architectural roof shingles Over the past several years, architectural roof shingles have become an increasingly popular roofing material and a favorite of many business owners and homeowners. Also referred to as laminated or dimensional shingles, this innovative roofing material is actually a polymer composite roofing product designed to be much more durable than conventional asphalt shingles.

Architectural shingles are definitely an attractive addition to any home and will undoubtedly increase your property value. They produce a beautiful, three-dimensional look and come in a variety of different styles. Whatever your individual taste may be, you’re very likely to find the perfect architectural shingle product for your home or office. But appearance isn’t everything. This state-of-the art roofing material offers many other advantages as well.

Advantages of Architectural Shingles

  • Variety of colors and styles: Architectural shingles come in a wide variety of designs. Some look just like cedar wood shakes, for example. One recent addition to the selection of architectural shingles available on the market is a synthetic slate material that very closely mimics the appearance of slate without the excessive weight that comes with that type of roofing material.

  • Resistant to wind: Because architectural shingles are somewhat heavier than conventional asphalt shingles, they’re much more wind resistant. This is unlike traditional asphalt shingle roofs, which are prone to losing shingles in strong winds.

  • Fire resistant: Architectural shingles are extremely fire resistant. In fact, many of these products are rated Class A, which is the highest fire resistance rating available in roofing products.

  • Resistant to hail: As opposed to conventional asphalt shingles, which can be badly damaged by hail storms, architectural shingles are much more capable of withstanding the pounding that comes with hail and usually sustain no damage whatsoever.

  • Can withstand extreme temperatures: Conventional asphalt shingles normally deteriorate when exposed to extreme hot or cold temperatures over the course of a few years. Architectural shingles, on the other hand, hold up quite well in virtually any climate.

  • Algae resistant: This innovative type of roofing material is also effective in preventing algae growth, which makes it ideal for humid climates.

  • Extended warranties: Because architectural shingles are so much more durable than traditional asphalt materials, most manufacturers offer much better warranties on these products. It’s not uncommon for makers of architectural shingles to provide customers with 40-year, 50-year or even lifetime warranties.

If you’re in the market for a new roof for your home or business, it’s worthwhile to consider architectural shingles as a viable option. Although they are more expensive than conventional asphalt shingles – typically 20% to 40% more – the extended warranties make it well worth the extra money you’ll pay upfront. One important thing to remember when it comes to a new roof: it’s almost always better to choose a higher quality material even if you have to pay a bit more for it initially. That’s still much cheaper than having to have a whole new roof installed in 10 or 15 years.

Architectural shingles are considered to be one of the highest quality roofing materials available, and many roofing experts compare their quality to other extremely durable materials such as metal, slate or clay tiles. Ask your roofing contractor for more information about the various styles and brands of architectural shingles available.




Free Texture – Roof (Closer) | Flickr – Photo Sharing! : taken from – http://www.flickr.com/photos/thousandshipz/3175600177/Author: thousandshipz http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en