Introduction: | Since we just addressed roof gutters, let's look at roofing material for a minute. In the United States, the most popular roofing material used on single family homes is the asphalt shingle, but all shingles are the same, right? |
Answer: | False - Every single response to this question was correct - which has NEVER happened before! But for those who don't respond...All asphalt shingles are not the same. While the material and manufacturing methods are similar, there are two distinct types of asphalt roofing shingles available in today's market. The older, traditional style is called "Three-Tab" and the newer, more upscale style, is called "Architectural". What is the difference, you ask? The Three-Tab style is a flat, single layer shingle, with a warranty of 20 - 30 years. However, the Architectural style has "double layer construction, that gives deeper shadow lines and more visual interest than the Three-Tab." The Architectural style usually carries a 30 - 50 year warranty and weights nearly twice as much for the same coverage as the older Three-Tab, giving it better fire rating and higher wind uplift resistance. Why is this of interest to Realtors? Because when selling property, you can educate your Buyer on the structural and aesthetic properties of the Architectural shingle versus the old style Three-Tab. |
