A Closer Look at The Most Popular Type of Roofing Shingles

Asphalt shingles are by far the best selling type of roofing shingles in Canada. While exact numbers vary by location and/or the age of your home, there’s a 70% to 80% chance that your house is topped with asphalt shingles.

But why? What is it about asphalt shingles that makes them so popular? In a nut shell, it’s because they are usually the least expensive option (though some might argue that more expensive options, like metal roofing, are less expensive over time because they last longer).

But there’s more to the asphalt shingle story that low prices. Here’s a closer look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of asphalt roofing shingles:

Advantages

• Life Expectancy – While they are less expensive, asphalt shingles can last up to 50 years, which is significantly longer than some more expensive options like cedar shakes and shingles.
• Easy to Install & Maintain – Part of the reason that asphalt is less expensive is because it installs fairly quickly. Most reputable roofing companies can remove your old roofing materials and install new asphalt shingles in a couple days.
• Versatility – Not only is asphalt easily installed on a wide variety of roof configurations, but it’s available in a wider range of colours and styles than any other roofing material.

Disadvantages

• Weather Extremes – Asphalt shingles don’t respond as well as some other materials to repeated weather extremes. Ongoing freeze/thaw cycles can damage tiles. Clay tiles, metal and slate roofs all handle the weather better than asphalt, but they are also far more expensive.
• Only an Option for Steep Sloped Roofs – Due to their installation method, asphalt shingles are more likely to allow leaks on low-sloped or flat roofs.

If your roof is currently covered with asphalt shingles, chances are that’s what you’ll use when it’s time to re-roof. For an overall value for money, no other type of roofing shingle can match asphalt.