Types of Roofing Shingles
A roof provides much more for a home that most people think. Without a roof or the shingles on it, our homes would be susceptible to all kinds of weather, and it would cause a lot of indoor damage to our home.
Roof shingles are a roof covering consisting of individual overlapping, flat, rectangular, single, shingles that are laid out in rows without the side edges overlapping. A single layer of single are used to insure water resistance, and other protection for the roof of the house. shingles are laid from the bottom edge of the roof up, with the bottom edge of each row over lapping the previous row by a third of its length.
Over the years singles have been made up of various materials such as wood shingles, slate shingles, asbestos cement shingles, slate tile shingles and asphalt shingle. Due to increased fire hazards wood, and paper based asphalt single have become less common that fiberglass based asphalt shingles used today. In the United State fiber glass based asphalt shingles are by far the most common type of roofing material used.
Types of Roof Shingles
There are many different types of shingles with each serving it own importance. The type of shingles a house has depends on the shingle of their taste, climate they live in, protection that it offers, and the amount of maintenance required for them.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are also known as composition shingles, and they are a very popular choice as they are inexpensive and extremely durable. Once installed, they can last anywhere between 20 to 30 years. These shingles are strong and sturdy, you can even walk on them without causing any damage. They are fire resistant, and the most popular choice for shingles in today's homes. Asphalt shingles can be manufactured in a wide range of colors and styles.
Wood Shingles
Because trees were plentiful in the earliest days of settlement in America, wood was used for almost all aspects of construction. Wooden roof shingles were lightweight, made with simple tools, and easily installed. With today's building new fire standards wood singles have become obsolete. Wood roofing comes in 2 types; shingles and shakes. Shingles have a smooth finish and are cut to a particular size. Although wood provides a very unique look to a home, it demands a lot of maintenance. Using this material for roofing can be a costly affair, as insects and rot can damage the material easily.
Cedar Shingles
This type of roofing shingles have been around for quite a long time. Cedar shingles are very good looking and add to the royal look of a home. Cedar shingles come in cinnamon, honey and silvery gray colors, but people avoid using this type of roofing because it is not resistant to fire at all. Cedar shingles require regular cleaning and care, otherwise their appearance may fade within a short time.
Slate
Slate is a very costly choice to roofing your home. It is considered the most sophisticated and stylish of all roofing material. Slate comes in a variety of textures, colors and quality levels. Roofs with natural slate shingles are very durable, and with the proper maintenance they can last indefinitely. Slate tiles are resistant to insects, weather, and they can also provide good protection against fire. Slate is very heavy so it is critical to make sure that your roof can withstand the extra weight.
Concrete Shingles
Early concrete shingles contained asbestos with provided a great fireproof, and protective roof, however with the health effects related to asbestos they no longer contain asbestos in them. Concrete manufactured cement and sand have been very popular choices for roofs in recent years. Concrete roofing is long lasting and requires very little maintenance. Concrete tiles are light weight and resistant to shattering, high winds, extreme temperatures, hail, and fire.
Clay Tile Shingles
Clay tiles shingles were common at one point in warmer climate areas such as Florida and California. Clay tiles can be overlapping or interlocking. They provide superior fireproof protection and durability. Clay tiles do not absorb the sun's heat as much as other types of roofing which makes them a good choice for houses in warm climates. Clay tiles are not suitable for climates in the frost zone as they will be prone to breaking, and water damage.
Ceramic Spanish Style Roofing
The most long predominant image of southern California and Florida were the so called Spanish style red tile roof. There are currently other roofing materials available which meet the ceramic tiles fire retardant ability, with much less weight on the roof. This type of shingle is called the half barrel because it is a cylinder cut in half length wise, and roughly 16 inches long.
When looking through the pricing of roof shingles, you will notice that not only are there different prices, different designs obviously, but also the price for contractors. One of the best ways to ensure that your roof is exactly the way you want it, the hiring of contractors is always a helpful investment. Can you put the shingles up yourself, of course, but you will soon come to realize, that this is a job that takes more attention from other hands than just your own.
The contractors that people generally use are through the local names that can be found in the directory. Sometimes you may know a friend who has had their roof done recently,
and since such a nice job was done, you were recommended their name. Always look at their rates, for you will discover that not only are the rates so different from one another, but their reputation will always be different from one another. There are local hardware stores that are able to provide their customers with some of the names of local contractors that they highly recommend, and in doing so, you can receive a really nice discount.
Price out your shingles. Know exactly what sort of shingles you want, the style, and know how many you will need for the project. Depending on your house style and color will better help you to determine which style of shingles are most suited for your house. From there, as you have obtained the desired amount of shingles and designs, your next step is to then call upon your decided contractors. Some people ask the questions pertaining to the contractors already having the shingles that they are in need of, and most of the times the answer is yes, the contractors will have the shingles that you're looking for, and you can purchase them directly. This in itself can help save in money.
If you wonder what type of shingles are best for your house, the best professional to ask would be the one that you can find in a hardware store, or even asking your contractor that question is also a helpful tool. These professionals, through knowing what you want your house to do, will be able to decide on what shingles are better suited for your home. As their job begins, you will find that your new roof will be coming together just in time for the rainy seasons, which is perfect to see just how your new roof holds up.
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