 Asphalt shingle is the one of the most common type of material used for sloped roofs in Ontario. The primary reason for that is that they very well fit to Canadian climate. Shingle roofs are resistant to sunlight and sustain wide range of temperatures. Asphalt shingles are easy to cut and fit and could be walked over by installers without fear of breaking or cracking. This makes them easy to install compared to other materials. Also asphalt shingles require little to no maintenance making them the most affordable option at this moment.
Asphalt shingles come in wide variety of colours and profiles. Additionally, to enhance the look of asphalt shingles they could be coated with laminate, which may simulate the texture of natural materials such as cedar or slate.
To make a choice of a shingle type easier, all asphalt shingles could be broadly divided into three major price categories:
 Traditional 3-Tab Shingle - currently is the most affordable option for sloped roofs. This fiberglass based shingle with high tear strength may come with 25 or 30 year manufacture warranty. Even though this shingle cost is almost the same as of architectural shingle, which in our opinion offers much higher value, 3-Tab shingle is a choice of many home owners. This is mainly due to its smooth look, which many customers find appealing especially those having low pitch roofs, where textured shingle surface may look very rough if looked from short distance.
 Architectural Shingle - priced just above the Traditional 3-Tab shingle, it has eye pleasing texture and offers much more strength and durability due to its higher thickness. This shingle is heavier and sticks better to the roof. In addition, unlike Traditional 3-Tab shingle Designer shingle does not have 2 cuts in the middle. This helps to minimize the chance of ice and snow to penetrate under the shingle in winter season, and makes it harder to tear away during high winds. This type of shingle may come with 30, 40, 50 year or even life-time manufacture warranty. In our opinion this shingle type offers the best value.
 Luxury Shingle - is the most expensive shingle type that has an eye pleasing texture simulating the depth of natural slate. This shingle is very thick, which makes it the most durable shingle option. Luxury shingle usually comes with life-time manufacture warranty.
Once you settled down on the shingle type and manufacture warranty period, you may choose from the variety of textures and colors offered by asphalt shingle manufactures. Keep in mind, that even though any additional features or extended manufacture warranty may increase the price of the roof, asphalt shingles will still be the most affordable option for your new roof.
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