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My roof and yours are most likely covered with asphalt shingles. Asphalt shingles are an American invention, invented by Harry Reynolds of Grand Rapids, MI and were first used in 1903. Before this, wood shingles were predominantly used on homes. However, wood shingles are a fire hazard and the U.S. National Board of Fire Underwriters initiated a campaign to eliminate the use of wood shingles. This contributed to the growth in popularity of asphalt shingles.
Today, asphalt shingles are used on the roofs of four out of every five homes in the United States. They are the leading choice for residential roofing. It is not surprising when you consider the many advantages. Asphalt shingles offer the broadest array of colors, shapes and textures available in the roofing market— and they do it affordably.
Asphalt shingles come in two standard design options:
Three-tab Roof Shingles
Three-tab shingles are basically flat simple shingles with the same shape and size. The exposed area of the shingle is divided into 3 uniform divided by two slits, making it look like they have three tabs. This creates a uniform patterned roof. They use less material and are thinner than architectural shingles(see below), and are therefore lighter and lower cost for both the material and the installation. They also do not last as long or offer manufacturer’s warranties as long as architectural roof shingles. Three-tab are still the most commonly installed in lower-value homes, such as those used as rental properties. However, they are declining in popularity in favor of the architectural style.
Dimensional Roof Shingles, commonly referred to as Architectural Roof Shingles
Architectural shingles are thicker and stronger, the texture of each shingle varies in shape and size, and offer more aesthetic appeal; they cast more distinct, random shadow lines to better mimic the appearance of traditional roofing materials such as wood shake shingles. The result is a more natural, traditional look. While more expensive to manufacture and install, they do come with a longer manufacturer warranty, sometimes up to 50 years – typically prorated, as virtually all asphalt shingle roofs are replaced before such an expiration could be reached. While three-tab shingles typically need to be replaced after 15–18 years, Architectural shingles typically last 24–30 years. The life of shingles is affected by weather.
Lifespan of the Shingles on my roof
Aging of Shingles: Regional Weather Patterns
Roof shingles will generally last longer in regions where the weather is consistent, either consistently warm or consistently cool. When the temperature changes dramatically in a short period of time, it causes thermal shock. Experiments have noted that thermal shock causes asphalt shingles to age faster.
Wind and Hail Damage: Regional Storms
In addition to aging from weather, shingles sustain damage from storms, most notably from wind and hail. Wind and hail can cause structural damage to roof shingles and shorten their useful lifespan.
Wind can lift the roof shingles, weakening or eliminating the adhesive that seals the shingles together on the roof. Also, wind can cause the roof shingles to bend and crack the shingle structure. This can result in parts of the shingle breaking off. It can also cause entire shingles to come loose from the nails and fall off the roof.
Hail has direct impact on the roof shingles. When the impact is hard enough to dislodge the gravel granules on the shingle, the shingle looses it’s protective integrity. Without the granules, the asphalt is directly exposed to weather elements. With heat-freeze cycles the asphalt itself will become brittle and break off, exposing the fiberglass matting in the shingle. To make a long story short, each of these ‘hail hits’ becomes a potential leak.
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