Architectural Asphalt Shingles
Architectural asphalt shingles are also commonly known as laminated shingles or three dimensional shingles. They are a premium version of asphalt roofing shingle. The first production of a commercially successful asphalt was in the 1950’s and ever since then manufacturer’s have strived to improve them.
Not only have their functionality and durability improved but their visual appearance has also evolved. Manufacturer’s try to produce a shingle that will replicate other types of roof covering such as wood, slate and tile. Most of what is available today is successful in that regard.
Roofing shingles are made from a variety of different materials from which we can choose from. These include aluminum, asphalt, cedar, copper, concrete, clay, steel and rubber. Asphalt shingles are the most popular choice of roof covering for both residential and commercial properties. There are also different varieties of asphalt shingle that we can choose from. This includes architectural asphalt shingles which comes with it’s own particular types of construction and durability levels. This type of shingle is heavier than standard types but not to the levels that extra support would be required for the roof to take their weight. They are also known as three dimensional shingles because their extra weight and visual design make them look three dimensional.
As for installation, the process is relatively easy and can even be considered easier than installing three tab varieties. Some types of architectural asphalt shingle are installed in the usual way by simply fixing them in place with nails while other types also use interlocking tabs. This type of shingle is constructed in very much the same way as a regular asphalt shingle. The main difference is that the top coating of asphalt over the fiberglass mat is thicker. This extra weight makes them extremely durable. Architectural shingles are capable of withstanding wind speeds of up to 120mph. They also offer high resistance to fire.
There are also certain types available on the market that offer more protection from algae growth thanks to a mix of zinc and copper which is included with the embedded ceramic granules. If you are looking for a higher quality roof covering then architectural asphalt shingles come highly recommended. Their extra weight makes them much more durable than other types of roofing shingles currently available. For many years three tab shingles have been the market standard but recently architectural asphalt shingles have been growing in popularity. And it’s not surprising why. They are visually more appealing due to their three dimensional design, contain more asphalt which makes them heavier and more durable, they are more likely to stay in place during strong winds and they are longer lasting.