9 Pros and Cons of Asphalt Shingle Roofing

You probably heard of asphalt shingles as one of the least expensive roofing options available today. They offer superior strength, weather resistance, and versatility, among other remarkable advantages. If it’s already time for a complete roof replacement, however, before you decide whether to proceed or not, it may be worthwhile to know the great benefits of asphalt shingles, as discussed below. 

1. Design Variation

Asphalt shingles are now produced in a wide variety of roofing profiles to match your preferred architectural style. The 3-tab shingles, for instance, are suitable for traditional home styles. But if you want asphalt shingles that resemble the rustic appearance of cedar shakes and slate, you may opt to use dimensional or laminated shingles.

Asphalt shingles are available in a comprehensive range of beautiful colors and patterns. You only need to select the right color that will complement the rest of your property, particularly if you want to preserve the curb appeal of your home. The wide color selection of this traditional roofing material can also increase your property’s market value, thus helping you generate a reasonable sales profit when you decide to sell it.

2. Versatility 

Asphalt shingles can cover different roof angles, forms, and structures, whether you have a Dutch gable or cross hipped food. No matter how complicated your roof system is, roofing contractors NYC can provide a suitable solution, though there’s a minimum slope requirement to follow.

3. Cost-Effectiveness and Affordability

Asphalt shingles are still one of the most cost-effective roofing materials today, as they offer optimum performance for a cheaper cost. The labor cost to install these shingles is relatively lower than many other roofing options. Suppose you need higher resistance against fire, weather, or wind blow-off. In that case, however, you may go for performance shingles or premium shingles without incurring too many expenses over your roof repair New York.

4. Better Energy Efficiency

Asphalt shingles may offer savings on energy cost, though installation of underlayment is necessary to make them more energy-efficient. You can use specially designed asphalt shingles capable of reflecting high amounts of UV rays, which can help reduce your roof surface temperature. Asphalt shingles are best suitable for the area with moderate cold climate conditions. However, not all shingles offer the same UV emission rate.

5. Easy Repair 

Since asphalt shingles are quite easy to install, you can easily find qualified roofers who can repair the roof when they get damaged. If you’re an experienced DIYer, you can also handle the repair needs yourself. When you select a unique material, metal or rubber roof, for instance, you may find it challenging to find a roofing contractor who can do the repairs. 

6. Faster Installation

Roofers find asphalt shingles easy to install on any roof style. Since they are easy to manage, asphalt shingles considerably keep installation cost down. Aside from this, asphalt shingles weigh less than other popular options, ignoring the need to install additional roof frames for support. Unlike shingles, other roofing materials such as slate and metal roofs may require structural frames to carry the roofing system.

7. “Class A” Fire Rating Material

Asphalt shingles are resistant to fire, though only a number of premium shingles possess a ClassA fire rating. Some varieties of asphalt shingle is designed for home locations where seasonal wildfire seldom happens.

8. Insulation Quality

An asphalt roof has the ability to insulate sounds from the outdoors. Depending on material design, asphalt shingles are generally quieter than metal and commercial roofs. They even produce less sounds during a severe hailstorm or heavy downpour. 

9. Easy Integration With Other Roof Features

You can easily incorporate asphalt shingle to any roof features you wish to install for as long as an appropriate roof flashing is installed. Whether you want to add a new chimney or a clear sunroof in your precious state, you can install these additional roof features without any need to alter other essential home components. 

Although asphalt shingles may offer you a number of great benefits, you really can’t avoid facing some of these drawbacks on your roof as time passes:

1. Impact Resistance

One common disadvantage of asphalt shingles is their inability to resist strong impact, especially if your home often endures severe weather disturbance. However, there are specially-modified shingles designed to withstand certain levels of impact pressures on the roof. 

2. Lifting or Wind Blow-Off

Asphalt shingles are highly susceptible to wind blow-off due to their physical nature. Wind resistance remains a critical consideration for most homeowners, particularly in areas with a strong presence of tornadoes or hurricanes. 

3. Low Tolerance for Cold Temperature

Low temperature may cause asphalt shingles to be worn out faster than other popular roofing options. For instance, asphalt shingles become brittle in freezing temperatures, which increases the risk of surface cracking from snow or ice dams. 

4. Unsuitable For Extreme Hot Climate Location

Asphalt shingles in scorching weather tend to become softer and may likely harden when the temperature goes down. This condition causes asphalt shingles to crack or break into pieces. 

5. Shorter Lifespan

The average lifespan of asphalt shingles falls somewhere between 15 and 20 years, depending on the environmental condition and material quality. The quality of labor installation also affects the longevity of asphalt roofing. Whereas metal roofs and tiles can last beyond 50 years, though these durable materials will need additional roof supports.

6. Higher Maintenance Cost

The initial upfront cost of asphalt shingles seems less expensive than metal roofing or clay tiles. Due to asphalt shingles’ shorter lifespan and physical nature, they will likely incur additional expenses to homeowners for inspection services and repairs. 

7. Early Rotting

Asphalt shingles may encourage algae and moss growth as they are frequently exposed to weather and moisture, though this will depend on the roofing material’s design. If left unattended or ignored, moss and algae will continuously hold moisture against the roof surface, causing rot and moss proliferation in the long run. 

8. Environmental Impact

The vast asphalt shingles aren’t recyclable, though some building contractors utilize tear-off shingles as concrete fillers on the ground. These conventional materials aren’t the best available option if you want your home to become more eco-friendly.

9. Unfair For Investment Purposes

An asphalt roofing may not be the best investment option available if you have any plans to sell your property or if you intend to live in your house for many years. As mentioned above, asphalt shingles aren’t expected to last that long, so you need to include future repairs or maintenance expenses as part of your budgeting plans. 

As far as function goes, the roof can be the most valuable part of your hard-earned investment. And if your roof isn’t working well, any structure beneath it becomes at risk, so make sure to weigh the pros and cons of asphalt roofing first before you can make a decision.