Asphalt shingle

Specification

Characteristic

 Asphalt shingles have varying qualities which help them survive wind, hail, or fire damage and discoloration.

Solar reflecting                                                                                

shingles help reduce air conditioning costs in hot climates by being a better reflective surface.

Wind damage                                                                                  

Asphalt shingles come in varying resistance

Hail damage                                                                                         

 Hail storms can damage asphalt shingles. For impact resistance UL 2218 Class 4 is best. This increases survivability from hail storms but the shingles become more susceptible to hail damage with age.

Fire resistance                                                                                           

 Forest fires and other exterior fires risk roofs catching on fire. Fiberglass shingles have a better, class A, flame spread rating based on UL 790, and ASTM E 108 testing. Organic shingles have a class C rating.

Durability                                                                                                    

Shingle durability is ranked by warranted life, ranging from 20 years to lifetime warranties are available. However a stated warranty is not a guarantee of durability. A shingle manufacturer's warrantie may pro-rate repair costs, cover materials only, have different warranty periods for different types of damage, and transfer to another owner.