Why architectural shingles

Architectural shingles are laminated in layers, which gives the roof depth and texture and generally better wind resistance than older three-tab shingles. They come in a wide range of colors, from weathered wood and charcoal to slate-look blends that suit older Capital Region homes.

A shingle roof is a system

Shingles are the part you see. The parts you don’t see are what keep water out during an ice dam or a nor’easter:

• Drip edge at the eaves and rakes, so water clears the fascia
• Ice and water shield along the eaves, in valleys and around chimneys, skylights and pipes
• Underlayment over the rest of the roof deck
• Starter strip along the edges, so the first course is sealed down against wind
• Step and counter flashing at walls and chimneys
• Ridge vent and soffit intake for balanced attic ventilation
• Ridge cap shingles to finish the peak

When those pieces are right, the shingles can do their job for decades. When they are skipped, even new shingles leak.

Shingle roofs and Capital Region winters

Ice dams are the most common winter problem on shingle roofs around Albany. Heat escaping into the attic melts snow on the upper roof, the water refreezes at the cold eave, and the ice ridge pushes meltwater back up under the shingles. Ice and water shield at the eaves stops the water, and good ventilation and insulation reduce the melting in the first place.

Shingle roof repair

Blown-off shingles, lifted tabs, cracked shingles and worn flashing can usually be repaired if the rest of the roof is healthy. We match replacement shingles as closely as possible and tell you honestly when a repair won’t blend or won’t last. See roof repair.

Choosing color and style

Consider the brick or siding, the trim color and the neighborhood. Darker colors hide streaking and suit most brick; lighter colors can keep an attic slightly cooler in summer. Many shingle lines include algae-resistant granules that help prevent the dark streaks you see on north-facing roofs. We bring samples to the estimate so you can see them against your house.

Shingles or metal?

Shingles cost less up front and suit almost any home. Metal roofing costs more, lasts longer and sheds snow. We price both when you’re undecided, so you can compare.

How an asphalt shingle replacement goes

1. Tear-off of the old shingles and underlayment down to the decking
2. Decking repair, replacing any rotted or delaminated sheets
3. Drip edge, ice and water shield and underlayment, in that order, so every layer sheds water over the one below it
4. Flashing at walls, chimneys and pipes, replaced rather than reused
5. Shingles and ridge vent, fastened to the manufacturer’s nailing pattern
6. Cleanup and a magnetic nail sweep, then a walkthrough with you

Most single-family shingle roofs around Albany are finished in one to three working days once the crew starts.

Ventilation decides how long shingles last

Asphalt shingles age faster when the attic underneath runs hot in summer and warm in winter. A hot attic bakes the shingles from below; a warm attic in January melts snow and feeds ice dams. Balanced ventilation, with intake at the soffits and exhaust at the ridge, keeps the roof deck close to outdoor temperature. On many older Capital Region Capes and ranches the soffit intake was painted over or never installed, so we check it on every estimate and include the fix when it’s needed.

Shingles on older Capital Region homes

Plenty of older houses in Albany, Troy and Schenectady have had their original slate or wood roofs replaced with asphalt over the decades. On those homes the details matter more than usual: steep pitches, dormers, box gutters and chimneys that were built for a different roofing material. We rebuild the flashing to suit the new shingles, check the old board sheathing for gaps and rot, and add plywood where the deck won’t hold nails properly. If the house is in a local historic district, a slate-look architectural shingle is often the simplest way to keep the character of the roof while meeting review requirements.

How shingles compare

Shingles suit most pitched roofs here, but they are not the only option. Roofing materials compared sets them against metal, membrane and slate on cost, lifespan and winter performance, and what a roof replacement costs explains how the choice moves the price.