Key Advantages of Upgrading Your Grand Rapids Michigan Home’s Asphalt Shingles

Sometimes protecting our homes means upgrading the roofing materials that are on the home. One of the most popular types of roofing materials used in the Grand Rapids Michigan area today is asphalt shingles. Asphalt shingles have been around for many years, simply because, they work great at protecting your home from weather elements. Today however there are many different choices when it comes to what type of asphalt shingle you purchase for your home. Higher quality shingles will give your home better protection but are they really worth it? In this article we’ll discuss some of the asphalt shingle choices you’ll have for your home and why you may want to upgrade your roofing to a different type of asphalt shingle roofing. 

Key Advantages of Upgrading Your Grand Rapids Michigan Home’s Asphalt Shingles

As I mentioned above, asphalt shingles have been around for many decades. They are basically made by pressing layers of asphalt around a fiberglass core and then adding granules on top of the layers of asphalt. This gives the shingle rigidity and protection from UV rays and debris. While the basic concept has remained the same for all those years there is now better technology that makes the shingles better. Testing of the shingles and minute tweaks here and there make them protect your home better. Also newer shingles can be much better than those made 30 years ago simply because they work better and protect your home better. I’ll go into more details below on some of the things that are upgraded with each different type of asphalt shingles being installed today.

How Long Should Your Roof Last?

One question that most roofing contractors in Grand Rapids Michigan will get is just how long should their roof last? There are many different factors that will play into this and it’s usually not a one size fits all. Most lower quality roofing materials will last around 15 years in the Grand Rapids Michigan climate. However, by using upgraded asphalt shingles you can get warranties on your roof today that can last up to 40 years or more in some cases. No matter how old your roof is now, getting a roof inspection can help you determine if you should be in the market for a new roof. And if so, be sure to check out some of the upgraded roofing that you can choose below.

Upgrading to Architectural Shingles in Grand Rapids Michigan

The basic type of asphalt shingle that is most common is called a three tab shingle. It’s a single layer of asphalt material with two slits cut into the shingle to give it a wood shaker appearance. While this type of shingle can protect your home it’s usually on the lower end of the quality and warranty scale. An upgraded version of the three tab shingle is called architectural shingles and they are made with multiple layers of asphalt. They have more depth and offer better protection due to the additional layers. With architectural shingles you’ll likely also have shading that is designed to give the shingles more character and depth once they are installed. Architectural shingles have warranties that can last from 20 years to more than 40 years depending on the brand you choose to have installed on your home. Most home owners prefer architectural shingles over three tab shingles simply because they look so much better and gives the home more character.

Upgrading to Impact Resistant Shingles in Grand Rapids Michigan

While upgrading your asphalt shingles to architectural shingles can give your home a better appearance, you can get better protection if you upgrade to another type of asphalt shingle known as impact resistant shingles. Impact resistant shingles are designed to be able to withstand damaging weather elements such as hail and other debris that may come in contact with the roof. Impact resistant shingles look similar to architectural shingles and have slightly better warranties from most brands.

Include Different Roofing Materials in Your Roofing Estimate

If you’re not sure about what you can afford or is the best price point for your home be sure to get an estimate on the roof replacement in Grand Rapids Michigan and ask to have it include the different roofing materials that are available. Knowing the costs involved can really help you determine if you should upgrade your home’s roofing material.