Replacement Time… Do You Think?

This is a deteriorated asphalt shingle roof at 35 years old identified at a recent Sacramento home inspection. The original roof warranty was for 20 years.

Asphalt shingles are currently the most popular type of residential roof material. They are relatively inexpensive, simple to install, come in a variety of colors and are easy to repair.

Asphalt Shingles 101

There are two basic types: fiber glass and organic. Organic shingles consist of an organic felt (paper) material saturated with asphalt to make it waterproof. A top coating of adhesive is applied and then the colored ceramic granules are embedded. Organic shingles contain 40% more asphalt giving the shingle more weight, durability and blow-off resistance.

Fiber glass shingles start with a fiber glass mat, coated with asphalt and fillers. When the asphalt encapsulates the fiberglass mat, it makes it waterproof. Adhesive asphalt is used to cover the mat and the colored ceramic granules are embedded. Fiberglass shingles are more popular, cheaper and easier to manufacturer... thus more cost effective to homeowners.

The ceramic granules are there for two reasons. The primary reason is to protect the single from the sun. The sun’s UV rays are very damaging to asphalt and once the granules wear off. The second reason for the granules is aesthetics. Asphalt shingles are available in a variety of colors to match almost any façade or landscape.

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