Roofing is one of those subjects that most people don’t really think about until the buy or sell a home or the water is pouring down in the house. Well, getting a new roof can be an expensive proposition, so taking the time to learn a little about your roof can make a world of difference. In this article, we take a quick look at asphalt shingles.

Asphalt shingles are about the least expensive roofing material you can use. They are made a couple of different ways, but there are always some common denominators. The first is the membrane. It is a fiber like sheet that looks like thin cardboard. It is made from everything from wood chips to recycled newspapers.

The membrane is run through multiple presses that apply layers of oil based adhesive. This is essentially asphalt. The multiple layers create a thickness that provides both a water barrier and barrier against nominal size debris that may land on the roof.

The final ingredient for the average asphalt roofing shingle is small gravel heaps. While the shingle is still hot, the gravel is applied on the side to be exposed to the sun. The purpose of the gravel is two fold. First, it annoys the heck out of roofers. Just joking. The purpose is to create a barrier for the sunlight striking the shingles.

Asphalt roofing shingles work well when used correctly. Given their rather simple construction, they perform best when used on a steeply sloped roof. Since they are attached via an epoxy solution on the upper backs, this creates a barrier against water wicking back up under the shingles during rain storms.

A roof protection system is only as good as its weakest point. If you have an asphalt shingle roof, you need to inspect it at least once a year. The shingles are inexpensive, but they tend to get damaged and/or knocked around. If this occurs, you need to repair them before wet conditions occur or your risk water compromising the shingles around the damaged area.

At the end of the day, asphalt roofing shingles have their place in roof construction, but they are not the greatest of choices. If you use them, maintenance is a must.

Aazdak Alisimo is a roofing contractor who provides San Bernardino roofing services as well as repairs and re-roofs throughout Southern California. To get a free roofing consultation, visit him at 866FixMyRoof.com.