Five Disadvantages of Asphalt Roof Shingles

Most homeowners have asphalt roof shingles. Although popular, this roofing material has numerous disadvantages. Some of them include thermal protection, durability, and damage from heat and wind. This article will discuss the disadvantages of asphalt roof shingles.

Thermal Protection

The first disadvantage of asphalt roof shingles is the amount of thermal protect they provide. They offer very little thermal protection. Asphalt roof shingles will absorb heat from the sun and transfer it into your home. On cool nights, they will transfer more heat from your home. You will need to make sure your attic space is well-ventilated to the outside to help with this problem.

Heat

Asphalt roof shingles not only transfer solar heat into your home, they can become damaged by the heat. If you live in an area with excessive heat, the shingles may start to curl up at the ends. They may start to sag if they are put on a steep roof. You also have to be careful when walking on these roofing materials when it’s excessively hot. Asphalt roof shingles can become scarred if you walk on them while it’s too hot. If your attic is poorly ventilated, they will also bake from underneath.

Wind

Wind can also give you problems if you have asphalt roof shingles. Strong winds can uplift or tear them off easily. Tree branches blowing in the wind can also easily damage your asphalt roof shingles. If you live in an area prone to strong winds, you will have to make sure you prune tree branches near your home.

Durability

One of the final disadvantages of asphalt roof shingles is their durability. You can easily find roofing material that will last 40 or 50 years. Asphalt roof shingles will only last 20 years at the most. After that, you will have to install a new layer of shingles.

Moisture

Moisture presents the last disadvantage of asphalt roof shingles. If you live in a rainy area, you may have mildew problems because of the excess moisture. Your asphalt roof shingles may also start to rot if they are located in damp, shady areas of your roof.

These are some of the disadvantages of asphalt roof shingles. They offer very little thermal protection, so more heat will be transferred into your home. Asphalt roof shingles can also be damaged from excessive heat or wind. They will only last up to 20 years, while others can last 40 or 50 years.

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