, pine cedar, and spruce.
It’s a long-lasting material that can withstand outdoor weather for up to20 to 25 years.
Wood shingles are fire-friendly if used untreated.
However, still, there is the risk of conflagrations and being banned in many places. The new technology solved this issue; now, the pressure-saturated and treated wood shingles have a Class-B fire rating. Moreover, with specifically designed materials, they can achieve Class A.
The best advantages of wood shingles are that they are cheap and eco-friendly. However, besides the disadvantage of burnable characteristics, they are also prone to mites and rot. Therefore, go for the treated wood shingles always.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are the cheapest solution among the shingle materials. As an easy-to-install roofing element, they are widely used.
There are two styles-dimensional and three-tab shingles. The dimensional one is found in different shapes and sizes. They also can last double years than three-tab.
The asphalt shingles are the most affordable than their counterparts. At the same time, they are found in various thicknesses and are lightweight.
Therefore, they charge less pressure on the underlayment and make it easy to replace the damaged one.
Moreover, they are not limited to a single color, and you can go for your desired color. But they are not long-lasting, though their life span can be from 15-30 years.
However, correct installation and proper ventilation can increase the life span to 20-22 years.
So, how can they withstand the outdoor environment? The asphalt shingles are not popular because of their budget price and their waterproof and fireproof attributes.
Also, they have adequate flexibility to absorb the weight of snow in winter. But, still, they can’t hold out against high winds and storms if they have poor ventilation.
Metal Shingles
When you need a lighter shingle with a long life span than the wooden or asphalt, go for metal shingles without a second thought.
Depending on the quality, it can easily last between 40 to 70 years.
You can choose variations from copper, aluminum, or steel shingle. There is also an alloy type. All of them reflect sunlight well. Therefore, the roof becomes less hot and lessens the cooling cost at its best.
The best part is metal shingles are long durable, and environment friendly. For improved reflective features, they are resistant to rain, snow, and fire.
The metal shingles withstand the heavy wind and storm as well. And, you have no fear of rotten piece replacement.
However, they are costly and noisy.
Composite Shingles
Composite roof shingles or synthetic shingles are produced from a combination of different materials.
The manufacturers prefer rubber, polymer, or plastic for their longevity, lightweight, and damage resistance. They act as good insulators too.
The life expectancy of composite shingles is around 50 years. However, it might depend on the quality of the material and installation.
The composite shingles are resistant to high heat, weather, and fire.
The best part is you can pick exact replications of the natural materials. But these metal shingles are expensive. Moreover, not all the plumbers are good with their fitting.
Slate Shingles
Do you need a roofing solution that can last at least 50 years without leaks? Then install slate shingles.
With the longest life expectancy of 125 to 200 years among its peers, it has two types, including the hard and slate.
The best part is that you might not need to replace them within their lifetime. They are resistant to extreme weather and can stand up to a great volume of snow. That is why they are the first choice for roofing in heavy snowfall areas.
But they are heavy. And it’s worth knowing that, not all structures can handle their installation. Finally, they are expensive.
They can cost ten times more than asphalt shingles. Plus, you have to expend extra for additional frames to hold their weights.
Final Verdicts
There are lots of options for roofing shingles with their pros and cons. You need to consider your preference, like the durability, weather type, etc.
Moreover, the cost should fit your budget also. Plus, your house should be compatible with the heaviness of the material.
Therefore, you must consult an experienced structural engineer before installation. And do not forget to make regular checking.
Finally, replace or repair the damaged shingles quickly.
