Asphalt Roof Shingles- What are the greatest benefits?

December 20, 2019

The famous saying “having a roof over your head”, truly expresses the importance of having a solid roof. It’s the most significant part of the house, providing your family with a shelter from all harsh weather conditions, keeping your house warm in winter and cool during the hot summer days.

Upon replacing or installing a completely new roof, the most important factor is selecting the right shingles material. Asphalt shingles are the most prominent type being sold on a worldwide level. Their exquisite longevity along with the affordable price, make them one of the roof materials favorites.

In case you haven’t heard about their incredible benefits yet, the information below is going to help you realize what makes them leader on the market.

Wide variety

Unlike the past when asphalt shingles were limited in shapes and colors, nowadays they are one of the most extensive types on the market. They are available in multiple lighter tones, not just the standard gray or black ones. In case you wish to purchase a particular design, you’ll be provided with shingles which imitate wood, slate or tiles.

Apart from selecting a particular color and design, you can choose from the wide range of shapes as well. The most commonly chosen shape is the flat one, but nowadays homeowners who are trying to make a statement are going for the 3D shingles, which don’t come in variety of colors, but create an amazing effect. Read more about the different types of asphalt roofing shingles.

Longevity

Asphalt shingles are doubtlessly the leader when it comes to material durability. Their lifespan is of an incredible duration of 25 to 30 years, making them one of the most cost-effective options on the market as well. The key to such longevity lies in their weight, being somewhere in the middle on the weight scale, not too light and not too heavy.

Proper installation guarantees resistance to leaks, which are considered to be one of the worst roof enemies. However, among the greatest qualities of asphalt is being resistant to fire as well as to strong winds, which make it the perfect choice for homeowners living in regions with harsh climate. Therefore, they are ideal for houses in areas where forest fires and tornados are a common thing.

Easy to install

Installation is another factor which contributes to asphalt shingles’ amazing benefits. Regardless of the steepness of your roof, they are simple to install taking no more than a few days for the process to be completed. Moreover, asphalt is a low-maintenance material, which means that it requires minimum care in order to endure so many years. It’s also very convenient when it comes to repairs, giving you a peace of mind in case of potential leaks or roof holes in the future.

As a result of the facility to work with this type of material, roofers don’t charge as much money for installation and repairs as with other materials. You’ll find numerous professionals for installation of asphalt house roof shingles in Melbourne, which offer their roofing services for much lower cost than the ones installing slate or wooden shingles.

Simple to maintain

Roofs require regular maintenance in order to last longer, which largely depends on the roofing materials you choose. Selecting top-notch materials equals lower maintenance unlike purchasing cheaper ones which are likely to result in frequent leaks or other roof damage. Fortunately, asphalt doesn’t require a lot of maintenance, being able to withstand temperature extremes, strong winds as well as fire.

Nevertheless, the only factor which might affect its quality is excessive moisture. It refers to climates where humidity is high all-year-round, causing difficulties for the shingles to dry out. As a result of being constantly damp, roofs can develop black stains caused by algae, which ruin their color and make them look shabby.

Luckily, there are algae-resistant shingles, particularly designed for these types of climates, which get their algae-resistance thanks to copper.

Benefits the environment

Apart from being an excellent choice for your home, asphalt as a material is a beneficial choice for the environment as well, owing to its recycling properties. Asphalt shingles are convenient to recycle after being used for more than 20 years.

Instead of being taken to the landfill site, they’re being used once again for manufacturing new ones or for paving roads. Take a look at the recycling guide, teaching you how to recycle roof shingles on the following link: https://earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle-shingles/.

Energy-efficient

Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of asphalt roofs is their energy-efficiency. This material doesn’t absorb too much heat which makes it ideal for regions with soaring temperatures, as most of the heat originates from the attic and transfers to the rest of the house.

Furthermore, you can choose cool asphalt roof which is specially designed to reflect the sunlight without allowing it to enter the house. You can achieve a similar effect by selecting light-colored shingles, which deflect sunrays more than the dark tone ones. Thus, you’ll end up reducing the cost of air-conditioning for your house.

Highly- affordable and cost-effective

Asphalt shingles are one of the most low-cost options on the market, making them a perfect choice for every homeowner looking to renovate or completely replace its existing roof. The labor cost for installation is low-cost as well.

In addition, its energy-efficiency and long-term use make it one of the most cost-effective materials, suitable for every budget. In case you’re planning to install a new roof, you can use some of the online roofing calculators, which are going to calculate the approximate price in accordance with the size of your house as well as all the other preferences.