A Guide to Help You Choose New Roofing for Your Home
If you've recently found out that your roof is in need of repair or that it's got to be replaced altogether, then chances are you'll want to try and find the cheapest way possible to get this done without costing too much. Although it might be necessary to invest in a new roof for your home, and the following information will help you choose the right shingles.
Shingle Roofing Materials
A shingle roof is a type of roof in which overlapping pieces of roofing material are used. Similar to a tile roof, a shingle roof has overlapping layers of asphalt shingles, fiberglass mats, and wood or synthetic underlayment. A shingle roof is also known as a composition roof, tar and gravel roof, or built-up roof. There are several types of shingles, including asphalt, metal, shake, cedar, and slate.
Shingle Styles
Most homeowners, and even most roofers, choose only a few styles. The three most common styles are the "3-tab" shingle, which is the least expensive, and the "architectural" and "dimensional" shingles. The architectural shingle (also called a "dimensional" shingle), which is more expensive, looks so much more expensive than 3-tab shingles that some people consider it a waste of money. Architectural shingles are 3-tab shingles with thicker, deeper, more dimensional-looking "tabs" that imitate the dimensional look of wood or slate shingles. The architectural shingle is the most popular style.
The "three-tab" shingle is the least expensive and most popular shingle style. It is the most affordable asphalt shingle style because it is made of basically the same material as the more expensive architectural shingles.
The " architectural" and "dimensional" shingles are much more decorative than the 3-tab shingle. Architectural shingles come in square, rectangular, and scalloped shapes. Dimensional shingles come in many shapes, including squares, rectangles, and half-moons. Although they are more expensive, architectural and, dimensional shingles can greatly improve the appearance of your home.
Roof Shingle Warranties
The warranties cover two basic areas—product quality and installation quality. The first warranty relates to product quality. The shingle manufacturers guarantee their product will work as designed. The second warranty relates to the installation itself. The shingle manufacturers will guarantee that the installer will do their job properly.
Most shingle warranties require you to have your roof replaced within a certain time period if it fails. The warranty also must specify what counts as a "failure": the shingles must be visibly defective, or they must be leaking. If you hold the roofer to the original warranty, the shingle manufacturer will pay the roofer for the cost of replacing the shingles but not for any labor costs.
If you are not sure about what type of shingles will work best for your home, contact a roofing service to discuss these options.