Selecting and Purchasing Shingles
Asphalt shingles remain the most common type of roofing material in use today, but there are many more options on the market now than there have been in the past. When hiring a Middletown roofing contractor to re-roof a home, a homeowner has a number of important decisions to make, such as what particular kind of shingle to install and whether to purchase that material through the roofing company or from a shingle supplier in the area.
When selecting a shingle type, perhaps the most important decision a homeowner has to make is standard asphalt shingles versus architectural shingles. Architectural shingles, which are also called dimensional or laminated shingles, are thicker as if two standard shingles are bonded together. Standard shingles are less expensive up front, but laminated shingles withstand wear and tear more effectively and generally have a longer lifespan.
Standard asphalt shingles are often called three-tab shingles. “Three-tab” doesn’t refer to the shingle makeup but rather the manner in which it interlocks with other shingles. Alternatives to three-tab shingles include jet, signature cut, T-lock and tie lock.
The three-tab system is the most prevalent, but unless there’s a local building code to adhere to or your contractor advises otherwise, this choice isn’t as significant as some of the others a homeowner will make.
Homeowners should speak with their contractors before deciding to buy shingles themselves. Contractors often have access to discounts due to bulk purchases or other reasons and can pass some of those savings onto the consumer. If a homeowner opts to purchase his or her own, then it’s imperative to choose a seller that will at least allow them to return squares if they’ve bought too much.
A roofing square is an industry unit of measurement that refers to the amount of material needed to cover 100 square feet. Since the specifics of a roofing material vary from one type and manufacturer to another, the underlying value of a square will vary as well. Nevertheless, if a homeowner has a 2,000-square-foot roof, then he or she needs 20 roofing squares regardless of what specific shingle type or brand is chosen.
A final consideration is underlayment. When re-roofing, underlayment should be replaced, so homeowners will have to account for that material as well. Underlayment is generally sold in rolls. Felt, for instance, often comes in either three or four square feet per roll, which means that in the footage example above, the homeowner would need between 500 and 675 rolls. Have a question regarding gutters or roof repairs? Ask a roofing professional from Fortified Roofing of Middletown NJ.
Common roofing term explained by Fortified Roofing of Middletown NJ:
Underlayment
Underlayment is a material installed between the roof shingle and sheathing. The main goal of underlayment is to provide temporary protection from water in the event of storm damage and, to a lesser extent, protect the shingles from resins in the sheathing.
Middletown roofing company Fortified Roofing answers a question:
What’s the difference between a basic and extended shingle warranty?
Basic warranties come with the product, and extended warranties are an option. That option may require an additional cost or adhering to a specific installation method. Basic warranties are generally limited to manufacturer defects and any additional damage that may result from such a defect. Extended warranties, on the other hand, can encompass much more, including labor and some elements of wear and tear.
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If you would like to ask a question regarding roofers, a new roof installation, roof leak repairs, skylight options or gutters and downspouts please contact Fortified Roofing today!
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