Whether you are building a new home or it’s time to replace the roof on your current one, it’s important to choose the right roofing material. The roof keeps a building water and weather-tight, as well as sealing in and insulating the interior. Without the correct roofing material, a property will sustain serious damage over time.
Asphalt and fiberglass shingles are two popular roofing choices, and this article will explain the differences between the two. After reading all of this information, you’ll be able to choose which shingle is best for your property.
What Are Asphalt Shingles?
Asphalt shingles are the most common roof material in the United States and have been for decades. Asphalt shingles have many advantages – they are cheap, durable, and readily available in most areas. A roof shingle is the first and main layer of protection from the elements, such as water, wind, and snow.
But what is a shingle exactly? A shingle is a rectangular material made from asphalt, felt, and a UV-protecting surface layer. These are laid on a roof so rain will run from the top of the roof down into the gutters, and not penetrate into the building.
Asphalt shingles come in a variety of styles, sizes, and colors. A shingle will have a number of tabs, which look like individual roof tiles. The most common shingle has three tabs on it. However, two and four-tab variations can also be purchased.
Along the length of a shingle is an adhesive strip. This strip activates after the shingles are laid and the sun heats the roof up. This feature prevents wind from getting underneath the bottom of the shingles and lifting them up.
What Are Fiberglass Shingles?
Fiberglass shingles take the concept of asphalt shingles and try to improve upon it. Technically, this material is a type of asphalt shingle, but there is a clear difference between older designs and newer iterations.
Fiberglass shingles are constructed from a combination of materials. Firstly, fiberglass is weaved into a base layer. On top of the base layer, a coat of asphalt provides waterproofing. Lastly, the top layer is made from ceramic granules, which protect the shingle from the sun and UV degradation.
Changing the felt in older shingle designs to a fiberglass matt means a thinner layer of asphalt can be used in the construction. In this shingle design, the strength and durability can be retained with the weight reduced.
Asphalt Shingles vs. Fiberglass Shingles: What Are the Differences?
As we’ve discussed in the previous sections, there are a lot of similarities between asphalt and fiberglass shingles. This has mainly because the fiberglass design is an evolution of the older asphalt shingles. In this section, we’ll compare the two types of shingles across some key areas, including durability, cost, and appearance.
Durability
The lifespan of shingles can vary dramatically depending on the weather conditions. For example, UV from the sun can heavily degrade shingles over time. Alongside this, high winds, heavy rain, snow, and sleet can all damage shingles and reduce their lifespan.
In some circumstances, being lighter is not always an advantage. For example, the wind is more likely to impact fiberglass shingles than asphalt. However, if you choose the correct product, the design of a particular fiberglass shingle can negate this weight difference.
Similarly, cold weather can cause some problems with fiberglass. If the temperature drops too low, fiberglass can become brittle, which causes issues if installed or repaired in these temperatures. On the other hand, asphalt shingles have a thicker layer of asphalt which deals with the cold better, making them more durable in colder climates.
In general, without adverse weather conditions, an asphalt shingle can last between 10 and 20 years. The lifespan of a fiberglass shingle roof can be considerably more, from 25 to 50 years. Alongside weather conditions, the brand and installation of the shingles will greatly impact their durability and longevity.
Cost
The price of each type of shingle will change depending on the manufacturer. In general, both materials are in the same price range. Sometimes fiberglass shingles will be marginally cheaper than asphalt because there is less material used in the construction. Alongside this, the longevity of the fiberglass shingles makes them a much better value over their lifespan.
Appearance
If you put a fiberglass and an asphalt shingle next to each other, it would be nearly impossible to differentiate between them. However, if you picked them both up, you would notice the fiberglass is a lot lighter.
Asphalt Shingles vs. Fiberglass Shingles: Which One Should You Use?
While similar, there are some vital differences between asphalt and fiberglass shingles. Understanding these differences should guide your decision about which one to use on your roof.
The price of the two products is usually similar straight off the shelf. However, fiberglass does frequently come out slightly cheaper. Alongside this, because fiberglass shingles last longer than asphalt, their value greatly increases because you don’t have to pay for repairs and replacements as often.
Weight is another factor to consider. First of all, lighter shingles are easier to transport and install. Secondly, if there are weight limitations to your build, and the roof needs to be kept as light as possible, then fiberglass shingles should be picked over asphalt.
One of the biggest considerations to make is if fiberglass is right for your climate. In hotter climates, most manufacturers provide a guarantee that will cover shingles for between 15 and 30 years. The 15-year difference between the top and bottom end of those warranty lengths mainly concerns environmental conditions such as weather and climate. Cold weather can reduce the effectiveness of fiberglass, so if you regularly have very cold temperatures, you might consider asphalt instead.
Summary
Choosing the right roofing material is arguably one of the most important decisions in any house build. If the wrong material is used and water enters the structure, a huge amount of damage can be caused.
Asphalt and fiberglass shingles share many similarities, but in some areas, one is more effective than the other. The biggest consideration should be around the climate you live in because if it’s not suitable for fiberglass, you will have to use asphalt shingles. However, if you do have an acceptable climate, fiberglass shingles are usually the better option.