24 Aug The Different Types of Roofing Shingles

When it comes to a roofing job there are several elements that the customer that the customer will have thought long and hard about.  Roof shingles are one of those elements.  ACCLWaterproofing offers four types that promise durability and style.

Asphalt Shingles

The most common and popular form of roofing is asphalt shingles.  Asphalt shingles provide the protection your roof needs from inclement weather conditions.  They have three components:

1. A mat made from fiberglass or cardboard
2. An asphalt coating
3. A covering of granules.

It is the asphalt in the shingles that sheds the water.  Designed so that the granules block the UV of the sun and protect the asphalt.  Asphalt shingles are an economical alternative compared to other types of roofing.  They are available in a wide selection of colors to complement your home.

 Cedar Shingles

Traditionally made from Western Red Cedar, they are the ideal roofing material for homeowners who prefer giving their roofs a natural look.  A roof of Western Red Cedar shakes resists:

• High winds
• Heavy rains
• Ice
• Snow
• Sun

Due to their incredible durability, cedar shingles are used widely across varied climatic conditions.  Over time, cedar weathers to an attractive silver-grey colour while helping to keep the house cool in summer and warm in winter.

Since the turn of the last century, these distinctive products have been used as roof and wall cladding throughout North America.  A roof of shakes or shingles is an investment in good looks, good taste, and longevity.  Western Red Cedar shakes and shingles have a proud architectural tradition.  They complement any building style, beautifully and naturally.

Designer Roof Shingles

Designer roof shingles have become increasing popular.  To many homeowners, they are considered one of the few ways to dramatically alter your home.

Manufacturers like Building Products of Canada (BP) are very much aware of this trend and, in recent years, have introduced new designs and more sophisticated colours. Currently, the most fashionable designer shingle is the laminated shingle. One popular example is the Harmony 35 from BP. It uses the same material as fiberglass asphalt shingles but offers a thicker, more substantial look more closely resembling slate or wood shakes.  Designer shingles are backed by warranties.  The warranties can last 30, 35, 40 or even up to 50 years.

Slowly but surely the benefits of designer shingles have become apparent to homeowners:

• The upscale look their shake-like design imparts to a home’s exterior
• The added protection backed by additional warranty coverage
• The value in terms of both performance and additional return on investment if and when the house is put up for sale.

Pine Shake Conversions

When pine shake roofing was introduced, homebuilders and homeowners alike were delighted to discover a more affordable way to achieve the beauty of a wood shake roof. Unfortunately, what held out such promise turned into an ongoing financial nightmare. Roofs that were supposed to last 25 or 30 years were showing rapid deterioration after just ten or twelve years, sometimes even sooner.

Choosing which shingle type to replace your roof with is a big decision. Our roofing specialists can help you understand your options so that you can be confident that you have made the right choice.