So many types of roofing shingles exist that picking the right one for your roof can feel overwhelming! How many types of shingles did you look at before your head started swimming?
One type, architectural shingles, provides better durability, styling, and longevity than most other traditional asphalt roofing options. Below, our team at Polaris Roofing Systems in Flagstaff, Arizona, takes a close look at architectural shingles to help you better understand their incredible potential during your decision-making process.
Call us at Polaris Roofing Systems in Flagstaff, AZ, to schedule a free consultation. We handle roofing upgrades, repairs, or replacements.
What Are Architectural Shingles?
Architectural shingles are a type of asphalt roofing shingle that combine various materials for improved performance. The base includes a mixture of water-resistant asphalt with fiberglass and ceramic-coated materials, creating impressive weather resistance and waterproofing capabilities.
Because of this advanced engineering process, manufacturers can easily produce shingles in various shapes, patterns, colors, and styles to achieve any desired appearance.
Architectural Shingle Roofing Benefits
Architectural asphalt shingles boast many benefits over other materials, including:
Durability: Flagstaff, AZ, gets an average of 100 inches of snow annually. The excess water and weight could easily destroy various roofing systems. Architectural shingles can withstand strong winter storms, constant snowfalls, extreme temperatures, and high winds without suffering water damage, ice dams, or algae growth.
Fire resistance: Many roofing materials, like cedar shakes, are highly flammable and increase your home’s susceptibility to fire damage. Architectural shingles are one of few materials that include fire-resistant coatings. Take a closer look at fireproof roofing systems here.
Cost-effectiveness: Architectural shingle roofs can increase your home’s value and reduce long-term repair, maintenance, and replacement costs. The upfront investment will easily make up for itself.
Energy efficiency: During the long winter months, you don’t want heat escaping from a poorly insulated roof. Architectural shingles will keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer so you can cut down your energy bills.
Aesthetics: Whether you own an Arizona desert oasis or mountain cabin, you can design architectural asphalt shingle roofs to highlight your home’s aesthetic.
Architectural Roofing Design Options
Traditional asphalt shingle roofs use a three-tab design that doesn’t turn heads, but architectural shingles use advanced contours, thickness levels, and cuts to elevate your home’s curb appeal. You can design them to mimic the appearance of other roofing materials, like:
- Cedar
- Slate
- Metal
Such materials may look nice, though they typically don’t offer great durability. Opting for an architectural roof can achieve the same appearance but with better security.
Aside from imitating materials, you can also choose between many color options. Architectural shingles come in shades of:
- Black
- Brown
- Blue
- Red
- Gray
- Green
You can select a color to match your home or a lighter shade for improved energy efficiency. White reflects sunlight, so lighter colors offer natural cooling in the summer. Black absorbs heat, so if you’re concerned about heating your home in the winter, pick a dark color.
Architectural Shingles FAQs
When selecting a new roofing material, homeowners usually care about the numbers. Discover the answers to the most frequently asked architectural shingle questions below.
How Long Do Architectural Shingle Roofs Last?
Architectural shingle roofs can last up to 30 years, depending on your climate and other factors. As a general rule of thumb, you should expect them to last closer to 25 to 28 years. Your roof may exceed this expectation with lucky weather conditions and regular maintenance.
Do Architectural Shingles Have a Warranty?
All asphalt shingles come with a 30-year warranty, though if you purchase all of the roofing system components from the same manufacturer, you may score an extended 50-year period. If anything fails during your warranty, the manufacturer should fix it free of cost (excluding normal wear-and-tear or damage from weather events).
How Much Do Architectural Shingles Cost?
Many factors affect the exact price of your roof, though you can typically expect to spend around $5.68 per square foot. This figure includes all materials but not the added installation expenses.
Ready To Transform Your Flagstaff, Arizona, Home’s Outdated Roof?
When you’re ready to transform your home’s roof with architectural shingles, our team will be happy to help! We handle high-quality roofing repairs, replacements, and installations in and around Flagstaff. Contact Polaris Roofing Systems today at (928) 699-4840 for a free consultation.
