Your home’s roof is an incredibly important feature. Therefore, it’s important to keep yours well maintained and replace it when necessary. If your roof is getting worn and old, it may be time to consider a new roof. However, thanks to advancements in technology, there are many roofing options from which to choose.
If you love the advantages of traditional asphalt shingles but want to take them to the next level, you may want to consider architectural asphalt shingles. To learn more and see if architectural shingles are right for you, check out these commonly asked questions.
What Are Architectural Shingles?
Asphalt shingles are one of the most common types of roofing materials, and architectural shingles are one popular type of asphalt roof. Traditionally, asphalt roofs consisted of 3-tab asphalt shingles, which consist of one layer. Architectural shingles, however, consist of two layers of shingles, which gives them a dimensional style. For this reason, architectural shingles are often referred to as dimensional shingles.
What Are the Benefit of Architectural Shingles?
More and more homeowners are choosing architectural shingles over traditional 3-tab asphalt singles for their many benefits. Naturally, because they are asphalt shingles, they have the same benefits as traditional asphalt roofs, such as being lightweight.
Being lightweight is an important feature for a roofing material because it can be used on just about any roof. Heavy materials like slate do better on roofs with steep slopes and/or additional strength to support the heavy roof. Therefore, going from a traditional asphalt roof to a slate roof can drastically increase the cost of the project. Going from a traditional asphalt roof to an architectural roof, however, is much more cost-effective.
However, because of their unique design, architectural shingles have more advantages than 3-tab shingles. First, since they consist of more than one layer of shingles, they are more durable. A 3-tab asphalt roof may last about 20 years, but an architectural asphalt roof may come with a warranty of up to 30 to 50 years.
Thanks to their design, architectural asphalt shingles are also an energy-efficient option, which may lower your monthly heating and cooling bills. Similarly, because these roofs tend to last longer, you’ll save money on repairs and replacement.
Finally, asphalt shingles are a great choice if you want many options. Not only can you choose from many different colors, but you can choose shingles that mimic the look of other more expensive materials, such as wood and slate.
How Much Are Architectural Shingles?
The drawback: architectural shingles are more expensive than traditional 3-tab shingles. However, they are still one of the more affordable choices, costing less than slate and wood roofs. On average, expect to pay $3.50 to $6.00 per square foot for architectural shingles. Regular asphalt shingles may cost $1.00 to $4.00 per square foot.
Still, architectural shingles are more affordable than metal, wood, slate, synthetic slate, and many more. Slate, for example, is one of the most expensive options and costs about $20 per square foot. Even synthetic slate, which is supposed to be more affordable, costs $7 to $9 per square foot.
A new roof is always a good investment because it has a high return on investment. If you add the cost benefits of a more durable roof and a more energy-efficient roof, you recoup much of your initial investment. Plus, architectural shingles may attract more potential buyers because of their unique appearance.
Architectural shingles are a great choice because they are affordable and durable. They have the same advantages as traditional asphalt shingles, and while they are more expensive to install, you may save money in the long run. For more information or to get an estimate, contact us at Ray’s Hartford Home Improvement Contractors Inc. today.
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Your home’s roof is an incredibly important feature. Therefore, it’s important to keep yours well maintained and replace it when necessary. If your roof is getting worn and old, it may be time to consider a new roof. However, thanks to advancements in technology, there are many roofing options from which to choose.
If you love the advantages of traditional asphalt shingles but want to take them to the next level, you may want to consider architectural asphalt shingles. To learn more and see if architectural shingles are right for you, check out these commonly asked questions.
