It’s been a heck of a winter so far with tropical force winds, atmospheric rivers, ice storms, and record-breaking cold. All of this may have taken a toll on our good moods, but it also may have caused some serious damage to your roof. If your roof is showing signs of losing the battle to Jack Frost, it might be time to consider having a new roof installed.
We humbly suggest contacting Pacific West Roofing for your roof installation. There are several roof options to choose from and your decision should be made based on how durable, wind and impact resistant, eco-friendly, and cost-effective you need your roof to be, and, of course, what you want it to look like. Over the next few months, we’re devoting our blog to examining the different types of roof materials that are available.
What are Rubberized Asphalt Shingles
Because the rough weather has been at the forefront of our minds lately, we’ll start with SBS modified asphalt shingles. Pacific West Roofing is a Malarkey Roofing Shamrock certified roofing company, so we will discuss their product here. And we may be biased, but since Malarkey invented SBS modified asphalt shingles in Florida as a solution to damages hurricanes caused to roofs, we think their product is the best. We’re not alone as State Farm Insurance now requires Malarkey shingles on new homes in not just hurricane-prone areas, but also in tornado alley.
There’s good reason to consider SBS modified asphalt shingles. They are extremely durable and wind and impact resistant, but they are also eco-friendly, made from upcycled rubber and plastics. That means using these shingles helps keep waste out of landfills. In addition, the shingles are coated with smog-reducing granules that actually help clean the air or emission pollutants. Each roof we install keeps about 5 tires from going to the landfill and the granules provide the emission fighting ability of about two large maple trees.
Technically speaking, high-grade asphalt is combined with virgin rubber polymers, and recycled rubber and plastic polymers, to form Malarkey’s proprietary NEX® Polymer Modified (Rubberized) Asphalt technology that chemically rubberizes the asphalt core of the shingle. The result is a shingle that has more adhesive bonds than standard shingles reducing the risk of shingle delamination, and doubling the rain seals to provide extra protection from wind-blown rain. In fact, rubberized asphalt shingles offer 35% greater tear resistance and 65% greater granule adhesion than industry standards require.
The harsh rays from our summer sun can cause regular asphalt shingles to peel and curl, while rain increases the moisture content that can spark mold and algae growth. Asphalt shingles are simply more susceptible to damage from the weather. Plus rubberized asphalt shingles require minimal maintenance. Asphalt shingles can be prone to cracking and will need more regular attention. The end result is that rubberized asphalt shingles will save money in roof maintenance costs and longevity.
Types of Rubberized Asphalt Shingles
Rubberized asphalt shingles are made to last even withstanding year after year of the sometimes punishing weather of the Pacific Northwest, but even within this shingle category, there are still choices to be made. Three types of rubberized asphalt shingles are available: 3-tab, architectural, and designer. The most popular option is architectural shingles which have a dual-layer construction giving them added weight and strength to better withstand harsh environments. The dual layer also gives the roof added dimension improving how it looks from the ground.
Designer shingles have a similar dual-layer construction but these are formed in a cedar shake pattern making them larger and even heavier and stronger than architectural shingles. And, as the name implies, they give the roof a nice designer look. Of course, the price is higher for the designer shingles, but the added protection may well be worth the added cost if you live in some of our higher elevations.
As with any roofing product, how it looks and lasts will only be as good as the company that installs it. Finding a roofing contractor that is licensed, bonded, insured, and has a highly trained and skilled team is key as is their use of the best quality products. There are some home projects a handyman or do-it-yourselfer can tackle, but your roof is not one of them. Call a professional like Pacific West Roofing, for all of your roofing needs.
