Everything You've Ever Wanted To Know About Roof Shingles

It’s no secret that there are plenty of ways to cover the roof on a house. In the United States, the most common method is to use roof shingles. In a nutshell, roofs use shingles that are overlapped. They are usually flat, rectangular roofing elements that get laid from the bottom of the roof edge upwards.

If you want to know more about roof shingles, or what to do if they get damaged, you’ve come to the right place! Keep reading to find out more:

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What are roof shingles made from?

There are various materials available for roof shingles. Examples include slate, metal, plastic, and fiberglass. The latter option is the most common option used in the US.

Roof shingles are all made from material sourced in the local area. Some green-living advocates welcome the use of locally-made shingles. That's because it reduces the carbon footprint for transporting them to building sites.

The most common type, fiberglass, uses asphalt as the top layer. It’s an American invention that first got used back in the early 20th century. Today, it’s still as popular as ever for both new and existing properties.

The ones that you can buy today are more advanced than their early predecessors. Plenty of research and development got carried out over the years. As a result, resistance to wind and hail damage has improved significantly.

Are roof shingles reliable?

In a word, yes. Most homes in the United States have them, and they can last for up to twenty years.

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Today’s roof shingles are more durable than ones produced decades ago. That means you don’t have to budget for constant roofing repairs or replacements!

There are many different subtypes of roof shingles you can get. For example, did you know that you can buy solar reflecting ones? They help to keep the temperature of the house cool. As you can imagine, they’re useful if you live in a state where the temperatures are mostly hot!

You can also have ones fitted that offer fire resistance. You’ll usually find them on houses in areas where wildfires are an annual occurrence.

What can damage roof shingles?

As with all types of roofing material, roof shingles can get damaged. The leading cause of damage is from storms, severe hailstones, and natural disasters.

When you buy a house, it’s always a good idea to do an annual inspection of your roof. Should any sections need repair, have someone like Iron River Construction assess the damage and repair it for you.

While DIY efforts are applaudable, many folks don’t have the right skills to perform a good repair job themselves. Others might not even have the right tools for the job, and, as such, safety issues will happen.

How do I know when I need to replace my roof?

For the most part, repairs to sections of roof are more than sufficient. Of course, there will be occasions where you need to have your entire roof replaced. Examples include wear from old roof shingles and significant damage from storms.