Shingles Explained

The word shingle is derived from the German shindle which means roofing slate. Indeed, roofing slates have been utilized since the history of civilization. Most scholars believe the first instance of a roofing slate was shrubbery layered over a hut. Since then shingles have evolved. They have been made of wood, slate, asphalt, metal, flagstone, and other various materials. But all shingles now serve the same purpose which is irrigating water away from the roof.

Arizona Shingles

This is not to be confused with some type of unsightly bacterial disease ravaging the great state of Arizona. Arizona shingles are basically clay shingles. Usually, the type of shingles used depends on geography. Clay is readily available in the Mohave Desert, and it is particularly resistant to the Arizona sun. On the east coast however, shingles look much different. Typically the lower middle class will have asphalt shingles because of their low cost, durability, and easy access to the material’s its comprised of, while the upper class of the east coast will use wooden shingles.

How it Works

Basically, shingles are the icing on the cake of roofing. After laying a solid foundation of plaster, roofers will then lay a skeleton on which shingles can be hung—this does not apply to asphalt shingles however, these are generally just layered over the base. The shingles are then hung on the roof’s skeleton from top to bottom. This facilitates proper roof irrigation and enhances the aesthetic appeal of the home. Anyone interested in learning more about roofing should click here, or reach out to us at Gryphon roofing.