Shingle materials are integral to creating a long-lasting roof. Without shingles, we would have nothing but plywood on rafters defending our homes from the elements. As a form of engineering that took thousands of years to cultivate, modern roofs offer diverse shingles made from various materials. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages. Learning about them before purchasing new roof shingles for your home is a good idea.
Ask us about roofing choices and installations. We have a range of qualities and types; economical 3-tab, architectural, and laminated shingles to fit your needs and budget.
Lifespans of Different Shingle Materials
Other than protection, consumers’ primary focus on roof materials is its longevity. Large-sum investments, such as roof building, are meant to build structures that endure and provide value. The ancients thought of this when they created systems with shingles that still exist today, and modern homeowners should feel the same.
3-Tab Asphalt Shingles
- Asphalt shingles are the most used roofing of modern homes. As the cheapest roofing material, asphalt roofs provide an estimated lifespan of 30 years.
- Asphalt tiles comprise asphalt, limestone, and ceramic granules rolled over a strip of fibres. For added fire protection, the base sheet is typically made of fibreglass.
- These asphalt tabs usually come in the ‘3-tab’ style but are also offered as architectural shingles for higher durability and longevity.
- While they do not last a lifetime, asphalt shingles provide great structural defence for their low cost.
- Specifically, asphalt roofs boast class B fire resistance with adequate physical defences, are waterproof if sealed, and even reflect UV light with their embedded ceramic granules.
Ceramic
- Ceramic tiles, known as clay tiles, are traditionally found in Mediterranean climates.
- They are known for their fluted, semi-circular appearance and earthy colouration.
- They are chosen for that specific climate because of their natural resistance to salt water and heat. Additionally, clay tiles are incredibly long-lasting, with a lifespan of about 100 years. Their innate invulnerability to fire, insects, and mould growth makes this durability possible.
- These tiles are not just suited for Mediterranean climates and styles, however. Clay tiles come in a variety of designs and shapes. Historically used throughout Europe, specific French, German, and English versions of clay tiles exist.
Slate is also known as a shingle material
- Like clay tiles, slate shingles are made from pieces of natural material.
- While using rocks as flat shingles may seem bizarre, slate naturally tends to break apart into smooth sheets. Further, many historic buildings feature slate tiles and have been around for almost 700 years.
- With that being said, slate roofs have one of the highest life expectancies, often estimated to be over 100- 200 years.
- Another contributor to slate tiles’ longevity is their sturdiness, given their rock consistency. Like clay tiles, slate is resistant to algae and fungal growth, fire-resistant, and water-repellant.
- Out of all the other shingle materials, slate also brings a sleekness.
Metal
- Metal roofs are another popular, long-lasting roofing option. Metal is a lasting, durable material with an average life expectancy of 80 years.
- Regarding resistance, metal roofs have a Class A fire safety rating, will not crack, and naturally repels water with their sleek surface.
- Also, metal roofs have a reflective surface, making them energy efficient.
- Typical steel roof styles are known as ‘sheet metal roofs,’ which is one long, fluted metal panel.
- However, steel shingles can mimic shaking, slating, ceramic, and asphalt tabs. You do not need to compromise style in exchange for function with metal roofs.
- Different kinds of metal are used as roofing materials for specific reasons, though metal roofs are commonly made from galvanized steel.
Zinc
- More than just an element of the periodic table, zinc is a popular metal of choice due to its ability to form a ‘patina.’
- This patina protects the roof from natural elements while providing a strange regenerative capacity.
- When steel is scratched, the exposed area is left to rust. Zinc produces a fine patina, which reforms scratch marks. Like regular metal roofs, zinc roofs can last for 100 years.
Copper
- Copper has been a metal roof option since the Romans’ time and is still accessible today. Copper is resistant to the elements, mould, fire, and corrosion, requiring no extra maintenance.
- Along with its natural, warm beauty, copper can last well over 200 years and be recycled.
- The characteristic green patina that forms can be reversed or accelerated depending on taste.
- There is a reason why the Pantheon, statue of Liberty, and Canadian Parliament use copper roofs.
Aluminum
- Aluminum roofs are known for their active resistance to salt water, so they are ideal for waterfront homes.
- Besides this, aluminum also resists rusting and corrosion and has the longevity of other steel roofs.
- For these reasons, aluminum is used in collaboration with steel to create ‘weathering steel.’
Wood Shakes
- Wood shakes are shingles made from cut timber known for their rugged and uneven appearance. They are thicker than regular wood shingles and have slightly better water and wind resistance if treated and installed correctly.
- The type of wood included is red cedar or pine, depending on your part of the world.
- While an attractive roof option with decorative applications, shake roofs are estimated to last only 30 years. Additional maintenance is required to reach or extend this, including multiple wood treatments to prevent fire damage, warping, and rot.
Energy Efficiency of Shingle Materials
All shingle materials are meant to protect your roof. Some also perform the duty of increasing energy efficiency for the rest of your home. Since shingles are regularly exposed to UV rays, their ability to absorb or reflect UV light considerably reflects the price on your utility bill. This ability has a scientific term called ‘albedo,’ defined by an object’s ability to reflect or absorb light.
Generally, materials with lighter colours, like white, are the most reflective. When exposed to direct sunlight, these materials have a high albedo and retain a cold surface. On the contrary, dark surfaces that are black absorb UV energy and become two times as hot.
In most circumstances, roofs with higher albedo are preferred since they prevent heat from staying in your attic.
Extra warmth and humidity added to a home can increase air conditioner use and even accelerate mould growth problems. In cases where the surrounding environment is cold and dark, black roofs are a bonus. This is because the low-albedo roofs will absorb heat and provide extra comfort in a cold environment.
