Asphalt is one of the most popular roofing materials that homeowners tend to use on their roofing systems. After all, it’s affordable and easy to pair with any home style. However, despite its popularity and widespread use, it still has some myths and misconceptions surrounding it. Fortunately, that’s all they are and it’s always to your benefit that you learn the truth behind these myths and misconceptions so you can be more informed about your roofing material.
In this post, roofing contractors from Halo Roofing Inc. discuss the five common myths and misconceptions that surround asphalt roofing.
Dark-Colored Shingles Equals Higher Cooling Costs – It’s true that darker-colored shingles can get warmer compared to lighter-colored shingles on sunny days. After all, darker colors absorb heat. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the direct cause of higher cooling costs. This is actually caused by poor attic ventilation, which allows heat transfer from the surface of your roof to your living space.
Asphalt Shingles Can Be Sealed Immediately – Contrary to popular belief, shingle sealants don’t work like peel-and-stick materials. For the sealing to properly work, the installed shingles need to receive sufficient solar warmth to activate said sealants. However, since the length of time depends on factors such as home location, direction and climate conditions, an exact time for the sealant to work can’t be given.
Made With Asbestos – The rumor that asphalt shingles were made with asbestos was partially correct since it was needed to meet fire safety codes during the mid-20th century. However, by the time the 1960s rolled around, asphalt shingles made with asbestos was completely phased out and fire-resistant asphalt shingles was made with safer mineral stabilizers, meaning asphalt shingles nowadays no longer contain asbestos.
Nail Guns Over Hand Nailing – This is actually pure misconception as back then, staples were used instead of nails during roofing installations and resulted in bad wind resistance. However, the truth is it doesn’t really matter whether you use a nail gun or you hand nail your shingles. So long as your roofers take extra care to ensure the nails are in the correct location, either method will suffice in installing your roof.
Completely Made of Asphalt – This line of thought is actually pure myth as asphalt shingles aren’t completely made of asphalt. In fact, the industry standards have certain minimum weight of asphalt to ensure the granule adhesion for weather resistance. The truth is only 20% of the product is made by asphalt and lighter weight asphalt shingles can even contain less asphalt compared to heavier shingles.
Turn to Halo Roofing Inc. for your home improvement needs. We are your number one provider of roof repair and storm damage insurance claim assistance services. Give us a call at