style of asphalt shingles

Fiberglass asphalt shingles, on the other hand, use woven fiberglass as a base layer and then be coated with asphalt and ceramic granules.

Because it has lesser asphalt content, it is much lighter and easier to install and due to the fiberglass, it is less water-absorbent and more fire-resistant compared to the organic shingles. Lesser asphalt content also means not as durable as organic materials. It is also more prone to brittleness in colder climates. 

Now that you have chosen your shingle material, we may now proceed with the style. What style of shingles is best for you?

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Roof shingles can be of two different styles, three-tab shingles, and architectural shingles. And the choice lies with you!

Architectural shingles are also known as dimensional shingles. This is because the architectural shingles are created by laminating two shingles together which gives them more bulk or “dimension”.

It comes in different sizes and styles, versatile with your taste. And because of these, it is more durable, wind-resistant, and has a longer life span compared with the three-tab shingles. 

Due to these reasons, architectural shingles are much heavier compared with the three-tab shingles which need more cost and manpower during the installation and should have greater roofing support. Plus, they are much more costly compared with the other shingle style. 

Final point is that three-tab shingles are much cheaper and easier to install but architectures are more durable and heavier.

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Despite these, shingles are still inexpensive compared to other roofing materials. Another is, that it can be of different sizes and colors which can last long throughout its service life because of its ceramic coating. The most important thing after choosing and installing your preferred roofing is maintenance.

Three-tab shingles look like separate shingles but really are three shingles pieced together and installed as one. Three-tab shingles are also flatter and thinner which cost less and can be installed easier. They also give a more uniform look compared with the other style. 

The thing is three-tab shingles are more prone to and easily damage which can last shorter compared to the architectural shingles.

And because of its style, three shingles pieced together, it is less versatile and can only have one look. It also has a shorter warranty compared to the other option because of its durability.

Asphalt shingles are an American invention by Henry Reynolds of Grand Rapids, Michigan. They were first used in 1903, in general use in parts of America by 1911 and by 1939 11 million squares of shingles were being produced.

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A U.S. National Board of Fire Underwriters campaign to eliminate the use of wood shingles on roofs was a contributing factor in the growth in popularity of asphalt shingles during the 1920s. The forerunner of these shingles was first developed in 1893 and called asphalt prepared roofing which was similar to asphalt roll roofing without the surface granules. 

In 1897 slate granules were added to the surface to make the material more durable. Types of granules tested have included mica, oyster shells, slate, dolomite, fly-ash, silica and clay. In 1901 this material was first cut into strips for use as one-tab and multi-tab shingles.

All shingles were organic at first with the base material, called felt, being primarily cotton rag until the 1920s when cotton rag became more expensive and alternative materials were used. Other organic materials used as the felt included wool, jute or manila, and wood pulp.

In 1926 the Asphalt Shingle and Research Institute with the National Bureau of Standards tested 22 types of experimental felts and found no significant differences in performance. In the 1950s self-sealing and manually applied adhesives began to be used to help prevent wind damage to shingle roofs.

The design standard was for the self-sealing strips of adhesive to be fully adhered after sixteen hours at 140 °F (60 °C). Also in the 1950s testing on the use of 3⁄4-inch (19 mm) staples rather than roofing nails was carried out showing they could perform as well as nails but with six staples compared with four nails.

In 1960 fiberglass mat bases were introduced with limited success; the lighter, more flexible fiberglass shingles proved to be more susceptible to wind damage particularly at freezing temperatures.

Later generations of shingles constructed using fiberglass in place of asbestos provided acceptable durability and fireproofing. Also in the 1960s research into hail damage which was found to occur when hail reach a size larger than 1.5 inches (38 mm).

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Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) formed the High Wind Task Force in 1990 to continue research to improve shingle wind resistance.

In 1996, a partnership between members of the U.S. property insurance industry, the Institute of Business and Home Safety, and the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) was established to create an impact resistance classification system for roofing materials.

The system, known as UL 2218, established a national standard for impact resistance. Subsequently, insurers offered discounted premiums for policies on structures using shingles that carried the highest impact classification (class 4).

In 1998, Texas Insurance Commissioner Elton Bomer mandated that Texas provide premium discounts to policyholders that installed class 4 roofs.

Conclusion

Swadley Roof Systems offers the best roofing services in the Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Dallas area.