Will asphalt roof shingles be the hottest Canton OH residential property roofs in 2019? In fact, we believe asphalt roof shingles will remain a village staple for decades to come.

True enough, there’s no denying its beautiful, traditional appeal. If you’ve seen most Western-style homes especially in Canton OH, they’re often asphalt shingle roofs.

After reading this post, you’ll know:

Everything about asphalt roof shingles
Different asphalt shingles types
The typical asphalt shingles system installation
And if asphalt shingle roof life extends property lifespan as well

What are Asphalt Roof Shingles?

Manufacturers of asphalt roof shingles use the same road-efficient asphalt bitumen specifically for roofing use. However, asphalt shingles have a reinforcement of felt and other fibers to improve its cohesion and durability.

Some asphalt shingles brands introduce different additives that extend their product lifespan through their extensive research. In addition, you can find different asphalt shingles colors available in most supplier stores.

However, keep in mind that each brand offers different asphalt shingles prices. Therefore, it is wise to shop around and balance both price and benefits when choosing materials.

The Different Types of Asphalt Shingles

True enough, most homeowners and contractors refer more often to the shape of asphalt shingles than the physical product itself. Because asphalt is not the only material brands use to make shingles, homeowners now have dozens of material options. Here are some of them.

Three-Tab

The standard asphalt roof shingles look is the three-tab asphalt shingles. The roofing material earns its name because of the small top-panel that link three asphalt shingle tabs.

Three-tab shingles only cost $7-$8 per square foot. In addition, they are quite easy to install. True enough, even Canton OH homeowners with DIY experience can install their new asphalt roof shingles with the right equipment.

Architectural

A variant of asphalt roof shingles, architectural shingles are more durable and beautiful than three-tab shingles.

The material gets its name from its elegant and rhythmic look. If three-tab shingles look too uniform, homeowners can find architectural shingles rhythmic. Because it has varying thicknesses and two to three shades of a similar color palette, architectural shingles look majestic.

However, they’re more expensive than three-tab shingles at $10-$13 per square foot. True enough, most real estate remodelers use them to raise the price of the property they’re reviving.

a finished installation of architectural shingle roofs

Architectural shingles have different shades of the same color palette that give it a unique, rhythmic, and textured look.

Tile

Clay and slate are two materials most manufacturers will use for tiles. However, asphalt shingle manufacturers offer an asphalt tile variant.

True enough, they look similar to asphalt roof shingles. The only difference is they have an extremely flat and uniform appearance.

While three-tab shingles require an overlapping installation, tiles require a flooring-style installation that requires no overlapping. On the other hand, it requires additional asphalt cement sealing after the entire roof installation.

Asphalt roofing tiles cost about the same as asphalt roof shingles.

Wood Shingles or Shakes

In the middle ages, builders will cut trees and break them in equal pieces using an axe. Then, the equal-cut wood squares the builders will install on top of roofs in an overlapping fashion. This was the birth of wood shingles.

Nowadays, manufacturers use machines to cut hardwood, mahogany, and other tough trees into uniform wood shingles. Hand-cut shakes achieve the same pattern as the middle-age wood shingles but have more durability given the advancements in roofing materials today.

Wood shingles and shakes cost about $10-$12 per square foot.

Other Variants

Other asphalt roof shingles manufacturers use different materials to create their roofs. These include the following:

Concrete
Metal
Rubber Composite (think of EPDM roofs but having a roof shingle shape)
Copper
Solar Cell Shingles

contractors installing a new asphalt shingle roof

Concrete shingle or tile roofs may require additional roofing joists to support its weight.

How to Install Asphalt Shingle Roofs

Any roof construction is not easy. However, if you have the right tools, equipment, and experience, you can install asphalt roof shingles systems in just two to three weeks.

Contractors use minimal equipment when installing these roof types. Typically, you’ll need the following:

Roof shingle cutter (which you can purchase from the supplier)
Rulers more than 12 inches
Asphalt cement
Roofing nails (suppliers can provide you these as well)

Prepare Your Materials

Most suppliers sell asphalt shingles in bundles. The best way to get the right amount of shingles is to measure the total square of your home. In turn, the supplier can give their estimate on the shingle amount you need for complete construction.

Install Underlayment and Flashing

Clean up your roof and remove any sign of debris and other items on the bare roofing boards. Then, you can lay underlayment and staple the felt material in place. Next, install all necessary flashings and drip edges for effective rainwater management.

Cut Starting Course Shingles

You’ll need to cut most starter course asphalt roof shingles to attain the uniform overlapping aesthetic of the roofing materials. While cutting reduces the size of the first shingle, it guarantees a waterproofing overlap that protects your roof from leaks and improves property insulation.

Hammer Shingles With Nails

After cutting these course starters, you can nail them into place. Then, make sure each nail has two inches of space in between. In addition, nail your shingles from the top left, middle, and top right corners of the material.

Seal with Asphalt Cement

Once you have installed the final course, you can use asphalt cement to seal the overlaps and ridges for improved waterproofing and insulation.

Will Asphalt Roof Shingles Prolong House Lifespan?

One of the biggest asphalt shingles pros and cons are its lifespan. A typical asphalt shingle roof has 25-30 years of life.

Some argue it is too short. However, other Canton OH homeowners are satisfied especially for the cost of a three-tab shingle. True enough, clay tiles and metal shingles can last for more than 70 years but at an added cost.

Therefore, if you want to prolong the property lifespan, we suggest using architectural shingles or any variant other than the three-tab asphalt shingle.

Clay shingles can have as much as 70 years with effective maintenance.

Wrapping Up

Asphalt roof shingles are excellent roofing materials that are here to stay and remain useful even beyond 2019. However, to make sure they perform in the best possible way, you’ll need to install them in the best and most precise way possible.

If you have zero DIY experience or fear that you can’t achieve a proper installation, then you can have Silver Leaf Contracting to help you install your new asphalt roof shingle roof. We’re a roofing contractor with decades of experience installing, replacing, and repairing asphalt shingle roofs! We’ll be more than happy to install your new roof for you.