The shingle gauge has a central opening where the user can slide in the shingle from the side. When resistance is detected, the depth of the shingle in the opening of the gauge corresponds to a scale that determines the warranty level.
How thick is a shingle?
A standard three-tab shingle is only about 3/16-inch thick. When installed, however, they overlap, doubling the thickness. Wood, cedar shake, and tile are thicker, depending upon the brand of shingles you select. Metal roofing is thinner, corrugated or standing seam, which increases its height by 1 to 2 inches.
What size are shingles?
Once upon a time, traditional strip or 3-tab shingle dimensions, as well as asphalt shingle dimensions, measured 12 inches wide by 36 inches long. These are still considered standard asphalt shingle dimensions.
How do you determine the quality of shingles?
The Key Factors For Every Shingle
The typical factors that are important to a homeowner when choosing a roofing shingle are: price points, true life expectancy, wind ratings (rated in mph), and color selection. These are all extremely important issues, but I would consider them surface issues.
How do you read a shingle gauge? – Related Questions
What grade of shingle is the best?
They’re recognized by their clean, horizontal appearance, giving them a more decorative look with the 3-tab construction. Fiberglass-backed shingles have a Class A fire rating, which is the highest available.
Are thicker shingles better?
Increased durability
Their composition makes them more flexible–and affordable–than most other types of shingles and able to better withstand snow and light hailstorms.
Are there different quality shingles?
In general, there are three grades of asphalt shingles to choose from, ranging from good to better to best. At the lower tier, you have “3-tab” shingles, which are simply shingles comprised of three tabs.
Are there different qualities of shingles?
There are three major categories of asphalt roofing shingle products available today – strip shingles, dimensional shingles, and luxury shingles. It is important to understand the differences between each type of roofing shingle in order to pick the right product for your home.
What brand of shingles are the best?
What Are The Best Roofing Shingles?
Ultimately, the test revealed that the top 10 shingle brands were:
- Atlas – Pinnacle Pristine.
- GAF-Elk – Royal Sovereign.
- CertainTeed – XT 25.
- Atlas – StormMaster Slate.
- Tamko – Heritage.
- Owens Corning – Oakridge.
- Owens Corning – Duration.
- Owens Corning – Berkshire Collection.
What is the best shingle material?
Relatively lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to install, asphalt shingles are the best choice for most houses. They come in sheets that are layered on a roof to give the illusion of more expensive single shingles, such as cedar and slate, that are installed one shingle at a time.
What type of shingle lasts the longest?
Of the 3 types of asphalt shingles, the longest lasting are luxury (or premium) asphalt shingles. Luxury asphalt shingles are larger and thicker than 3-tab or architectural shingles, which makes them more durable.
What color shingles last the longest?
The big benefit to using light shingles is energy efficiency. Lighter materials don’t absorb sunlight as easily as dark shingles. Instead, they reflect that light back into the sky. This helps the shingles last longer and helps keep houses cool during hot summer weather.
What are the longest lasting roofing shingles?
Roofing material that lasts the longest are concrete, clay or slate tiles. These materials significantly outperform other natural products like wood shakes or any manufactured roofing materials including asphalt shingles and metal roofing.
Will 30 year shingles last 30 years?
The truth is, a 30-year shingle will not really last 30 years. The expected service life of a 30-year product, if properly cared for, is approximately 25 years. If it’s not cared for properly, that 30 year shingle will only last 12 to 15 years. That’s one of the big misconceptions in the roofing marketplace.
How often should roof shingles be replaced?
In general, this is the recommended replacement schedule based on the material used: Composition Shingles: 12-20 years. Asphalt Shingles: 15-30 years. Wood Shingles: 20-25 years.
Do fiberglass shingles last longer than asphalt?
Fiberglass shingles can last anywhere from 25 to 50 years, while traditional asphalt shingles usually last a maximum of 15 years. If you install fiberglass roofing and go with a more expensive roofing brand you can expect a longer life expectancy, better durability, and longer warranties for your roof.
What are 2 disadvantages to asphalt shingles?
Drawbacks of Asphalt Shingle Roofing
- It’s not the most durable roofing option.
- Shingles can be damaged by high winds.
- Mildew is a common problem.
- It isn’t the most energy-efficient option.
Can you put new asphalt shingles over old ones?
While a repair job can often be more convenient and somewhat more cost-efficient, placing new shingles over old ones is never a good idea. Whether repairing one section of roof, or a replacing a whole one, it’s always best to pull up the old shingles before putting down the new ones.
Why do asphalt shingles fail?
Poorly ventilated roofs don’t allow moisture in attic spaces to be expelled to the exterior. This elevated moisture under the shingles can cause the wood under shingles to move more than it should, leading to premature failure. Asphalt shingles can be victims of thermal shock countless times during their lifespan.
Why don’t we use white shingles?
The main drawback of white shingles is that they won’t be able to absorb heat as well as black shingles would during the colder seasons of the year. As you can imagine, absorbing heat during the winter could help you reduce the amount of heat your heating system needs to crank out to keep your home warm.