Asphalt Shingle Roofs

Asphalt shingles are widely used for roofing because they are relatively cheap and easy to install. Asphalt shingles are classified as either fiberglass or organic. Most asphalt shingles are now made with fiberglass mats coated with asphalt. Organic-based shingles were manufactured with celluse (paper and wood) saturated with asphalt. They were typically more flexible than fiberglass shingles, but are now less commonly found. Weather resistant mineral granules are applied to the exposed surface of both organic and fiberglass asphalt shingles.

In residential applications, ‘strip’ and ‘laminated’ are widely used asphalt shingle types. The ‘three-tab’ strip shingle is perhaps the most common, resulting in an exposed rectangular tab area usually approximately 5″x12″ in size and placed in the familiar step pattern. The laminated asphalt shingle is sometimes referred to as ‘architectural’, uses more than one layer of laminate for additional thickness and visual depth, and is generally considered a better shingle.

With time and normal exposure all asphalt shingle roofs eventually develop one or more conditions common to most shingle roofs. These conditions and other potential causes of damage are discussed in the tabs below.