ingleBefore the 1800s, your roofing options were scarce. Clay tiles were expensive, leaving you with water-repellant cedar shakes or a thick straw thatch for your rooftop. The rustic forerunner of the asphalt shingle changed everything, eventually morphing to become the most popular roofing product in the world.
In the early 1800s, an inventive worker applied sticky, waterproof pine tar between and on top of layers of felted fabric. The addition of sand and ground-up shells pressed into its top coat stabilized it on the roof. With the invention of coal-gas lamps in the 1850s, the by-product, coal tar waste, replaced the hard-to-come-by pine tar. And by the late 1800s, the tar component was improved by switching to a composite of a thick, raw oil called bitumen, minerals, and brick chips, then saturating the felt layers with this less expensive, petroleum-based derivative asphalt.
Over time, machinery quickened the cutting of shingles, and fibreglass mats replaced the more expensive, organic cotton-felt as the shingle’s base component. Various mineral granules were utilized to further protect the shingle from UV degradation further and improve the shingle’s tear, impact, and fire resistance.
There are three main kinds of asphalt shingles available. With each upgrade, the price per square foot increases and the installation costs increase due to the manufacturer’s specifications.
Many factors can shorten the life of a shingle. Sun wear, ice dam damage, and moist attic air transference to the underside of the roofing plywood will severely impair any shingle.
Asphalt 3 Tab: This is the cheapest shingle option. They have an organic-mat paper base and are thinner than the other two styles. A 3-tab installation can last from 12 -to 17 years, depending on the upkeep of your roof.
Asphalt Architectural, Laminate, or Dimensional: These provide a sculpted, contoured look to the shingle with an extra laminate layer. This type of shingle is about 20% more expensive than the 3 Tab, both as a product and to install. Regardless, architectural shingles have become the most popular for their beauty and quality. An architectural shingle can last from 20 – 25 years with proper maintenance.
Asphalt Fibreglass 3D: This premium shingle is the height of chic. It has the luxurious multi-dimensional look of a wood shake or slate roof. The sh is thick and durable while still more affordable than the other high-end roofing alternatives of actual slate or cedar shake. It is also a laminate shingle. A solid and healthy roof structure is required to take the weight of this shingle, triple that of a 3 -Tab shingle. Well cared for, a Fibreglass 3D shingle should last up to 25 -30 years.
Choosing a new roof replacement in London, Ontario, is about picking a trustworthy and customer service-based roofing company. Forest City Roofing has delighted its roofing clients with quality installations in the London area since 1993.
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