Last Updated on February 16, 2023 by Abdul Rehman
Roof Shingles
Roofing with shingles is a significant investment that varies depending on the type of roof shingle and the roof area. Roofing shingles come in various types – from wood to asphalt to designer shingles and more! The decision isn’t as straightforward as when you could choose between ceramic, wood, and asphalt shingles!
Shingle types refer to the different materials used in roofing to cover and protect the roof structure from various weather conditions. Some of the most common shingle types include asphalt, wood, metal, tile, and slate. Asphalt shingles are the most popular type and are made from fiberglass and asphalt. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to install, making them a popular choice for many homeowners.
On the other hand, wood shingles are made from natural materials and offer a rustic and natural look to a home. They are also environmentally friendly and can last up to 50 years when properly maintained. Metal shingles, made of aluminum, steel, or copper, are lightweight and durable, withstanding even the most extreme weather conditions. Tile and slate shingles are the most expensive but are also the most long-lasting, with a lifespan of over 100 years.
They are known for their beauty and are often used in high-end homes or historic buildings. Choosing the right shingle type for your home depends on several factors, including budget, location, and aesthetic preferences. Understanding the pros and cons of each shingle type can help homeowners make an informed decision that best suits their needs.
When installing or replacing your existing roofing shingles, you must be familiar with all the different types of shingles. This guide is all about shingle types in detail.
Top 7 best shingle types
You must first know why and when you need new roofing before learning which roof shingles are available. Natural disasters like fire, windstorms and other natural events could cause damage. You can sometimes fix leaks yourself if you can locate the cause, but it’s best to leave some jobs to the professionals.
Most such leaks can be easily repaired if only a few areas are affected. If leaks continue to occur, a new roof may be needed. When your roof is over 20 years old, and out of warranty, it is advisable to replace it even if there are no apparent signs of damage. Following are the best shingle types in detail.
1. Roof Shingles Made of Metal
The appearance of metal roof shingles is stylish, and various colors are available. Due to their ease of installation and lightweight construction, they are an excellent choice for homes with roofs that cannot support heavy options.
This material can last up to 100 years, making it one of the most extended-lasting kinds of roof. There may be differences in costs for metal roof installation near you, depending on the average labor cost in your area. There are several different prices for metal roofing shingles, but they cost $5.25 to $12.50 per square foot or $525 to $1,250 per square. In addition to metal roofing, sheet panels are also available.
2. Roofing with wood shakes
Roofing shingles made from wood shakes are typically made of cedar from 200 to 300-year-old cedar trees. Split logs are divided into sections known as shakes, which are then used to make shingles. Consequently, the shingles have that characteristic rough appearance.
While wood shingles are known to last longer than asphalt when installed and maintained correctly, they are also more expensive and not environmentally friendly. Wood shakes cost around $6 to $10 per square foot, usually more expensive than wood shingles. Maintaining wood shakes for up to 40 years is possible with regular maintenance.
3. Shingles made of slate tile
It is a stone material installed as a roof shingle called slate roofing shingles. Slate shingles are thin but become cumbersome when used as a whole roof. Many people appreciate the natural beauty of slate, but the shingles are relatively uniform in color and appearance. Installation costs range from $800 to $1,400 per square foot for slate roofing shingles.
Despite being more challenging to install, slate tiles make for a long-lasting roof when appropriately installed.
The price of slate shingles is high, but if you can afford them, slate is an excellent roof-type option. From 60 to 150 years, slate roofs can last more than a lifetime, so many people decide it is worth the expense to install them.
4. Shingles made of tile
Regarding durability, tile roofing shingles are one of the most vital roofing types, but only when they are correctly installed. The tiles are known to slip off a mortar bed after just a decade or so when placed on it. If you choose the right type of tile, you won’t have a hard time finding a desirable price, but the installation will be a little more costly.
Depending on your roof’s strength, you may also need to strengthen it before a new tile roof can be installed. The lifespan of some tile roofs is similar to that of metal roofs and can last up to 100 years with proper maintenance.
5. Shingles made of clay or concrete
Southwest Spanish-style homes often have flat, barrel-shaped, or scalloped tiles of different colors made from this type. The properties of clay make it non-flammable and nonfading, while the properties of concrete make it a good heat and cold insulator and reflect sunlight.
Despite concrete tiles being heavier than clay, a structural engineer should inspect shingles made from either material before placing them in your home.
To support the roof’s weight, extra framing (underlying supports) will be needed during installation. The average cost for installing concrete tiles can be anywhere from $300 to $1,000 per square foot (clay tiles are about 30 to 50 percent more expensive than concrete), and the investment should last at least 40 years. Due to their weight and limited impact resistance, replacing these tiles on your own is difficult due to their repair ability with roofing cement.
6. Shingles made from asphalt
Asphalt shingles are the first roof shingle (and the most commonly used). The bulk of an asphalt roof system comprises asphalt shingles and other asphalt roofing components.
Even though asphalt shingles are among the best roof shingles overall, asphalt shingles come in three variations. A three-tab design, a dimensional design, and a luxury design are available.
A random pattern looks like a wood shake roof or architectural asphalt shingles have a dimensional look.
