The Constructor

Top 1O Roof Shingles for Building Construction

Neenu S K
TYPES OF ROOF SHINGLES

TYPES OF ROOF SHINGLES

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Roofing with shingles is considered to be a large investment which varies depending on the roofing area and the type of roof shingle chosen. Understanding different types of roofing shingles available in the market and their rates help to choose an economical shingle for the building roof.

Some of the top ten roofing shingles available in the current market are mentioned and explained briefly in this article.

Also Read: What are Roofing Shingles?

10 Top Roofing Shingles

The top ten roofing shingles commonly used by the homeowners for their home are:

  1. Asphalt Shingles
  2. Architectural Shingles
  3. Metal Shingles
  4. Wooden Roof Shingles
  5. Wood Shake Roof Shingles
  6. Solar Roof Shingles
  7. Slate Tile Roofing Shingles
  8. Rubber Roofing Shingles
  9. Composite Plastic Roof Shingles
  10. Tile Roof Shingles

1. Asphalt Roof Shingles

Asphalt roof shingles are one of the most versatile, attractive and economical roofing material in terms of maintenance and durability. There are mainly three types of asphalt roofing shingles, namely:

Fig.1. Asphalt Roofing shingles

Among the three types mentioned, the three-tab asphalt shingles are the most affordable type. This has a thin structure with an organic paper base. But compared to fiberglass and architectural roof shingles, the three-tab shingles wear out easily.

Read More: Asphalt Shingles - Features and Types

2. Architectural Shingles

Architectural Shingles, when compared to asphalt shingles, gain more durability. This type has an extra laminated layer that gives a more designed and finished look.

Architectural shingles come in more luxurious styles which are hence highly preferred by the homeowners. These have styles that resemble wooden shake designs.

In terms of costs, architectural shingles are expensive compared to asphalt shingles. But these tiles last three times longer than 3-tab asphalt shingles. Properly maintained architectural shingles can last for 30 to 50 years or more.

3. Metal Shingles

These are very stylish in appearance and are available in different varieties and colors. The installation of metal shingles is very easy as they are light in weight. This light in weight option hence makes this a favorable roofing material for building roofs that cannot take heavier loads.

Fig.2. Metal Roof Shingles

Metal roofing shingles can last for 75 to 100 years. This hence gains the longest life spans compared to other roofing types.

The metal roofing can be of different types:

4. Wooden Shingled Roofs

Wooden roof shingles are made from several wood types that are split and shaped into thin sections. These two styles of wooden roof elements are called wood shake or wood shingles.

Wood shingles possess a definite shape while wood shakes are sawn off and split by hand so that it has a rustic look. The durability of wooden roof shingles lasts from 15 to 50 years which merely depends on the type of wood and the pretreatment it has undergone before its installation.

5. Wooden Shake Roofs

As mentioned above, a wooden shake roof has a rough texture. These are made from cedar trees that are aged from 200 to 300 years. These tree logs are cut into sections which are called shakes.

Fig.3. Wood shake or Wood shingles.

Wooden shake shingles if installed properly and maintained regularly, would give a more classy look compared to asphalt shingles. But in terms of cost, they are expensive and are not a sustainable choice.

6. Solar Shingles

This is one of the modern roofing shingles available in today's market. These are very expensive when compared to other roofing options, but they compromise this high cost by saving solar energy into electricity and power needed for households.

The solar panel shingles give a pleasing appearance to the building. In most cases, these panels do not cover the whole roof area. It takes only some portion of the roof area and another roofing shingle accompanies the solar shingles.

Fig.4. Solar Shingles

It is recommended to place the solar shingles on the south side of the roof as they behave more efficiently compared to other sides. Solar shingles have a life span of 20 to 25 years.

7. Slate Tile Roofing Shingles

Slate tile roofing shingles are made from stone roofing materials and are installed as shingles. These slate tile shingles are thin elements but heavy. Hence the roof made out of slate tile roof shingles are heavy.

The slate tile roof shingles give a natural look. This is not available in large varieties of color. The installation of these roofs is very tough. But a properly installed slate tile roofing shingles is considered one of the longlasting roofing options available. These are expensive and can last for 60 to 150 years.

Fig.5. Slate tile Roof Shingles

8. Rubber Roofing Shingles

Rubber roofing shingles are made out of rubber and look almost similar to asphalt shingles. These demand simple installation and gains high durability. This type of roofing shingle does not require maintenance. In terms of cost, it is expensive compared to asphalt shingles.

Rubber roofing shingles have a life span of 15 to 25 years. The rubber roofs come in PVC, TPO and EPDM roof material types.

Fig.6. Rubber Roofing Shingles

9. Composite Plastic Roof Shingles

This type of roof shingles is made from recycled plastic materials. These materials make maximum out of plastic thus making it an environmentally safe building material.

These roof shingles can be designed such a way that it looks similar to the slates or to wooden shakes. These are very light in weight thus making the installation easy. These are affordable but have less durability and life span compared to other types. It provides a life span of 7 to 20 years.

10. Tile Roofing Shingles

A properly installed tile roof shingles provide top durability when compared with other roofing shingles. These are laid over a mortar bed and there are chances for the tiles to slip from the place. Which hence demands a proper and quality installation.

The cost of tiles is affordable but the installation is expensive. A properly maintained tile roof shingle provides a lifespan of 100 years. The top tile shingles used are:

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