Asphalt Shingle Roof - For Durability and Variety

Most homeowners prefer an asphalt shingle roof, also known as composition roof, when it comes to roofing for a variety of reasons. For one, this type of roof is quite inexpensive, costing only about $0.80 per square foot. Another reason is that asphalt shingles are very easy to install so even homeowners can repair or put the shingles on their own. Aside from being strong and durable, composition roofing also comes in different styles and colors.

There are actually two basic kinds of an asphalt shingle roof: organic and glass fiber, which is more popularly known as fiberglass. Organic asphalt shingles are composed of organic felt matter, which is usually made of paper soaked in asphalt to make sure it repels water.

Typically, this organic roof contains about 40% more asphalt than the glass fiber variety. Thus, organic asphalt shingle is heavier and stronger. The organic type may be tougher but it is not really fire retardant. Fiberglass shingles, on the other hand, is reinforced with a glass fiber mat that is shaped into shingles. This mat is then coated with asphalt to increase its durability. In order to make sure that the asphalt will stick to the mat properly, fillers are used to cover up voids and holes in the mat.

According to manufacturers, the lifespan of an asphalt shingle roof is about 20 years. In reality, however, the natural life of this type of roof is dependent on the environment. If you live in the northern part of the country, these composition roofs last longer than 20 years. Based on one study, the average lifespan of this kind of roof is about 20.8 years inPennsylvania, but only around 14 years in Arizona. Another aspect that affects composition roofs is attic ventilation. If you want to make your roof last longer, you ought to make sure that your roof has adequate ventilation. As evident on the study, the warmer the climate the easier the asphalt shingles deteriorate.

As mentioned earlier, an asphalt shingle roof is easy to do on your own. People who have done the roofing on their own spend about $680 to $3,700 for a one-story home with no more than 2,100 square foot of sloping roof. The most popular and cheapest composition roof is one that is gray in color. If you want to use a different color, you should be prepared to pay extra. It is also important to stress that if you want your roofing to last longer, you can always buy the heavier type of asphalt shingle.