The following shingle materials are considered to be the most energy-efficient:
- Asphalt
- Clay/ Ceramic
- Slate
- Metal
Asphalt shingles are placed last because they are typically darker in colour despite their ability to reflect some UV light with their embedded granules. Thus, asphalt shingles will always be more challenging to compete in albedo.
How Ventilation Affects Energy Efficiency
Going hand-in-hand with albedo is ventilation, another intelligent technology used to facilitate airflow and prevent hot air build-up. A roof and a house with no ventilation are just a box. Continual exposure to heat will cause the top to heat up, transferring heat inward. The trapped hot air dwelling in attic spaces will magnify the house’s temperature with nowhere to escape. This is not good.
The addition of roof vents allows all that trapped air to be pushed out. Consequently, flowing air removes built-up heat, meaning less need to run the air conditioner. Just like water, stagnant air is destructive.
There are different types of roof vents. All are used with all shingle materials, each varying in size and installation method.
Static Vents
- Static vents are small, square-shaped structures installed along the ridges of roofs.
- The static vent installation protects the opening, which ventilated air naturally passes through.
Gable Vents
- Gable vents are the most decorative vent, considering they are installed in the attic wall, underneath the roof ridge.
- While not technically a part of the roof structure, gable vents allow air to pass through attic space to keep the interior cool.
Ridge Vents
- Ridge vents are the most hidden, often blending in with or mistaken for the roof’s actual ridge.
- This is not a surprise, considering that its location travels along the topmost ridge as a metal sheet.
- This sheet is covered by shingles and serves to protect small holes made along the roof ridge. Like static vents, the ventilation process occurs by air naturally flowing through these openings.
Turbine Vents
- Turbine vents are the most recognizable with their bulbous, metallic, crown-shaped tops.
- This vent’s top piece is serrated with small gaps between parts, which allow wind to catch and propel the vent like a pinwheel.
- The resulting spinning action creates a vacuum in the interior and removes stagnant air.
Shingle Damage
- Since shingles are exposed to the elements, it is no surprise that a roof’s first line of defence will likely become damaged throughout its lifetime.
- Generally speaking, the main destructive forces at work are those caused by severe weather conditions and microbes.
The following are weather-related damages that can be inflicted upon a roof.
High-winds and Debris
An enemy to all shingles alike is high-speed winds. Regardless of how well nailed down or heavy a shingle may be, high-speed winds can find a way to cause some damage. Most asphalt shingles can withstand wind speeds of 90km/hr. However, it is noted that losses will appear at only 50km/hr. Since wind operates like a fluid, it can slide under tiles and slowly rip them away. Additionally, high-speed winds often hurl debris, which can crack shingles. Asphalt shingles, in particular, use sealants to prevent his; however, the bond strength does fade over time.
Water Damage
- Complimenting wind damage is water damage, which operates on a slow, but much more severe scale.
- Water can find its way through even the most minuscule cracks and travel through building materials like concrete, wood, and wallpaper.
- The nefarious part of this is that water damage can occur without apparent signs. This means warping, rotting, and mould growth may occur unseen.
Lightning
- While not exactly common, lightning strikes do occasionally hit houses.
- The resulting strike can blast away shingles, crack concrete, set materials on fire, shatter glass, and fry electronic devices.
- Other than the visible physical damages, the effects on building materials and electronics can create fire hazards.
Fire
- Fire damage to roofs almost always occurs internally but can be caused by many reasons.
- For example, a leaky roof can become a fire hazard, as water can start an electrical fire in the attic.
- In either case, roof materials that do not have a class A fire-resistance rating are more prone to going up in flames. Such materials are regular asphalt shingles and wood shakes, mostly if left untreated. Slate tiles are completely fire-resistant.
- However, their weight can be problematic if internal wooden structures are compromised.
Hail
- Hail storms are one of the most destructive environmental forces a roof can face. The extent of the damage depends mainly on the hail’s size falling, becoming worse the more massive the hailstones become.
- Typically though, even small to golf-ball-sized hail is enough to crack all kinds of shingles.
- Asphalt, Slate, Ceramic, and even metal don’t fare well with this damage.
Mould, Algae and Fungus Growth
- Conversely, some damage is done by small perpetrators in mould, algae, fungus growth, and even insects. Certain materials are exempt from this. However, asphalt and wood shakes are not safe from the natural forces of decay.
- Mould, algae, and Fungi all operate similarly and cause similar damages.
- All three are microorganisms present everywhere and can grow by feeding off of cellulose material if the conditions are right.
- Typically this means high humidity, heat, and the presence of a food source. Once those are available, these microbes will grow in lumps that can destroy shingles by eating and uprooting them.
- Even asphalt shingles are not safe, considering that the limestone content is a perfect food source for algae.
- Algae and fungal infestations can be apparent when their fruiting bodies are present, but they may also appear as ‘dark streaks’ as an early sign.
Insects
- Certain insects can infest and damage a roof if left unattended.
- Some shingle materials, such as asphalt, clay, laminate, and slate, are immune to them.
- However, there are additional structural damages that can occur.
- The insects known as ‘powder post beetles’ consume wood products. In nature, they are found in wet logs but can transfer to indoor wood products. These wood products include support, joists, and rafters, which can cause severe damage to your roof over time. The same applies to termites, also known to consume wood products.
Roof Insurance
- Damages to roofs can happen, so knowing what can be reversed is essential. Most homeowner’s insurance plans work similarly, though specific policies may differ.
- Generally, roof insurance covers sudden damages, like hailstorms, fires, or loss caused by wind. Contrary to this, old and deteriorating roofs will not be covered, as it is the owner’s responsibility to maintain them.
Forest City Roofing provides financing so you can fix your roof now and pay later.
