Asphalt Shingle Roofing Springfield

Asphalt Shingle Roofing in Springfield

Asphalt shingles cover most of the roofs in the Springfield area for a simple reason: nothing else delivers the same protection per dollar. Summit Roofing has installed them since 1985, and we’ll tell you something most salesmen won’t. The difference between a 15-year roof and a 28-year roof is rarely the shingle. It’s the deck prep, the nailing, and the ventilation under it.

Architectural vs Three-Tab

Architectural shingles (also called dimensional or laminated) are two layers of asphalt bonded together. The extra thickness brings a 110 to 130 mph wind rating, a deeper shadow line that hides minor deck imperfections, and 20-plus years of realistic service. They are the standard on nearly every roof we install.

Three-tab shingles are a single flat layer, scored into three tabs. They cost less per square but carry roughly a 60 to 70 mph wind rating, and the tabs are the first thing to crease and tear when a storm rolls through. We see wind damage on three-tab roofs that architectural shingles across the street shrugged off. Today we install three-tab mostly to match existing roofs on additions and small repairs.

If you’re replacing a worn three-tab roof, stepping up to architectural adds a small percentage to the replacement price and adds years to the result.

The System Under the Shingles

A shingle sheds water; it doesn’t seal anything. The layers below do the sealing:

Starter strips at the eaves and rakes give the first course a factory adhesive bond, right at the edge where wind tries to peel a roof first.
Ice and water shield self-seals around every nail at the eaves and valleys, the places where water concentrates and can back up.
Synthetic underlayment protects the rest of the deck and gives the crew sound footing.
Drip edge and flashing finish the edges and penetrations. Most “shingle leaks” we get called about are actually flashing failures at a chimney or wall.

Nailing Is Where Cheap Roofs Fail

Every shingle has a marked nail zone about an inch tall. Nails driven above it miss the course below, so the shingle hangs on adhesive alone. Nails driven too deep by an overcharged gun punch through the mat instead of holding it. Our crews nail on the line, six nails per shingle, which is the pattern the high-wind rating actually requires. It’s the least visible part of the job and the most important one.

Ventilation Protects the Warranty

Shingle manufacturers require balanced attic ventilation for full warranty coverage, and for good reason. An attic running 30 or 40 degrees hotter than it should bakes the asphalt from below, and the shingles curl and shed granules years early. If your soffit vents are blocked or the ridge has no exhaust, we correct it during the install. Details are on our attic ventilation page.

Repair, or New Roof?

A sound shingle field with one damaged area is a repair. Widespread cracking, bald spots where granules used to be, and shingles into their third decade point to replacement. Not sure? A roof inspection gets you photos and a plain answer, and a maintenance plan keeps small problems small year after year.

Ready for a quote, or just want a roofer’s opinion on what you’ve got? Contact us or call Summit Roofing at (555) 123-4567. Family-owned since 1985, serving Springfield, Riverton, Lakeside, Cedar Grove, Maplewood, and Fairview.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between architectural and three-tab shingles?

Architectural shingles are laminated from two layers, which makes them thicker, longer-lived, and rated for winds around 110 to 130 mph. Three-tab shingles are a single flat layer with a lower wind rating and a shorter lifespan, and most manufacturers are phasing them out. We install three-tab mainly to match existing roofs on small sections.

How long do asphalt shingles last?

Plan on 20 to 28 years for architectural shingles in our area, less for three-tab. Attic ventilation is the biggest factor you control: a roof that bakes from underneath ages years faster than its rating. Our attic ventilation page explains how to get the full life out of the same shingle.

What goes under the shingles?

Synthetic underlayment over the whole deck, ice and water shield at the eaves and in the valleys, drip edge at the edges, and starter strips at the eaves and rakes. Those layers, plus the flashing, do most of the actual waterproofing. Shingles shed water; the system underneath catches whatever gets past them.

Can you repair my shingle roof instead of replacing it?

Often, yes. Wind-lifted tabs, a creased course, or a few cracked shingles are a normal shingle repair if the rest of the field is sound. We tell you which side of the line your roof is on after we get up there and look, not from the driveway.

What warranty comes with a new shingle roof?

Two warranties: the manufacturer covers the shingles themselves (most architectural lines carry limited lifetime coverage), and Summit Roofing backs the workmanship. We register the manufacturer warranty in your name and put both in writing before the job starts.

Asphalt Shingle Roofing