In this section of Hometips for Home Improvement, we learn and understand about asphalt shingle roofing.

Asphalt shingles are the most commonly used roofing material in North America. Even though, other roofing materials such as wood shingles, slate, tile, metal, etc, can also be used to surface house roofs, asphalt stands out to be the ultimate choice as the roof material because it is relatively easy to apply ,affordable, fire-resistant, lightweight, easily available everywhere, and durable enough to last for 15 to 40 years.

Till few years back, asphalt shingles had uninteresting appearance did not offer the visual look and charm of classic roofing materials such as wood and tile. Today, asphalt shingles are sold in many textures, grades, and styles that are give the look and charm of traditional materials.

Most of the do-it-yourselfers favor asphalt roofing because they can handle repairs even tackle replacement.

About 4/5^Th of American homes have asphalt shingle roofs. Two basic types Asphalt Shingle are available: composition and fiberglass-base shingles.

Composition shingles have a core of organic “felt” made from wood and paper fibers.

Fiberglass-base shingles have a core of manmade fiberglass matting.

Both composition and fiberglass-base shingles are soaked in asphalt, but the fiberglass base shingles are more fire-resistant than the organic ones. Asphalt shingles have mineral granules embedded in their surfaces to offer protection against wear and the ultraviolet radiation of the sun. When these granules start washing away, it is a sign that you need to repair or replace your shingles.

Four types of asphalt shingles are manufactured: strip shingles, laminated shingles, interlocking shingles, and large individual shingles.

Strip shingles: These are the conventional type. They are made in both standard and metric sizes. For American houses and the American market, they are mad in sizes of 12 inches wide by 36 inches long. The “three tab” shingles are the most common in America. With these sizes of shingles, a cutout distinguishes one tab from another, giving it the look of an individual 12-inch-wide shingle. You can create a variety of patterns of shadow and light on the roof by aligning these tabs.

Laminated shingles: These shingles are also known as architectural or three-dimensional shingles. They vary in size, number, spacing, and thickness of the tabs. They have more character and visual depth than the above mentioned standard strip shingles.

Interlocking shingles: These shingles are excellent for areas with heavy-wind as they are designed to fasten to one another.

Large individual shingles: These shingles are generally used in specialty situations. There are available in either hexagonal or rectangular shapes and they don’t have tabs.

The portion of a shingle that shows is called “exposure,” and the lower edge is referred to as the “butt.”

Tip: Shingles come in a variety of weights. The heavier the shingles, the longer they will last.

Asphalt Shingle for Roofing are available in wide range of available colors, textures, patterns, and weights. Choosing Asphalt Shingle for Roofing can be a daunting task. Most homeowners prefer premium-weight shingles, which weigh about 430 pounds per square feet. On the other hand, standard shingles may weigh about 230 pounds per square foot. Premium-weight shingles are more three-dimensional; therefore, they do a better job of mimicking the texture of real wood shingles.