Composition and Asphalt Roof Shingles – Is There A Difference?

Asphalt roofing is one of the most popular roofing options right now, used on millions of homes and other buildings throughout the world.

Available in a wide selection of colors, shapes, and sizes, asphalt roofs are attractive, affordable, and can be installed quickly in comparison to most other materials.

Though asphalt roofers may call shingle products by multiple names, most are nearly the same thing plus or minus a few details.

Learn the differences between asphalt shingles and what is today called a composition roof so you know what to expect when choosing your roofing materials.

What Are Asphalt Shingles?

Asphalt shingles are a broad category of shingle roofing that encompasses anything made with layers of asphalt fibers as part of its composition.

They have been in use for many decades to create asphalt roofs starting out as flat, three-tab or one-tab versions in their original design and progressing to today’s more durable and decorative styles.

Although they are called many different things now including architectural and composite shingles, this plain, flat, three-tabbed variety is what usually comes to mind when someone refers to asphalt roofs.

With so many better options available now, plain asphalt shingles are rarely used today.

What Are Composite Shingles?

Composite shingles installed by asphalt roofers are a type of shingle made from layers of asphalt and other materials which together form a composite material.

While it is technically the same thing as the original plain asphalt roofing that was a composite of multiple materials, composite shingles normally refer to current more modern and advanced shingle products.

Made with more layers and better materials, composite, architectural, or dimensional shingles are three-dimensional because they are thicker at the bottom so they look more like natural materials.

Installed by skilled asphalt roofers, they look infinitely more attractive than the original flat, three-tab shingles, are significantly more durable, and provide better weather and UV protection.

What Are Some Popular Options In Composite Shingle Roofing?

Because they are thicker and can be shaped during production, composite asphalt roofing is available in a large variety of shapes and designs to match the style and character of your home or building.

They come in multiple colors and thicknesses, mimicking different natural materials such as wood shakes or shingles, slate shingles or tiles, clay tiles, and others.

Additionally, some of today’s more advanced asphalt roof products are:

Designed to provide increased UV reflection for greater energy efficiency,
Hail-resistant.
May include other premium qualities that far outweigh the protection of original flat, tabbed asphalt shingles.

Composite Shingles - The Asphalt Shingle Of Today

Although asphalt roofing and composite shingles are technically the same product, composite shingles are a much-preferred product due to better design, a nicer appearance, and a longer lifespan.

If you’re interested in seeing the full selection of asphalt roofs available to choose from, contact a local asphalt roofer to discuss your preferences and see examples of the beautiful shingles that can be installed on your home!

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Roofing Inspections – Everything You Need to Know!

Regular roofing inspections by a qualified roof serviceroof is the first line of defense against damage that can slowly destroy a roof if not discovered and fixed.

Unfortunately, many people go for long periods without one, calling roofers only when there is a problem.

This break-fix approach can cause a lot more damage than you might think.

To prevent it and be certain of getting a full life out of an expensive roofing addition, understand the importance of roof inspections and what they entail!

What Is Included In A Professional Roofing Inspection?

A inspection performed by a professional roofing contractor includes a detailed, close-up look at your roof to judge it on four main factors.

Those are structural soundness, materials, workmanship, and interior soundness.

With this information, it is possible to monitor your roof from year-to-year and detect or predict problems so they can be repaired earlier as opposed to later.

When performing the inspection, an experienced roofer will start by looking at the structural soundness of the entire house or building, from its angles and attachments to the condition of gutters, soffits and fascia, protrusions, chimneys, and all other physical aspects of the roof to be sure that everything is in good condition and there are no signs of damage.
Next, the contractor will inspect the roof for signs of wear or damage, also looking for signs of poor workmanship that can lead to roofing problems. Materials that are aging poorly or might be defective will be noted as will areas where the workmanship might be questionable and require repair to prevent damage to those areas.
Then after assessing the materials, workmanship, and condition of the entire roof structure, the roofer will go inside the house or building to inspect things from the attic where the trusses and rafters are visible to look for old or new signs of leaking, mold growth, and other indications that there is damage that just may not be visible from the outside.

How Often Should A Roof Be Inspected?

