Whether you’re planning to replace your home’s current roof or having a new home built, you could be wondering about the best roofing material for you. There are many materials for residential roofing on the market today, but you should be sure to consider asphalt shingles.
Asphalt shingles are made of a fiberglass base mat, waterproof asphalt, and ceramic granules to protect the material from UV rays. There are three types of asphalt shingles:
- The basic 3-tab shingles
- Dimensional shingles
- Premium or shake-style shingles
What Makes Asphalt Shingles the Best Residential Roofing Material?
Shingles remain the dominant roofing option in North America for many good reasons. Let’s look at some of them.
Affordable: Out of all residential roofing materials available today, asphalt shingles are the least expensive, making them a good option if you’re replacing your roof on a budget.
Effective: Asphalt shingles are incredibly durable. Quality versions can reliably stand up to the elements and keep your home safe and dry. Installed correctly and vented properly, you can expect your shingle roofing to last anywhere from 15 to 25 years.
Fire-resistant: Fiberglass-based asphalt shingles provide good fire protection. They can withstand a fire burning through the wooden roofing components for up two hours. Shingles with a Class A fire-resistance rating can protect your home against fires started by windblown embers landing on the roof.
Wind-resistant: Depending on their wind-resistance rating, asphalt shingles can resist uplift at wind speeds of 60 to 150 mph.
Energy-efficient: While traditional shingles provide some reflectivity and energy efficiency, shingles with special granules can reflect a higher percentage of the sun’s heat. This prevents heat from transferring to the building below, thereby decreasing cooling-associated costs.
Versatile: Roofing shingles are very visually flexible. Black and brown are popular choices, but you can also go for other colors like grey, green or blue. You’re sure to find a color that complements your siding and shutter colors. What’s more, you can choose the style and shape that you think will look best on your home.
Low maintenance: Shingles are low maintenance and require little attention to stand the test of time. You just need to schedule regular inspections, keep your roof and gutters clean, and trim nearby tree branches.
Can’t Decide on a Roofing Material?
If you’re not sure which roofing material is right for your needs and budget, contact our experts at Adam Vaillancourt Roofing & Gutters. Our roofers can provide more information about asphalt shingle roofing, help you make the right decision, and get started with your new roof installation in the Southern New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts area.
