Long Lasting Roof Cover
Asphalt shingles were invented by Henry M. Reynolds in 1903 as an economical and convenient roofing cover, and they immediately became a success. The idea came from an earlier form of roofing cover called roll roofing, which is essentially like a huge roll of asphalt shingle material that is installed on roofs in strips. The smaller, familiar rectangles used today were an instant hit because they could easily be purchased through mail order catalogs, and by the 1920s, they were one of the most common types of roof covering. In the 1950s, several modifications were made to the original asphalt shingle design, such as tabbed cutouts, that made the shingles more visually appealing when installed on roofs. Today, these tabs come in several styles including interlocking, T lock and laminated varieties. An Ocean County roofing contractor should be able to locate any popular shingle style and offer warranties that last from 20 years to the lifetime of the buyer.
Asphalt shingles are by far the most common roofing cover today, but some homes also use aluminum or wood shingles. Most suburban neighborhoods have banned wood shingles due to their high combustibility, but modern manufacturing techniques make wood shingles much less combustible than they were before the 20th century. Previously, wood shingles could only be made from old wood, which is much more flammable than young wood, but modern chemical treatments allow manufacturers to produce high quality shingles from young wood.
The result is a roofing cover that is less likely to catch on fire, and this boost in fire safety is enhanced by installing wood shingles over an aluminum base layer. Aluminum shingles are somewhat more common than wood shingles in the United States but not as prevalent as asphalt shingles. While aluminum lasts much longer than asphalt shingles, they have a higher price tag.
Asphalt has been used as a building material for thousands of years, and the Babylonians took advantage of its natural water resistance by lining their canals with it. They also used it to help waterproof the walls of their homes. While asphalt isn’t waterproof, the naturally occurring petroleum in it repels water. However, shingle roofs must be steeply sloped to keep water out of homes, so residential architects design houses with a particular roofing cover in mind. Although choices of roofing cover are limited by the style of a home’s roof, there are still many options when it comes to fiberglass asphalt shingles. The best shingles are highly rated for resistance to fire, rain, UV light, hail and algae and come with extended warranties. Any of the roofing contractors from Fortified Roofing of Ocean County can answer your questions about roof repairs or new roofs.
Common roofing term explained by the expert contractors from Fortified Roofing of Ocean County:
Roll roofing
This precursor to the modern asphalt shingle was invented in America in 1893, and Henry M. Reynolds modified it by cutting out small rectangles and fastening them to steep pitched roofs with nails. Roll roofing is still available, but it’s not used very often because it isn’t very attractive.
Ocean County roofing contractors answer a FAQ:
Are shingles fire resistant?
Asphalt shingles are made from a layer of fibrous substrate coated in asphalt and other materials. Depending on the substrate, they can have the highest fire safety rating or only be moderately safe. Organic substrates made from cellulose or wood are flammable, while inorganic bases made from fiberglass or asbestos are relatively safe. Asbestos is no longer used because it’s a natural carcinogen and has caused cancer in plant workers and repair contractors.
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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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