All about asphalt roofing shingles

1. Buy low

 Asphalt naturally repels water. It's a readily available commodity as long as we continue to use petroleum. Asphalt is a by-product of refining crude oil; it's what's left over after the lighter-weight solvents are extracted from the black gold that's pulled from the bowels of the earth. Because oil prices go up and down, prices of shingles do the same. Lock in prices when you see them low.

2. Use sunscreen

 Ultraviolet rays from sunlight breaks down asphalt shingles. That's why the shingles are covered with the small, colored ceramic granules. These create a powerful sunscreen, and they come in different colors to match your exterior decorating scheme. Many manufacturers make shingles with granules that contain copper; this helps prevent the ugly black algae stains you sometimes see on asphalt-shingled roofs.

3. Blame the work

 Some homeowners unfairly blame asphalt shingles for their leaky roofs. In reality, leaks typically can be traced to poor workmanship and almost always to faulty flashing installation. Flashings are transitional roofing materials that connect the asphalt shingles to something that's poking through a roof or immediately adjacent to a roof. For example, you'll discover flashings at chimneys, plumbing vent pipes, ventilation fans, dormers, roof vents, valleys and so forth. If you install shingles and flashings correctly, you simply don't have leaks.

4. Leak causes

 Remember that shingles work like feathers on a duck. They overlap one another and use gravity to create a weather-tight seal. If you blast water up a roof or if water backs up because of an ice dam or other obstruction, you can have a leak. There are special barriers you can apply to the wood roof deck before you install the shingles that will stop leaks like this. It is highly recommend if where you live heavy snow accumulation is expected or where violent, wind-driven rain is a possibility.

5. Be informed

 Even if you don't intend to get up on your roof and pound the nails that hold the shingles in place, you nonetheless should read the installation instructions that come with the shingles. It's easy and won't take long. You'll gain a great understanding of the accessory products that are required to ensure you have a leak-free roof.

6. What's under

 Roofing underlayment or felt paper is almost always called for. Some manufacturers will have very specific layout requirements, especially makers of architectural asphalt shingles. These shingles tend to mimic the look of other roofing materials like slate or wood shakes. If you don't space the shingles correctly, the final look of the roof may not be as dramatic as it could be.

7. Color check

 If you're on the fence about color selection, you can do a quick experiment that will probably cost $100 or less. Purchase one or two bundles of shingles and have a worker lay them out over your existing roof so that you can see them from the ground. Do this on a calm day with little wind. If you have a steep roof, you'll have to nail them in place with the minimum amount of nails just to keep them from sliding. Stand back at the road to see what they look like. You'll be surprised by how much better a feel for the color differences you get by using large patches of shingles than by merely looking at a small piece on a sample board.

8. No shortcuts

 Don't let a roofing contractor talk you into skipping any steps in the written instructions. Doing so can void the warranty that comes with the shingles. Pay attention to all the requirements that are in the instructions - even something as seemingly minor as the position of the nails.

9. Ventilate

 Be sure you have plenty of ventilation to exhaust hot air from the attic. Simple turbine vents can vacuum hot air from attics.