Perhaps the first thing that early man learned about housing was that their shelters needed roofs. One could imagine primitive people, many thousands of years ago, going out of their way to construct walls and to build their shelters. It stands to reason that people realized that they also needed roofs on their homes. In fact, as time has gone by, we have come to realize just how important a roof is. It bears the full brunt of the outside elements, including tons of weight with snow and ice. It’s a vital part of the home that is comprised of multiple components. Not only does a solid roof require the right framework, but it also requires thick plywood, tar paper, and the right shingles to protect it against the elements.
Roofing is a lot more complex than you may realize, and shingles are far more important than most give them credit for. This is why companies like ActiveExteriorsRoofing.com really stand out, due to their high-quality materials and their expert crafts-people who can put the roof together. Though if you have been shopping around for shingles, you might understand that there are tons of different options. Will the shingles you want be available? Are some shingles actually in short supply?
The Availability of Shingles
Whether or not shingles will be available for your roof really all depends on the types of shingles. There are dozens of different types out there, but only a few are popular in residential and commercial use. If you want to know about shingles’ availability, you will have to contact the company and ask them specifically. There’s no way to determine what will be in stock or not when you want roofing done. However, we can give you some information about general availability based on the type of shingles you prefer.
Types of Shingles to Buy
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are generally the most popular type used for residential applications. These shingles are made by combining asphalt, fibreglass, and other organic materials. They’re typically in pretty high demand, and so the supply seems to keep up pretty well. The only issue you might have is not always getting the exact style of shingle you require. Though if you want an asphalt type, then you should have no problem finding them. They’re in pretty large supply out there.
Wood Shingles
Wooden shingles are pretty much hit or miss. It really all depends on what you’re after. Because of a variety of regulations around the country, you might have a bit of trouble finding some high-end cedar shingles, for example, if that’s what you wanted to go with. Though other sorts of pressed-wood shingles, such as spruce or pine, would be in much greater supply, as those trees are far more abundant and milled more for building purposes. So the availability of wood shingles will depend entirely on the type of wood you want.
Metal Shingles
Metal shingles are another variety that will likely be stocked when you need them. The only issue here would be finding the exact type you want. There’s just no way to predict if the exact model number you seek will be in stock. Though generally speaking, there are a lot of metal shingles made, typically from aluminum alloys that also use steel and copper. These shingles are pliable while also being very durable and able to withstand a lot.
Stone Shingles
Stone shingles are another type that will be available if you want something more common while also being hard to find if you want something that’s higher on the spectrum. The most common sort of stone shingles are made out of slate. Very attractive, strong, and providing an incredible protective layer for a roof, slate shingles have been used for a very long time with little change. Types of stone that are more high-end and more difficult to produce shingles from will be harder to get and more costly.
The good news is that you should be able to find some high-quality shingles in stock, whenever you need your roof repaired or replaced. Just remember to go with a quality company you can trust.