Asphalt roof shingles that look like slate are luxury asphalt shingles (or premium ones). There are two types of asphalt shingles, and they are the largest and most durable.
Roofers are slowly phasing out 3-tab shingles from their markets, which used to dominate them. Architectural shingles are the most common type used on roofs today because of their durability and aesthetic appeal.
Although luxury asphalt shingles are still popular, they are about twice as expensive as architectural asphalt shingles. The architectural asphalt shingle is a great option if you’re looking for an affordable roof shingle that makes a good-quality roof.
Luxury asphalt shingles can be an excellent choice to increase your home’s curb appeal, get more life, and have a higher budget.
7. Shingles made of rubber
A rubber roof shingle looks almost like an asphalt shingle, and it’s made of rubber. In addition to being easy to install, these are also highly durable. Roofing shingles of this type do not require maintenance. Asphalt shingles are cheaper than composite shingles in terms of cost.
There is a life span of 15 to 25 years for rubber roofing shingles. PVC, TPO, and EPDM roof materials are available for rubber roofs.
Standard shingles
Typical shingles are also known as strip shingles or 3-tab shingles. They are the oldest variety of asphalt shingles still in use today, despite numerous advancements, such as substituting the cellulose core with a fiberglass mat.
Traditional shingles weren’t always as big as they are now. Additionally, they are required to be manually sealed. Producers of shingles created self-sealing shingles in the 1950s, which, if properly placed by a roofing specialist, could be hammered to the roof and sealed by the sun’s heat.
Later, IKO started manufacturing 3-tab shingles in metric sizes, which are larger and easier to install than single shingle pieces. Professional roofers can install new 3-tab shingles because of their larger size and self-sealing characteristics. Roofers might charge consumers less since they are saving time.
- This larger volume of shingles is now being offered in several varieties.
Shingles from the past used to be monotone. If they were made of brown shingles, every style would consist of just one shade of brown, and if they were made of black shingles, just one shade of black.
With the advancement of technology, 3-tab shingles that blend multiple hues are now available. Some believe this style is more artistically pleasant and hides any differences in a solid hue you might notice.
3-tab shingles are easily recognized by their generally straightforward, dependable appearance. The component shingles are all identically shaped, precisely rectangular, and flat against one another.
Decorative Shingles
There are other names for architectural shingles, such as laminate and multidimensional shingles. Whatever name you give them, the architecture of these shingles is what sets them apart from conventional shingles. The layers of architectural shingles are two. Asphalt and fiberglass are the main ingredients in both layers. They may have an edge in terms of weather resistance due to their thick two-layer design.
Initially, shingle producers wanted these shingles to be thicker and more aesthetically pleasing. Because they are easier to install, they have become popular. The most fashionable shingles right now are dimensional ones.
Dimensional shingles
Dimensional shingles can be recognized by their distinctive appearance. These shingles aren’t cut into uniform shapes, unlike 3-tab shingles. Instead, alternate regions or tabs of single and double layers are used to create each shingle. Dragon’s teeth is a common name for this shingle pattern. A shadow band, which would be a strip of darker granules, is added by manufacturers. The roof gains dimension thanks to the sporadic double-layer tabs and the sporadic shadow band here on single-layer parts, which improves the appearance and design of the house.
Other Shingle Types
Additionally, “starting strips” and “hip and ridge shingles” may be used. These shingles coordinate with the primary shingle, which your roofing specialist installs on your roof in terms of overall design and structure. However, they have unique shapes or designs to facilitate installation.
Professional roofers always had to cut shingles into strips before lining the strands down and up the hips & ridges of a roof to place shingles there. This grew difficult as thicker laminated shingles became the norm since they were more challenging to cut and bend over the ridge.
Manufacturers created hip & ridge shingles in complementary colors that don’t require cutting to make things simpler for roofers.
The initial shingles your expert roofer installs on the roof are starter stripes or starter shingles. Starter strips give the initial course of major shingles a strong sealant strip to attach them to the roof. This sealer shields the roof substrate where the initial level of shingles has gaps, splits, or cuts. They could also guide the roofer to apply the proper pattern to the other roof portions.
What Sets Architectural Shingles Apart from Asphalt Shingles?
Since architectural shingles are technical “asphalt” shingles, when people ask about this topic, they usually want to know how they differ from 3-tab shingles. Concerning the actual differences between 3-tab & architectural shingles, some householders are perplexed.
Architectural shingles are thicker, to put it simply. This thickness might improve their performance. They also have a striking, distinct appearance. Architectural shingles contain “dragon’s teeth” and shadow bands, whereas 3-tab shingles are more uniform and flat. That doesn’t always imply that one kind of shingle is better than another. The best shingle for your home will rely on your priorities, the structure, and the climate.
Apart from this, if you are interested to know about Carpet Cleaning then visit our Home Improvement category.
Which kind of shingle is ideal?
The ideal option for the majority of homes is asphalt shingles because they are very inexpensive, simple to install, as well as lightweight. In order to simulate the appearance of more expensive piece shingles, like cedar and slate, which are fitted one shingles at a moment, they are sold in sheets that also are stacked on a roof.
