Choosing My Contractor
What Are The Different Types Of Asphalt Shingles?
Diego Rojas
Picking out a roof for your home is a serious business that can involve a whole list of considerations. You will first be tasked with picking the roofing material, and asphalt shingles are hands down one of the most popular choices because of resiliency and longevity. Beyond that, however, you will need to pick out the color of the shingles, the brand of shingles, and even the type of shingles to be used.
When you work with a qualified residential roofing contractor, they will take the time to show you the different types of asphalt shingles available. To get a jumpstart on the options, here is a look at the primary types of asphalt roofing shingles.
Luxury or Premium Shingles
Luxury shingles, which most often get called premium shingles, usually boast some pretty significant visible differences from traditional asphalt shingles. They can take on the appearance of cedar shakes or slate roofing tiles, which is great because both of those roofing types can be rather expensive to have installed because of their complexity. These shingles are going to be higher in cost than regular asphalt shingles, but the aesthetic appearance and their long lifespan combine to make a really good value if you want that something extra.
Three-Tab Shingles
Three-tab shingles are called such because they have three tabs across the top where they interlock with other shingles as they are installed. The shingles are a single sheet, one-ply design, and they are highly popular because they are some of the most affordable asphalt shingles out there. If you ask your roofing contractor for an asphalt shingle roof and are never given any options, three-tab shingles are likely what you will get. The only downfall to these shingles is the only real choice you have about them is the color hue you get them in.
Architectural or 3-Dimensional Shingles
If you want an asphalt shingle roof that has a little more architectural flair, then architectural or 3-dimensional shingles are going to be your best bet. These shingles come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and styles, but they all have the ability to give your roof a non-flat appearance when installed. The roof may take on specific geometric patterns with slight raises at certain points or offer a textural appearance that would not be possible with regular three-tab asphalt shingle styles. For example, some architectural shingles look more like irregular tiles when installed correctly on the roof.
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By the time I finally finished saving money for my new home, I knew that I wanted something special. I didn't want to buy a starter home, and I really didn't want to deal with fixing up an older place. Instead of scouring the market and dealing with real estate agents, I decided to work with a general contractor to start building a place of my own. However, I didn't choose my contractor willy nilly either. I spend hours interviewing and researching various construction firms until I found the business I wanted to work with. This blog is all about working with contractors, so that you can make better construction decisions.