Roofing Shingles and Tiles - 3 Basic Types

Roofing shingles come in many different styles, shapes, colors and patterns. But every roof has but three basic shingle (or tile) types. This article explains the three basic types of shingles and tiles which are produced. We're not talking about specific products here, simply the types of each product.

Handsplit and resawn cedar comes in two different grades and many different thicknesses. Premium grade cedar shakes or shingles are made of clear heartwood, and are 100% edge grain. Number 1 grade cedar is also made of clear heartwood, but it they have a maximum of 20% edge grain. Two of the most popular thicknesses of cedar shakes or shingles are heavy and medium. Heavy cedar has 3/4" (19mm) minimum thickness at the buttend, while medium cedar has 3/4" (13mm) minimum thickness. If you hear the term "perfection" it has nothing to do with how much "perfect" heartwood the cedar contains. "Perfection" means the cedar shake or shingle is 18 inches long. Perfection shakes and shingles come in all 4 different grades.Cedar shakes and cedar shingles are beautiful, and they're also a great investment. Knowledge of terms such as CCA, premium grade, Number 1, blue label and black label will help you select the right cedar roof for your home.Important note: Higher quality ridge shingles typically require special installation procedures when installed. It may be wise to mention this to whoever you choose to install your roof. Ridge shingles are located at areas of your roof most vulnerable to wind damage and therefore subject blowing off if they are not installed properly. Ask your roofing contractor what sort of Special Installations are required for installing high quality ridge shingles.Shingles, or "field" Shingles are the main component of your Roof System. It's the part you see first when looking from the street. And it�s the part which primarily keeps the weather out of your home. Many differing types of shingles are available to choose from, ranging between the traditional Asphalt, Wood Shake and Slate/Tile, to the relatively newer Metal, Rubber and environmentally friendly Plastic Types. Manufacturers are even experimenting with new Green Roof Systems which do not have shingles at all but are instead composed of real dirt and vegetation!Field shingles are installed overtop the Starter Shingles we just discussed. They take the brunt of the weather and are the 'meat and potatoes' a Roof System. Without good Field Shingles, your roof doesn't stand a chance. Of course, all components of a Roof System are vitally important, however it�s the Field Shingles which are the most visual, the most costly and receive the most attention on your Roof.The price difference between a regular ridge shingle and a more visually appealing ridge shingle on a standard home is around $200 - $300.As with every other part of a Roof System, different types of starter shingles are offered by many different manufacturers. Fortunately for you, you don't need to select what type of starter shingle to use on your roof, because the manufacturer of the Field Shingle you chose chooses for you. As long as your Roofing Contractor follows the manufacturers recommendations when selecting starter shingles, you're in good hands.Ridge Cap Shingles and Ridge Cap TilesField Shingles and Field TilesDry climates generally reduce the effectiveness of Wood Shingles and Tile Shingles are relatively expensive and 'out of fashion'. Rubber and Plastic tiles are relatively newer in the market and still gaining market share. This leaves Metal and Asphalt as the most popular tile and shingle options for Roofing Systems, with asphalt being the most popular due to its lower cost and long reliable track record. Asphalt and Metal Shingles have recently adapted in design to match the luxurious 'layered' look that Wood Shingles used to offer. Recent advances in technology have allowed more and more Asphalt and Metal shingle designs.Undercoursing: Undercoursing is not suitable for most exterior home applications. It is mainly used at the rake of your cedar roof as starter strip.Simply put: One single row of starter shingles is installed everywhere your roof ends, ie: in the same areas as with Metal Drip Edge and Rake Edge.The mounting on these newer solar panel shingles is simpler as well and conforms to the nail patterns of a standard sheet of roof shingles. This makes it easier for them to be incorporated into the standard roofing materials. It also allows a builder to have them installed by the same roofing company that is doing the rest of the building's shingles. This can save time and money on the installation and make these types of home solar power systems very affordable. The wiring for these solar panel shingles is run through the roofing material and the interconnections are done inside of the attic. This way there are no visible wires on the roof which males for a cleaner installation.Black Label: Black label cedar is one step down from Red Label shingles. They have clear heartwood in about 50% of the shingle. Like red label, black label shakes and shingles also have a limited number of knots and defects above the clear portion of the shingle.

Important note: Higher quality ridge shingles typically require special installation procedures when installed. It may be wise to mention this to whoever you choose to install your roof. Ridge shingles are located at areas of your roof most vulnerable to wind damage and therefore subject blowing off if they are not installed properly. Ask your roofing contractor what sort of Special Installations are required for installing high quality ridge shingles.

Author: Eric Gilbert