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An Economical Choice in Roof Shingles

Monday, December 29th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

In residential roofing, there are many other choices today on the market then there were ten years ago due to technological advances in the field. Now, instead of only having the choice between asphalt shingles, there are now choices in other average priced roofing materials such as metal, which give the same high class shingled look but without going to the cost of cedar shakes, tile or slate. There are also energy saving solar roofing shingles that are becoming more affordable and look better than they did in years past.

Types of Roof Shingles

The most common and least expensive roof shingles are asphalt shingles that are made either of organic material or fiberglass. Organic asphalt shingles are the least expensive, running between sixty to one hundred dollars per square and lasting around twenty years. Fiberglass roofing shingles are flexible and stronger than the organic asphalt shingles and last from twenty to thirty years. The highest class of shingles is dimensional shingles that are thicker still and have a custom appearance that allows for more design options.

Most roofing companies are able to install these asphalt shingles since they are so common. During installation, there must be adequate venting systems so that there is good air flow in the attic space under the roof. There should be one square foot vent per three hundred square feet of roof and half of the vents should be near the ridge and half near the eaves. One problem with asphalt roofs that requires maintenance is high winds; with another problem being moss build up.

Metal roof shingles are an option that did not used to be available, but now provide a variety of options in color and design. Metal roofing material is a little higher in cost than asphalt roofs, but is longer lasting, with an average life of about fifty years. Metal roofing shingles are also lightweight and easy to work with, making it easy for the roofing companies to install. They come in tile and slate looks, which is a wonderful option for those who cannot afford the prices of those two materials, but still want to have that look for their house or business.

Tile roof shingles are more expensive than metal roofing material and last about the same amount of time. They are very heavy to install and require a roofing company that specializes in tile roofing to make sure it is done properly. Slate roofing material is the most expensive, usually running from six hundred to one thousand dollars per square, which is ten times as much as asphalt roofing material. Slate also requires special installation and can be brittle to work with.

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