After a few minutes of searching the internet for ‰ÛÏasphalt shingle brands,‰Û you will discover there are over 30 shingle manufacturers selling their products in the United States. Which suppliers can you trust to provide high-quality shingles for your Atlanta roof?
Atlanta Roofing Companies Install Asphalt Shingles On Most Roofs
Most every Atlanta roofing company will tell you that they install asphalt shingles to cover the majority of the roofs they build. This is the case for roofing contractors all over the entire United States, and with good reason. Asphalt shingles have a proven track record for durability, they come in a wide selection of colors and styles, and shingles are affordable.
Of course, all shingles are not equal when it comes to quality. Before you invest in a particular shingle brand, you need to understand what you are being offered so you can decide if it is a good value for you. A less expensive shingle can be a good solution if your current budget is tight and the quality and warranty terms are acceptable.
Understanding Asphalt Shingle Warranties Offered For Atlanta Roofs
Warranties are a great selling point for many shingle brands that are sold in Atlanta. Many shingles come with 20-30 year warranties, and others have even longer guaranteed service lives.
However, warranty terms can vary greatly from brand to brand, and you’ve really got to do your homework if you want to determine which warranty offers you the best protection. Look for exclusions or limits on high-speed wind coverage, confirm if both parts and labor are covered, and make sure your roofing contractor satisfies any ‰ÛÏapproved installer‰Û requirements that must be met to keep the shingle warranty valid.
You should also take a close look to see how the warranty is pro-rated over time, and ask if the shingle warranty is transferable to a second owner, especially if you think you may sell your home in the near future.
After you’ve reviewed the shingle warranties closely, you will be in a better position to decide which warranty is worth paying for.
Look Beyond The Warranty To Determine Shingle Quality
Shingle warranty is only a part of the picture, when it comes to choosing an asphalt shingle for your Atlanta roof. Unfortunately, a long-term warranty is not necessarily a guarantee of product quality. Among the 20 to 30 year warranted shingles, for example, there are some that do not pass the industry standards for performance.
How can you tell?
Ask your shingle supplier if their product meets the asphalt shingle standards defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The two standards are: ASTM D 3462, ‰ÛÏStandard Specification for Asphalt Shingles Made from Glass Felt and Surfaced with Mineral Granules,‰Û and ASTM D 225, which applies to the less often used organic felt asphalt shingles.
Although there is no legal requirement for asphalt shingles to comply with these standards, shingles that do not meet these requirements should be viewed as a lower grade product. Non-compliant shingles will be more likely to experience cracks or failures due to aging, high winds, thermal cycling and other environmental loads.
You may wonder why a company would offer a long warranty on a lower quality shingle. In short, the shingle manufacturer is trying to offer a competitively priced product that can compete in the 20-30 year warranty market. In order to keep manufacturing costs down, they have to use lower quality materials and processes. The manufacturer knows that the shingles will be lacking in durability, and hopes that the shingles will be good enough to last through the warranty period.
The bottom line for you is, you should minimize your risks of premature shingle failures and purchase ASTM compliant shingles if you can afford them.
More About Asphalt Shingles For Atlanta Roofs
There are two basic types of asphalt shingles. The difference is the type of material that is used as the bottom mat/structural layer of the shingle.
Fiberglass mat shingles are the most commonly used asphalt shingle, offering excellent fire and moisture resistance, and lighter weight. Organic mat shingles, on the other hand, can endure higher wind loads, are more flexible and are easier to install in colder temperatures. Your Atlanta roofing contractor can help you decide what shingle type is best for your roofing needs.
Part 2 of this article on asphalt shingles will be published in the near future. If you have any shingle questions in the meantime, we invite you to contact us today. The Findlay Roofing team looks forward to hearing from you, and we will be happy to answer all of your ashphalt shingle and roofing questions.
