Asphalt roof shingles are the most popular roofing material used on homes across The Bahamas, and with good reason. They are designed to protect a home through decades of weathering with minimal upkeep, and are available in hundreds of colors and styles.
Readily Available & A Great Value
In additional to offering a variety of style choices, asphalt shingles are also widely available throughout the Bahamas, and are easy to install, making them an attractive option for professional roofing contractors to offer to their customers. And while getting a new roof is by no means an inexpensive project, asphalt shingles are among the most affordable options available. In fact, if an existing roof deck (the structural surface beneath the roofing system) is in good condition, new asphalt shingles can even be installed over older shingles, reducing the need (and cost) of a tear off of the old roofing. Check with your contractor to see if this is a viable money-saving option for your roofing project.
Different Types of Roof Shingles
There are three major categories of asphalt roofing shingle products available today – strip shingles, dimensional shingles, and luxury shingles. It is important to understand the differences between each type of roofing shingle in order to pick the right product for your home.
*A note on terminology: Asphalt shingles are also known as and composition shingles (or composite shingles). These are general terms for the same thing. The term “composition” is used because the shingles are a composite product made from either a fiberglass or cellulose mat, asphalt, and mineral granules. This differs from wood shake shingles or clay tiles which are made from a single material.
Advantages of Asphalt Shingles:-
Asphalt shingles are by far the most affordable roofing material on the market. They’re quick and easy to install and when installed correctly and properly maintained they can last for about 25-30 years.
The shingles are also really easy to tear down, repair or replace if need be. One of the things that make them really affordable is that they don’t require any special tools or accessories in order to install them, such as roof edges, vent flashings or wall terminations.
Their versatility opens them up to a range of different shapes, styles and colours, allowing you to style them as you please for your desired aesthetic. The shingles are waterproof and fireproof, adding that extra protection to your home in case of any emergencies. They also work well on homes with steep, sloping structures and are pretty compatible with most roof types. Another great feature is that the mineral granules on the shingles help to deflect harmful, roof-damaging UV rays.