How to Buy the Right Type Roofing Shingles

The precursor to the shingle was roll roofing made from long strips of asphalt, covered felt and crushed rock. In 1903, Henry M. Reynolds began cutting rolled roofing into easy to carry and place shingles. In the 1950s, the shingle changed styles to incorporate tabbed sections. Today, the fiberglass (which replaces the felt), asphalt and crushed rock/granule type of shingle is one of the most prominent types of roofing. While there many shingle choices, each type of shingle can provide you with certain advantages. You need to make sure you buy the right type of roofing shingles for your home or other building.

Instructions

1. Choose an overall look and style for your roof that is both functional and attractive. The roof line is responsible for 30 to 50 percent of the look on most homes.

2. Consider which colors will best compliment the other colors in the home or building and the landscaping. You can get samples of various colors to compare with the other colors on the property to make sure you buy the right color.

3. Determine how long you plan to live in the home and how long the shingles should last. Shingles come with warranties lasting up to 50 years.

4. Figure the cost of various types of shingles. Be sure to look at the cost of the shingle over the lifetime of the shingle, not just the up-front cost. If the shingles have to be replaced in 10 years, you will have to consider the expense of the shingles plus labor.

5. Choose shingles for the type of weather you have in your location. If you are in an area where hail falls every year, purchase a thick shingle with the ability to deflect hail. If you are in an area that experiences a lot of rain, buy a composition shingle that will quickly move water off the roof.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a neighborhood covenant, you may be limited in the type of shingles you are allowed to have on your house. Call your neighborhood covenant board to find out about roof restrictions so you buy the right type of shingles.

• Get shingles resistant to fire for added protection for your home.

• Look at other homes in the area before selecting a shingle color for your home. Matching your neighbors will help the home sell in the future.

• Read the details of the shingle warranty to find out if the underlayment and eaves are covered under the warranty.

• Poor installation of shingles will cause roof leaks and can void the shingle warranty.