Why Asphalt Shingle Roofing Is Still Around
Years ago, wood shakes were the standard roof material. Then, asphalt shingles emerged on the scene. People began choosing asphalt shingles more often because they were far less prone to rot, were easier to install and repair, and lasted longer than wood shakes. In more recent years, there has been another shift in the roofing industry. New materials have been introduced. There's concrete tile roofing, solar shingles, metal sheets, and more. These materials are often longer-lived and more durable than asphalt shingles. So, why haven't they replaced asphalt shingles? There are a few reasons.
Asphalt shingles are significantly more affordable.
There is a pretty big price difference between asphalt shingle roofing and other roofing materials. Tile, for example, can cost several times as much as shingle roofing. Solar roofing costs even more. While some homeowners can afford to invest in these more expensive roofs, others cannot. Asphalt shingles offer a more affordable option. While they are not the highest-end roof material, they do offer good protection. In other words, they offer a very good value for their cost.
Asphalt shingles work well on complicated roofs.
If your home was built during the era when asphalt shingles were the go-to, ever-popular material, it may not be designed in a way that is compatible with other roof materials. For example, if the roof has several peaks and valleys that come together at various angles, it can be really hard to re-roof with tile, metal panels, and other higher-end materials. Asphalt shingles, however, are fairly simple to install on this type of roof. They are a little flexible and can be cut down to size when needed.
Asphalt shingles are easy to fix.
Your roof may have more leaks and minor issues when you have asphalt shingles versus tile or metal. However, the damage that occurs to asphalt shingle roofs is generally pretty easy to repair. The roofer can just remove the damaged shingles and put new ones into place. The new shingles do not cost very much, and it only takes a few minutes to install them. Some handy people can even DIY their shingle roof repairs. That's harder to do with other roof materials.
Asphalt shingles are still around, and they probably will be around for many more years. They work well on complicated roofs, they're affordable, and they are easy to replace or repair. There's a distinct place in the roofing world for a material with those qualities.
Contact a professional for more information about shingle roofing.
