Asphalt Shingles： a Long-Lasting Roofing Material

Asphalt shingles, as a common roofing material, have been widely used in residential and commercial buildings due to their economical, practical, easy to install, and diverse appearance. Despite the continuous advancement of technology and the emergence of new roofing materials, asphalt shingles still maintains its stable position in the roofing market with its unique advantages. This article will explore the characteristics, advantages, limitations, and applications of asphalt shingles in modern architecture.

 

 

Applying asphalt shingles， As the name suggests, it is a roof tile made mainly of asphalt, supplemented by glass fiber felt or other organic fiber felt as the base, and then made through coating, covering, cutting and other processes. Its basic structure ensures good waterproof performance. Asphalt, as a waterproof material, can effectively prevent rainwater from seeping into the interior of buildings and protect the structure from moisture damage. The tire base provides the strength and toughness of the tiles, allowing them to resist wind and rain and extend their service life. The overlay usually uses colored mineral particles, which not only give the tiles rich and diverse colors and textures, but also protect the asphalt from ultraviolet radiation and slow down the aging rate.

 

The advantages of asphalt shingles are obvious

 

Firstly, its economy is one of its biggest advantages. Compared to other roofing materials such as metal tiles and ceramic tiles, the cost of applying rolled asphalt roofing is relatively low, making it an ideal choice for budget limited construction projects. Secondly, the installation of asphalt shingles is simple and fast, without the need for special tools or professional skills, which reduces installation costs and project duration. Furthermore, asphalt shingles have good adaptability and can be applied to various roof slopes. They are lightweight and do not impose excessive burden on building structures. In addition, the colors and styles of asphalt shingles are diverse, which can meet the needs of different architectural styles and enhance the aesthetics of buildings.

 

Asphalt shingles also have some limitations

 

Compared to metal or ceramic tiles, arch shingle roofs have relatively lower durability and shorter service life. Asphalt shingles are prone to damage under high wind speeds or extreme weather conditions and require regular maintenance and replacement. In addition, the fire resistance of asphalt shingles is relatively weak, which poses certain safety hazards. Finally, the production process of asphalt shingles may generate certain environmental pollution, so environmental protection measures need to be taken to reduce the impact on the environment.

 

Asphalt shingles remain an important roofing material in modern architecture

 

With the advancement of technology, new types of architectural asphalt continue to emerge, such as modified asphalt shingles with higher durability and better weather resistance, as well as green asphalt shingles made from environmentally friendly materials. These new types of asphalt shingles have to some extent overcome the shortcomings of traditional asphalt shingles, making them more competitive in the roofing market.

 

In summary, asphalt shingles occupy an important position in the field of roofing materials due to their economic practicality, easy installation, and diverse appearances. Despite some limitations, with the continuous development of technology, the performance and environmental friendliness of asphalt shingles continue to improve, making them still have broad application prospects in the future construction field. As a durable roofing material, asphalt shingles will continue to provide reliable protection for people's homes and workplaces.

 

Asphalt Shingles FAQs

 

What are the core components of asphalt shingles? How to classify?

  

Ingredients: Using glass fiber based felt or organic felt (already eliminated) as the skeleton, impregnated with oxidized asphalt and covered with mineral particles (ceramic basalt).

Category:

Triple layered (3Tab): economical, flat appearance, lifespan of 1520 years.

Architectural laminated: three-dimensional layers, strong wind resistance, with a lifespan of 2530 years.

Premium Designer: Designed to mimic the appearance of wooden tiles or slate, with a lifespan of up to 50 years (such as CertainTeed's Grand Manor).

 

How to determine the wind resistance level of asphalt shingles?

  

ASTM D3161 standard: Test wind speed (e.g. Class F110mph).

UL 2218 Impact Rating: Hail Test (Class 14, Level 4 is optimal).

Key factors:

Quality of tile adhesive strip (Sealant).

Number of nails during installation (usually 6 nail pieces, 4 nails+adhesive required in high wind areas).

 

What should be noted when installing asphalt shingles in cold regions?

  

Low temperature construction restrictions: The ambient temperature must be ≥ 10 ° C (or use cold climate specific adhesives).

Ice Dam Prevention:

Lay self-adhesive waterproofing membrane (Ice&Water Shield) on the eaves.

Strengthen ventilation in the attic and reduce temperature differences on the roof.

Freeze thaw cycle effects: Choose high flexibility asphalt formulations (such as modified asphalt shingles).

 

How to treat algae staining of asphalt shingles?

  

Cause: The growth of blue-green algae (Gloeocapsa) is common in humid areas.

Solution:

Prevention: Use algae containing copper particles to resist tiles (such as StainGuard from GAF) ®）。  

Cleaning: Low pressure flushing+installation of zinc copper strips on the ridge (rainwater dissolves metal ions and inhibits bacteria).

Prohibited: High pressure water gun or strong acid cleaning (to destroy mineral particles).

 

Feasibility and risks of asphalt shingles renovation?

  

Permitted conditions:

The existing roof only has one floor of asphalt shingles, and the structural load-bearing capacity meets the standard (additional load ≈ 2.54 pounds per square foot).

No serious warping or moisture issues.

Risk:

Covering up the underlying damage increases the difficulty of maintenance.

Shorten the lifespan of new tiles (accelerated aging due to poor heat dissipation at the bottom layer).

Best practice: Prioritize thorough removal of old tiles and inspect the decking status.