So, maybe you’re thinking about a new roof. You’ll probably be quite amazed by the options out there, but if you’re looking to invest in the appearance and security of your home, an asphalt shingle roof from CertainTeed® is a terrific and reliable choice.
Let’s face it. If you’re the same as most homeowners, you certainly don’t give a whole bunch of thought to the roof over your head, at least not until it comes time to install a new one. So, when it does come time to purchase and have new roofing installed, you’re apt to encounter a variety of questions, including the material your roofing materials are constructed of.
Asphalt shingles are the most frequently applied shingles in the United States. Why? Because they’re reasonably priced, long-lasting, and fire-resistant. True, there are other choices out there, but they’re generally more costly and tough to install.
Asphalt shingles, in contrast, are more affordable, offer trouble-free installation, and come in various colors and styles that make any house look impressive.
Roofing fact: Did you know that some of the oldest roofing materials in the world are thatch, clay, and stone? Thatch was likely used between 5000 and 1800 BC. Likewise, clay towels can be traced all the way back to around 10,000 BC.
Here’s a bit of the history behind asphalt roofing shingles. . .
In 1903, Henry Reynolds, a roofing contractor from Grand Rapids, MI, who has been credited with the invention of the roofing shingle, began cutting saturated asphalt rolls that had been surfaced with stone into individual “shingles.” The first shingles were cut by hand into 8″ by 16″ pieces.
Twelve years later, machinery was perfected to use a roller die to cut individual shingles from a continuous ribbon of asphalt-saturated felt. In the 1920s, the first strip shingle was created by Bird and Son.
In 1953, builders applauded the arrival of the first self-sealing asphalt shingle to their work. Some twenty years after, laminated and fiberglass-based shingles appeared on the market. After that, the acceptance of asphalt shingles was settled, and they’ve remained popular ever since.
Today, four out of five homes in the United States feature an asphalt shingle roof. They have a lengthy and reliable history in the roofing industry – to be frank, it’s because they get the job done! And if correctly installed, they should last in excess of twenty years and need very little maintenance over their lifetime.
Does this sound like the roofing material of your dreams? Here are the chief features and benefits you get when you decide to install an asphalt shingle roof.
Why it’s hard to beat an asphalt shingle roof
Attractiveness
Your asphalt shingle roof can be unique and look totally unlike any of your neighbors, owing to the extensive choice of asphalt shingle shapes. Curb appeal is important, especially if you ever intend on selling your home. One of the paybacks of using asphalt shingles is that they are visually flexible. They come in various styles, including laminated, three-tab, and premium versions. This means they can suit a wide-ranging variety of home styles without seeming out of place.
Asphalt shingles are also available in a wide variety of colors to set off the style and color pattern of your home. Your choice of the look of your roofing doesn’t end there, however. You can go for asphalt roofing that mimics slate or cedar or sequoia wood roofing, among others.
Relatively easy to install
Installing a roof on your own is generally not a good idea if you don’t boast a bunch of roofing experience. If you’re worried about labor costs when installing a new roof, though, you’ll almost certainly be pleased to know that asphalt shingle roofing is one of the stress-free options for roofing installers. Asphalt shingles are much easier to handle than heavy tile roofing or bulky pieces of metal roofing and can normally be installed faster and easier by someone with roofing experience. This can help reduce labor costs and ensure your roofing project is completed rather quickly.
Easy to replace
When you install asphalt shingle roofing shingles, they come in lighter and smaller pieces, making them much easier to replace should the need ever arise. This can save you a bit of money, in the long run, should a shingle ever get damaged. The bottom line: Paying for the repair of a single shingle is far more cost-effective than, for instance, paying for an entire sheet of metal.
Durability
Asphalt shingles are acknowledged for their durability. Durable enough, in fact, that they don’t require considerable maintenance like other roofing materials often demand.
Reliable, long-lasting asphalt roofs are leak-resistant, if correctly installed, and can hold up 20 or more years. Their long life is assisted by ideal weight – asphalt is neither too light (leading to less risk of uplift problems) nor too heavy (so it does not need reinforcement).
Here in Pittsburgh, Mother Nature heaves a lot of severe weather on your roof. However, an asphalt shingle roof is robust and will hold up to snow and ice as well as the ruthless summer heat and humidity.
Affordability
Affordability plays a big role in many of the choices we make, particularly when it has to do with home projects.
Asphalt shingles are one of the utmost affordable roofing materials on the market. This affordability option makes it stress-free for homeowners on a budget to purchase and install a new roof without breaking the bank.
Consequently, selecting the most affordable option for a roof while at the same time making sure you take delivery of quality roofing material to get the job done can be a tough balance to keep up. Asphalt shingles provide both quality and affordability, helping you achieve that balance.
Versatility
Asphalt shingles can be used as roof covers for various angles, forms, and shapes of roofs. Whether your house has a cross-hipped roof or a Dutch gable, asphalt shingles can cover all of them quite well.