While it’s suggested to have any roof inspected by a local roofer every spring and fall, many people do fine with an inspection once a year if their roof is in good condition and any issues are promptly dealt with.

If opting for once yearly, it’s best to have a roofing inspection done in the spring before storm season to ensure it’s in good condition and able to withstand those storms once they come.

Roofers also recommend having an additional inspection after a major storm, as some storm damage may not be obvious to the naked eye but should be discovered and repaired as soon as possible.

Can I Inspect My Own Roof?

Though it may be possible to do a quick visual inspection of roofing from the ground and notice more obvious problems, you won’t be able to see most other damage that way.

Professional roofing contractors need to go onto the roof to do a surface inspection to correctly gauge the condition of your roof.

It’s not recommended that anyone but a trained roofer go on a roof.

You can still keep an eye out for more apparent concerns in between inspections; however, call a roofer if something doesn’t seem right.

The Value of Regular Roofing Inspections

Roofs are funny because we don’t remember that they are there most of the time, yet when there’s a problem, we definitely know about it.

The best way to keep a roof healthy so you don’t end up replacing it too soon is by hiring a professional roofing contractor to perform routine inspections.

A thorough inspection inside and out by a qualified roofer is a small investment made to protect the huge investment you’ve already made!

Looking For Roof Service in Conroe Texas?

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If I Get A Metal Roof – Will I Lose A Good Cell Signal?

There are a lot of benefits to choosing a metal roof for a home or commercial building, as metal roofs are super strong, very durable, and energy-efficient.

Despite those many advantages, many people decide against it because they believe that installing a roof by metal roofer services might interfere with cell signals, thus reducing cell phone and/or internet service.

While this may be true to a certain extent, it’s not a reason to avoid having a metal roofing service install metal on your structure.

There are workarounds to ensure your cell signal is clear as day, even under a metal roof.

What Things Interfere With Cell Signals?

Cell signals are magnetic radio frequencies that pass from cell towers to the devices that use them to create a cellular connection.

These radio waves can be weakened by certain things, from a weak signal right from the tower to geographic location and topography in relation to towers to certain common building materials.

Metal roofer companies find that some homes or buildings, including a few with metal roofs may experience weak or spotty signals when the tower signal cannot reach a device directly and the signal ends up bouncing off things before it does.

This can happen in buildings made with brick, stone, metal, or even wood plus windows with energy-saving glass can also block a good cell signal and create dead spots within a building.

Weather can also interfere with cell signals.

Can A Metal Roof Interfere With Cell Signals?

Although the answer to this question technically is yes, metal roofer services are quick to point out that in most cases, a weak signal is caused by a lot more than just a metal roof.

It is usually a combination of factors, including:

Location of the building.
Distance from the nearest tower.
How hilly the land is.
Weather
Building materials

So while a metal roof may contribute somewhat, in most cases it’s actually other things causing the biggest problems that could combine to create a weaker signal.

How To Avoid Cell Interference with A Metal Roof

When you want to take advantage of the great benefits of having a metal roof company put on a metal roof but don’t want to fuss with cell signal issues, there are a few simple things you can do to prevent them.

The best way to avoid signal problems is to subscribe to wireless service for your phones and internet, as wireless is much more reliable, across the board.

Save the cellular for when you’re outside and on the go.

If you do need to rely on a cellular signal inside your home or building, many recommend that you install either a cell signal booster or a repeater system in the building metal roofing companies.

Boosters and repeaters are both composed of an antenna installed on the roof and a receiver or amplifier inside the building.

The repeater sends cell signals throughout the structure from its receiver, while the booster must be physically connected to a device to feed signals.

In either case, they alleviate the problem of weak or non-existent signals in buildings constructed in such ways that the signals cannot pass through.

Metal Roofs and Cell Phone Can Be Compatible!

Being connected is more important today than ever before, so it makes sense that you’d want to avoid anything that can affect that connectivity.

Fortunately, as your metal roof company can explain in more depth, there is no reason for you to forego that beneficial metal roof for fear of affecting your signal.

It is unlikely that your service will be interrupted but if it is, there are reliable workarounds so you can have your metal roofing and your cell signal, too!

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Month: October 2020