Louisiana Roofing Contractor

Why are asphalt shingles right for my new roof?


Why are asphalt shingles right for my new roof?

Why are asphalt shingles right for my new roof? What is the preferred roofing material in the whole U.S.? According to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, a whopping 80 percent of U.S. homeowners don’t have a doubt about it. Asphalt shingles are by far the most used type of roofing material. 

“Asphalt roofing looks even better when you stack it up against the competition: Metal, tile, slate, and wood,” the association notes. “None of these materials can match the wide array of benefits only asphalt roofing provides.” 

What’s so great about asphalt shingles?

With asphalt shingles, you gather many important benefits in a single product:

  • They are affordable, 
  • They are durable
  • They are low-maintenance and,
  • They look great! 

Moreover, asphalt shingles are available in a wide range of colors and styles when compared to other types of shingles.

In this regard, Yanni Avramidis, director of roofing for Roof Crafters, explains: 

“The value and variety of many new styles and colors that are available today, combined with the longevity of a 50-year roof, make asphalt shingles the most popular shingle on the market.”

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What are asphalt shingles?

They are rectangular pieces of shingle employed as a roofing material. They consist of a base mat, asphalt, granules, and back surfacing.

Fiberglass is the preferred base mat since the 1980s. It is lighter, thinner, and more resistant to fire than felt, the former favorite. Besides, it offers longer warranties.

Manufacturers saturate the fiberglass base mat with asphalt coating to make it waterproof and allow granules, sticking firmly to the base mat. Then, they press the granules into the asphalt coating.

The opacity of these granules protects the asphalt from the sun’s UV rays avoiding shingles early aging. 

Back surfacing is a fine grain mineral coating applied to the back of every shingle. It avoids shingles sticking together before their installation.

  • What are the different types of asphalt shingles?
  1. 3-tab shingles: They’re affordable and easy to install. Example: 
  • CertainTeed XT 25.
  1. Architectural: Also called laminated or dimensional shingles, combines a great value with a great aesthetic. Examples: 
  • CertainTeed Landmark 
  • CertainTeed Presidential Tri-laminate
  1. Interlocking: It offers superior wind resistance but is more expensive.
  2. Large Format: They’re slab-type shingles without cutouts or tabs. They also have better wind resistance. 
  • Example: CertainTeed Patriot
  • Can asphalt shingles give my home the look of cedar shakes or slate?

Of course! Laminated asphalt shingles are produced for this purpose. Indeed, architectural, or dimensional shingles have the three-dimensional look of more expensive wood shakes. Also, you can find synthetic slate options in the market. 

  • How much do asphalt shingles cost?

Jeff Frantz, CertainTeed’s Washington, D.C. metro area territory manager for roofing products, says:

“Asphalt shingles cost much less than other shingle types such as tile or slate,”

“In addition, several options have 25-40% solar reflectivity.”

  • Why does solar reflectivity matter?

Shingles’ solar reflectivity helps determine Energy Star compliance, and qualified roofing products can reduce peak cooling demand by up to 15%. By combining these products with proper installation and ventilation, you can reduce your annual energy costs.

Besides, when using qualifying Energy Star products, you can obtain a federal tax credit of up to 10% of material cost. 

  • How long do asphalt shingles last?

Generally, asphalt shingles last about 10-15 years. However, Louisiana Roof Crafters provides a 50-year lifetime, non-prorated, transferrable warranty. They know that properly installed asphalt shingles last much longer. 

  • Do asphalt shingles require a lot of maintenance?

Asphalt shingles do not require cleaning, power washing, painting, or sealing. But, you may need to remove leaves and debris in valleys resulting from the intersection of different roof slopes. 

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Do you want asphalt shingles on your roof replacement?

At Roof Crafters, we’re specialists in asphalt shingle replacement and installation using top-quality CertainTeed roofing products and installation techniques. 

For more information or a free quote, contact us today!

Call Roof Crafters at 985-241-8045 or contact us online. You can get a price, schedule a free, in-home consultation, or find answers to your roofing questions.

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