Roofing With Asphalt Shingles

Roof shingles are roof coverings made flat rectangular elements. These elements are usually laid in rows from the foot edge of the roof up, with each consecutive higher row overlapping the joints in the lower row.
In the past, roof shingles have been made from a variety of materials such as asbestos-cement, wood, slate, asphalt shingle (bitumen-soaked paper covered with aggregate or fiberglass-based shingles), ceramic or composite. However because of the increased fire hazard associated with paper and wood, wood shingles and paper-based shingles are nowadays less common. Moreover, the perceived carcinogenic property of asbestos also limits the use of asbestos-cement shingles. As a result, fiberglass-based asphalt shingles are nowadays the most widely used roofing material for residential roofing applications in the United States and the world at large.However its use in Kenya is yet to pick, may be due to little information on this versatile roofing material.
Shingles are never to be confused with tiles as tiles ceramic products which are therefore hard and brittle. So whereas tiles last longer than asphalt or paper-based shingles (these two will rot after some time), shingles' preference is because they do not break easily when stepped on or even when a tree branch accidentally fall on your roof.
Asphalt shingles' popularity in U.S can be attributed to number reasons. They are relatively cheap; starting from as low as $0.80 per square foot and go up from there. Asphalt shingles' installation, repair and maintenance are easy and the homeowner can just do the work themselves. The shingles come in a range of styles and colors, to suit the user's choice. Better still, asphalt shingles are reasonably durable (some achieved a class IV hail rating - which is the highest rating for roofing materials available).
The durability of asphalt shingle, however, depends on the geographic location, roof pitch, type of roof underlayment, how cool and moisture free is the attic space, and definitely, asphalt shingle type used. On average a thirty year shingle may last up to 15 years.
The different asphalt shingle types: The two main asphalt shingles are; architectural (dimensional shingles) and three-tab shingles. Three-tab shingles are manufactured from a sole layer of asphalt-saturated fiberglass having a tiny stone layer glued over the shingle. On the other hand, Architectural shingles have solid shingle underneath and another layer glued on the lower half, to present it with an architectural outlook.
In general, architectural shingles last a little longer than three-tabs, but should never be used on roof-slope less than 4. For roof-slopes of 3-4, it's always advisable to use a three-tab shingles, since they provide better protection from wind-driven rain.