There are 3 key sections of any roof: The shingles, the underlayment, and accessories. By better understanding each of these sections, you can better decide the kind of quality you want when looking at roofing replacement or construction.

Keep in mind that most residential materials are meant for slopes with harder angles, because most homes have more points for ventilation and air circulation. With that said, asphalt shingles are the most-common material used for the average home for their cost and variety.

Asphalt shingles generally fall into styles, from the 3-tab “strips” to the higher-grade “premium” ones. Varying in quality and price, these shingles all share numerous options of color and texture for the homeowner to choose from.

The basic shingles are known as strip shingles, which you’ll see more often in neighborhoods. They provide affordable protection and weather resistance, which makes them cost-effective to replace down the road. You’ll usually see them in red, brown, or gray.

Similar to architectural asphalt, dimensional shingles have more layers of material per shingle. With 2 or more layers offered for this particular upgrade, it’s easy to see how they’re stronger and more resistant to impact and weather.

Dimensional and premium shingles are more expensive than the initial strip shingles, but the increase in quality and protection balances out the cost. Premium shingles are the top of the mountain for this material, providing the best look and strength of all 3 types..

While the most-common colors were mentioned above, there are generally countless combinations of colors and textures to choose from because asphalt shingles come in all styles. They’re even made to resemble other types of roofing materials, like wood.