How to Install Architectural Shingles

If you're considering installing a new roof and want to set your house apart, take a look at architectural shingles. Classic asphalt or composite shingles lay flat and have little definition. Architectural shingles are thicker and have a higher profile. This profile lends your house a unique, textured appearance, even from a distance.

Architectural shingles are available in a Class 4 impact rating, which can lower insurance rates in hail-prone areas. Most manufacturer's warranties only cover if the roof is striped to the sheathing. Other types can be layered up to 3 layers of roof depending on local codes.

What Are Architectural Shingles?

Conventional three-tab composite or asphalt shingles are durable, practical, and inexpensive. They are found on countless roofs and often last for as long as 30 years. Yet, beyond the color, composite shingles have limited design variations.

Architectural shingles, sometimes called dimensional or laminated shingles, are thicker and heavier than conventional shingles. They work well on steeply pitched roofs where the shingles are more visible than with regular 4/12 pitch or 12/12 pitch roofs. They're also a good stylistic touch for historic homes or for any home striving for a classic, traditional look.

Architectural Shingles Appearance

Architectural shingles' higher profile provides the shingles with a more varied, random texture. Thicker shingles cast a larger shadow for a more dramatic look. although they can lead to additional moss growth in some areas.

These shingles are a reliable substitute for cedar shake or slate shingles. Cedar is a hazard in fire-prone areas, plus its durability is limited. Slate is an expensive material and it's equally expensive to install. Not only that, but slate is so heavy it often requires extra roof support.

Unlike true cedar shake, architectural shingles are fire-proof and longer lasting since they have no wood content. And unlike slate, slate-look architectural shingles can be installed by any roofing company. No extra roof support is needed, either.

While architectural shingles are slightly heavier than regular composite shingles (about 240 pounds per 100 square feet, as opposed to composite's 200 pounds), they do not even begin to reach the weight of real slate which is around 675 to 1,870 pounds per 100 square feet.

Architectural Shingles Composition

Architectural shingles are a laminate or layered construction. At the base is a heavy fiberglass mat that provides structural reinforcement and increases the product's tear strength.

On top of that are ceramic-coated mineral granules. These granules are mixed and embedded in a slurry of asphalt. In some cases, recycled tires and other plastics are used in the manufacture of architectural shingles.