Whether you just bought a home in Canton OH or already live in one for years, you need a good roof over your head. Obviously, it’s what anybody expects to have. It means that at least once in your life, you tackle an asphalt shingles installation project.
If you’re here because you want to know everything about asphalt shingles installation, we have your answers. In this guide, we’re going to cover the following:
- What asphalt shingles are and reasons to get them
- How much it will cost to install asphalt shingles
- Asphalt shingle roof installation process
Let’s dive in right away.
What Are Asphalt Shingles? Why Get Them?
Asphalt shingles are popular roofing materials installed on many homes in Canton OH and the rest of the US. An asphalt shingle comprises of a fiberglass mat sandwiched between asphalt material.
Granules top the outermost layer of shingles. These granules come in various colors such as green, red, brown, and more. Some granules are specially manufactured to reflect UV rays, making your roof energy-efficient.
Here’s what architectural shingle roofing looks like. Notice its dimensional appearance.
Three types of asphalt shingles exist. They are:
- Regular Shingles (3-Tab)
- Architectural Shingles (Dimensional)
- Luxury Shingles (Designer)
People often compare regular shingles and architectural shingles. Between the two, regular shingles cost the cheapest. They look plain and even. On the other hand, architectural shingles have a unique dimensional look. Luxury shingles are the most expensive types for they imitate the look of wood, slate, and metal.
People install asphalt shingles for various reasons. One is that asphalt shingles combine beauty and cost-effectiveness. They don’t just give Canton OH homeowners the freedom to choose from various colors, but they’re also affordable.
Another reason to choose asphalt shingles is that they don’t weight much. Being lightweight materials, they don’t require additional structural support.
Read More: Canton OH Home Improvement Guide: All About Asphalt Roof Shingles
How Much Does It Cost to Install Roof Shingles?
An asphalt shingles installation or replacement project will cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000. Low-end roof shingles and a simple installation process start at $5,000. Higher end asphalt shingle jobs start from $9,000. We got this information from roofingcalc.com.
Take note that asphalt shingles installation cost varies depending on different factors. These factors include how difficult the job is, the asphalt shingle brand, area of your roof, and location.
Here’s something to keep in mind: the cost of a roofing job doesn’t reveal quality. Be sure to hire a roofing contractor that’s licensed, insured, locally based, and experienced.
Asphalt Shingles Installation Instructions
Now that you know what asphalt shingles are and their installation costs, let’s take a closer look at how the installation job is done. Please keep in mind that installing asphalt shingles is not a DIY job. We present this asphalt roofing installation guide so you can use it to evaluate a roofing contractor or be informed.
1. Get a roofing assessment.
The first thing you should do is hire a roofing contractor to inspect your roof. The roofer will make the necessary measurements. He will then come up with an estimate of the asphalt shingles installation project. Based on the measurements, your contractor tells you the number of shingle bundles needed to cover the entire roof. Asphalt shingles usually come in bundles.
2. Tear off the old material.
If you need a roof replacement, first, your roofing contractor will have to remove your existing roofing material. This process is known as a roof tear-off.
If you have a previous roof in place, your roofer needs to remove it first. We call this process a roof tear-off. Contractors remove the old shingles using a garden fork or shovel. While they rip off the old shingles, they must do it carefully so as not to ruin the siding and other structures of your home.
Some homeowners think of a roof overlay instead of a tear-off. Overlaying means putting new shingles over an old layer. While an overlay is cheaper, it adds extra weight to your roof. Also, your roofing contractor won’t be able to check for underlying damage.
3. Install the drip edge, underlayment, and flashing.
Now that your roof is bare, contractors can proceed with the installation.
Before placing the new shingles, they must fasten the drip edge in place. A drip edge is a piece of metal flashing at the edge of your roof. It prevents water from penetrating the inner portions of your roof.
After the drip edge, your roofers will now install the underlayment. The underlayment is a large sheet of waterproof paper or any material. It acts as a secondary layer of protection against moisture.
Roofers will also have to install flashing to areas where they’re needed. These areas include your chimneys, other penetrations, and the part where your roof meets the wall.
4. Start laying the shingles.
It’s time to lay out the starter shingles. After the starter shingles, subsequent rows will be covered. Roofing contractors use an installation pattern of left to right, bottom to top. Several contractors can work together to fill the gaps until your entire roof is covered by shingles.
Finally, your contractors will install the ridge shingles. These are the last set of shingles to cover the ridge of your roof.
5. Do a final check when it’s done.
Finally, your roofers will need to inspect the finished installation project. This will make sure that the job was done correctly.
Be sure to conduct a final inspection. Your team of contractors must not leave the project site without making sure that the roof was properly installed.
Ready for an Asphalt Shingles Installation Project?
You reached the end of our guide about asphalt shingles installation. We can all tell that this project needs careful planning. The most important part about it is choosing the right roofing company.
A good roofing company employs roofers and trains them well. Most importantly, they use the best practices and install high-quality asphalt shingles.
Here at Silver Leaf Contracting, we specialize in different kinds of roofing. Our choices include not just asphalt shingles, but also metal, slate, and rubber.
If you’re interested in asphalt shingles, hire us. We use top shingle brands like Owens Corning and CertainTeed. Get started today by calling us at 330-935-9027.
