Composition Roofing Material
3-tab shingles offer economical good looks and lasting performance with
warranty years ranging from 30 to 20 years.
Composition roofing comes in an extensive choice of patterns, styles, colors
and warranties. In the past, the most common composition shingle was 3-tab
which is still widely used today. The 3-tab shingle has a flat appearance
with 3 tabs per shingle - hence the name. It has warranties ranging from
20 years to 35 years.
One of the newer and most popular composition shingles today is the laminated
shingle also know as architectural or dimensional shingles. These shingles
distinctive in their design have had two shingles laminated together to
create the illusion of depth.
The colors and color blends of the shingles are seemingly endless and vary
from manufacturer to manufacturer. The laminated shingles have warranties
ranging from 25 years to 50 years. The 40 year Presidential shingle takes
after woodshingles in design, but has a granular look.
The ridge cap is made in two styles: the standard or flat ridge and the
high-profile ridge. The high-profile ridge has a look similar to tile
and accents hips, ridge and rakes.
Typical composition installation involves underlayment, flashings, vents,
fasteners and shingles.
Underlayment: Acting as a moisture and condensation barrier, it comes in
saturated felt and self-adhering membranes.
Flashings: Usually pre-painted galvanized steel 28 gauge or thicker, is
used on perimeter of roof and where shingles meet penetrations such as
walls, chimneys, skylights, etc.
Vents: Used to circulate air in attics or confined spaces. Vents help keep
condensation from forming during cool weather and extreme temperatures
during hot weather. There are typical square gravity vents, power vents
and ridge vents which can be concealed underneath the ridgecaps.
Fasteners: Galvanized hand nails, coated pneumatic coil nails and zinc
coated staples. Coil nails and staples also come in stainless steel.