30, 40, 50 Year and Lifetime Warranties

Shingle roofing is the most widely used roofing material in New England and throughout the country, and for good reasons. Shingles are durable and they are available in a range of prices and styles. New dimensional or architectural shingles give the appearance of slate, wood and other roofing types.

Here are some common questions about metal roofs and the answers to those questions.

Q. What are shingles?

A. Most modern shingles are asphalt impregnated fiberglass. Glass fiber shingles have a glass fiber reinforcing mat manufactured to the shape of the shingle. This mat is then coated with asphalt which contains mineral fillers. The glass fiber mat is not waterproof by itself. It's purpose is for reinforcement. What makes the glass fiber shingle waterproof is the asphalt. However, the asphalt itself will not stick to the mat. For this reason, "fillers" are used. The fillers in the asphalt cling to the glass fibers in the mat. The asphalt then encapsulates the glass fibers, fills all of the little holes and voids in the mat rendering it waterproof. After this cools a bit, an adhesive asphalt is used to cover the mat and the ceramic granules are then embedded.

The ceraminc granules are there for two reasons. The primary reason is to protect the shingles from the sun. The sun's UV rays are very damaging to asphalt and cause it to deteriorate prematurely. This is one of the same reasons that gravel is used on built-up roofs. The second and more obvious reason for the granules is aesthetics. Asphalt shingles are available in a wide variety of colors to match almost any facade or landscape.

Q. How long do shingles last?

A. The lifespan of asphalt shingles depends in a large measure upon the local weather and environment. Shingles in cooler climates such as the northern United States have been shown to last longer than those installed in the warmer areas. For example, manufacturer studies have found that the average lifespan of a 20 year shingle in Phoenix, Arizona is around 14 years while in Reading, Pennsylvania, the lifespan was 20.8 years. Another factor affecting asphalt shingle roofs is attic ventilation. Proper roof ventilation has been shown to extend the service life of a roof. Whether it is because it has a direct effect on the shingle themselves or on the other components such as the roof deck is not entirely clear.

Q. What do roofing warranties cover?

A. Shingle manufacturers provide product warranties against manufacturing defects ranging from twenty (20) to forty (50) years and beyond. The warranties will cover defects such as thermal splitting, some cases of granule loss, cupping, and curling. It is very important that you ask for and receive a copy of the manufacturer's written material warranty before making a decision on whose material you'd like to use. Warranties are generally for materials only.