Low maintenance
The life expectancy of your roof will be determined by the quality of the materials, along with the weather conditions to which they are exposed. Rain, snow, wind, and severe temperatures will all affect the lifespan of shingles and the need for maintenance. By and large, however, asphalt shingles need minimal maintenance over their lifetime.
Recyclability
Asphalt shingles are recyclable and, consequently, eco-friendly. As a prime example, recyclers can use asphalt shingles as raw materials for new roads. Every ton of recycled asphalt shingles saves the equivalent of one barrel of oil from going to waste.
Sound dampening capabilities
Asphalt shingles do a fantastic job of filtering out noises outside your home – be they traffic, airplanes, or even barking dogs. They will go a long way in maintaining your home’s peace and quiet. After all, if you have kids or pets, you don’t need one more thing making your house noisy.
Roofing fact: Did you know that gargoyles became the main gutter and only drainage after the Norman Empire between the 10th and 13th centuries, most famously with the Notre Dame de Paris completed in 1345?
Why CertainTeed® brand asphalt shingles?
Okay, now that we’ve described the many advantages of asphalt roof shingles, let’s discuss why you should choose from one of three types of CertainTeed® asphalt shingles available at Schultheis Bros. Note that each type offers features that can be unique to your specific home, depending on weather and other outside factors.
Landmark® asphalt shingles are the high-quality, reliable choice for beautifying and protecting your home with a dual-layered design that matches the dimensionality of true wood shake.
Landmark asphalt shingles offer the heaviest weight and widest array of color choices in their class, allowing you to create or re-create the ideal look for your home.
With a dual-layered design that matches the dimensionality of true wood shake, Landmark asphalt shingles offer the heaviest weight and widest selection of choices in their class, allowing you to create or re-create the idyllic look for your home. Backed by a 100+ year legacy of trusted manufacturing performance, all Landmark shingles include CertainTeed®’s industry-leading lifetime-limited warranty.
Landmark PRO® shingles improve upon the reliable Landmark shingle. We started by adding more weathering asphalt to the industry’s toughest fiberglass mat to provide additional protection. Then we incorporated our Maximum Definition color blend technology to give the product more vibrancy on the roof. As a result, Landmark PRO shingles offer peace of mind on projects that call for a premier appeal at an affordable price. Landmark Pro shingles also offer CertainTeed®’s lifetime, limited warranty.
ClimateFlex® designer shingles offer the beauty and dimensionality of wood shake roofing in the form of a durable, polymer-modified asphalt.
ClimateFlex shingle technology combines our durable roofing asphalt with the performance of rubberizing polymers. This results in impact-resistant shingles that offer an industry-leading Class 4 rating for protection against hail damage and hail impact, as well as superior surface granule adhesion and all-weather performance that protects year-round in almost any climate or condition.
The rubberizing aspects of ClimateFlex technology provides enhanced cold-weather pliability, allowing contractors to handle and install ClimateFlex in low temperatures that make standard shingles stiff and brittle.
Roofing fact: Did you know that in many cultures, green roofs, which feature plants, grasses and flowers, are still widespread? This practice dates back many centuries, and if the roof is installed correctly, it will contribute to a leak-free roof.
Additional CertainTeed® roofing technologies
As a result of CertainTeed®’s dedication to product improvements and manufacturing excellence, we’ve developed numerous valuable technologies that help contractors and homeowners build better, safer, more comfortable homes.
- QuadraBond™ advanced layering is CertainTeed®’s specially formulated adhesive that adheres to shingle layers at four points, more than other manufacturers. This superior bond provides greater protection against shingle delamination to maximize performance over the shingle’s life in any climate.
- StreakFighter® algae resistance is the ultimate in stain protection. Those streaks on other roofs in your neighborhood? That’s algae. CertainTeed®’s StreakFighter technology uses the power of science to repel against algae before it can take hold and spread.
- NailTrak® nailing line is a feature on CertainTeed®’s designer shingles. Now brighter than ever, with high-visibility lines that stand out at daybreak or dusk, NailTrak removes the guesswork with three separately defined lines, creating a large area to guide nailing and smaller areas for extreme slope applications.
- CertaSeal™ uplift protection is a fast-activating modified asphalt sealant with a 20-year record of proven performance. Designed to seal shingles together upon installation, it protects roofs from wind uplift and shingle blow-off so that homes stay safe and dry. It’s also engineered to remain flexible after installation, unlike harder sealants that can dry out and crack over time.
So, there you have it.
We’re confident that we’ve put together a strong case for choosing CertainTeed® asphalt shingles for your next roofing project.
Want more information or a quote? Simply contact our roofing specialists at Schultheis Bros. at your earliest convenience. Or you can learn more at CertainTeed®.com/roofing.
Unlike many run-of-the-mill companies offering unremarkable service and middle-of-the-road workmanship, Shultheis Bros. raises the bar to new heights.
We’re committed to offering Pittsburgh area homeowners top-quality CertainTeed® products and qualified installation for a customer experience second to none.