Architectural shingles, also known as dimensional shingles, are made by fusing two regular asphalt shingles together. This results in a much thicker shingle that gives a roof a more distinctive appearance. Consult a professional Ocean County roofing technician to see if using architectural shingles is a good roofing option.
Because of their thickness and strong construction, architectural shingles are more durable than regular shingle. They will last longer as well, often up to 40 years. They are designed to withstand severe weather such as heavy winds, rain, ice and snow better than regular roofing materials. Unlike with some heavy duty roofing materials, there is no need to make structural upgrades to accommodate an architectural shingle roof.
The main design use of the architectural shingle is to gain the effect and appearance of a wood shake roof. Unlike a shake roof, which can last as little as 10 years, an architectural shingled roof will last much longer. Additionally, architectural shingles are considerably safer than wood shake roofs as their fire risk is much lower.
Architectural shingles do have some particular maintenance requirements. They are extremely susceptible to algae and the moss that feeds on it. If an abundance of falling leaves are a problem for a particular roof, architectural shingles might not be appropriate, or the level of maintenance will need to be a lot higher.
The roof needs adequate ventilation as well.
Architectural shingles are one of the only products that can be successfully used for a re-roofing project. Although re-roofing is not generally recommended, if a professional determines that a re-roofing is appropriate, chances are that architectural shingles will be used for the job. The heavier construction of the architectural shingles can even out any unevenness in the shingle layer below, and most roofs can support the addition of an additional layer of these shingles. However, even architectural shingles are not a cure to the risks that accompany any re-roofing.
The warranties that come with architectural shingles are generally as long as or longer than high end regular asphalt shingles. As with many warranties, regular maintenance will probably be a key requirement so as not to void the warranty, and it may require regular moss removal as well.
Installing architectural shingles is much the same as for regular shingles, and the costs should not be significantly different. As with the installation of any roof, this is a job usually best left to the professionals. The roofers from Fortified Roofing in Ocean County NJ can answer your questions about new roofs or roof repairs.
Common roofing term explained by the expert roofers from Fortified Roofing in Ocean County NJ:
Wood shake
A wood shake shingle is made from wood that was once prevalent in early American colonies and in Scandinavia. Wood shake roofs have fallen out of favor because if their relatively high fire risk. Although it is still possible to have one installed, the cost is very high, and many municipalities ban them for safety reasons.
Question and answer courtesy of the Ocean County roofing experts from Fortified Roofing in NJ:
How do I remove moss from my roof?
There are many products designed to kill moss on a roof, and they usually come with a sprayer built in. Since moss needs a pH level of 5 to 5.5 to grow, homeowners can either kill it with an acid pH level below 4.0 by spraying its environment with a diluted mixture of vinegar and water, or make its environment more alkaline by spraying with a diluted mixture of baking soda and bleach.
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