Asphalt shingle roofs in Georgia: what to know

Drive through almost any Georgia neighborhood and you’re looking at asphalt shingles. They’re on the vast majority of homes here, and it’s not by accident. If you’re facing a replacement after a storm, it helps to understand what you’re putting back up there.

Why they’re everywhere here

Asphalt shingles hit the sweet spot for our climate and budgets. They handle heat, humidity, and heavy rain well, they come in colors that suit just about any house, and they cost a lot less than metal or tile.

There are two main types you’ll choose between. Three-tab shingles are the older, flat, uniform look. Architectural (or “dimensional”) shingles are thicker, layered for a richer look, and hold up better to wind.

For most replacements we’re doing today, architectural shingles are the standard. They last longer and take a beating better.

How Georgia weather treats them

Our weather is tough on roofs in two directions. The summer sun bakes shingles day after day, slowly drying them out and aging the asphalt.

Then the storms roll in. Hail strips granules off the sun-worn surface, and wind works at the seals. A shingle that’s already been cooking for years has a lot less fight left when the hail comes.

That combination of heat plus storms is why Georgia roofs often don’t reach the full lifespan printed on the package.

What to know before you replace

A shingle roof is more than the shingles. The underlayment, the flashing, the vent boots, and the valleys all matter, and skimping there is where cheap roofs start leaking. A good replacement redoes all of it.

Color and shingle line are worth thinking about too, since you’ll live with them for a couple of decades. We’ll show you the options and let you actually see them before anything gets ordered.

If a storm has your current roof on the way out, book a free inspection and we’ll walk you through what makes sense for your home.