Asphalt Roof in Kirkland, WA

Asphalt Shingle Types: Three-Tab, Architectural and Premium

Asphalt shingles come in three broad styles, and the style you choose shapes how the finished roof looks more than almost any other decision. Each style uses the same basic ingredients, a mat coated with asphalt and surfaced with granules, but the construction differs.

Three-tab shingles, also called strip shingles, are a single flat layer cut into even tabs. Architectural shingles, also called dimensional or laminated shingles, bond more than one layer together so the roof shows shadow lines and a textured look. Premium or luxury shingles go further, imitating the look of slate or wood shake with thicker profiles and staggered edges.

Organic vs Fiberglass Asphalt Shingles and Their Qualities

Asphalt shingle mats have historically been made in two ways: organic mats, made from felt or paper-based material, and fiberglass mats. Organic-mat shingles were the earlier design. Fiberglass-mat shingles came later and are the type most homeowners now see offered for new roofs.

The mat matters because it carries the asphalt and granules. An organic mat absorbs more asphalt and tends to be heavier, while a fiberglass mat is lighter and less absorbent. If an older roof on your home is being replaced, the inspection can note which type is on it now, which helps explain how it has aged.

How King Roof Care Replaces an Asphalt Roof

An asphalt roof replacement with King Roof Care follows a defined sequence that starts before any shingle comes off. The steps below are the ones the company documents for its roof replacement work, listed in order.

• On-site inspection of the roof, the attic and the ventilation, noting anything that affects the work
• Written estimate with the exact scope and materials before any work starts
• A detailed pre-construction meeting before the replacement
• Protective tarps over landscaping, decks and patios to prevent damage from falling debris
• Tear-off and haul-away of the existing roofing material
• Inspection of the roof deck, with damaged sheathing replaced as needed
• New underlayment, plus ice-and-water protection where the roof requires it
• Flashing at valleys, walls, chimneys and other roof penetrations
• Starter course, new roofing and ridge caps
• Full cleanup once the work is done

Repair or Replace? A Decision Checklist for Asphalt Roofs

Deciding between asphalt roof repair and full replacement is easier when you look at the same questions a roofer weighs during an inspection. The checklist below is general guidance to organize your thinking, not a diagnosis; only an on-site look at the roof can confirm what it needs.

• Is the problem in one spot (one penetration, one flashing, one storm-damaged area) or spread across many slopes?
• Are shingles missing, curling, cracking or shedding granules over large areas, or only in a small patch?
• Does the attic show staining, damp sheathing or daylight through the deck?
• Are there soft or sagging areas that could point to deck or structural damage?
• Has the roof already been repaired in the same area more than once?
• Do the gutters, flashing and ventilation need work regardless of what happens to the shingles?

What to Compare in an Asphalt Roof Estimate

An asphalt roof estimate is only comparable to another when both describe the same scope, so read line by line rather than looking at the total first. King Roof Care provides a written estimate with the exact scope and materials before any work starts, which gives you a document to hold other bids against.

Before work starts, confirm permit needs with your city, for example the City of Kirkland or the City of Redmond. You can also check a contractor's registration yourself: King Roof Care is a registered Washington construction contractor, L&I registration KINGRRC782QA, which you can verify at the Washington L&I verify tool.

• Tear-off: is removal and haul-away of all existing layers included?
• Deck: how will damaged sheathing be handled and priced if found?
• Underlayment and ice-and-water protection: which areas are covered?
• Flashing: are valleys, walls, chimneys and penetrations re-flashed or reused?
• Shingle product: exact brand line, style and color named in writing
• Ventilation: does the estimate address attic ventilation noted during inspection?
• Site protection and cleanup: are tarps and final cleanup part of the scope?

Mistakes That Can Cause Rework on an Asphalt Roof

Asphalt roof rework often comes from details that are skipped or rushed rather than from the shingles themselves. The points below are general cautions that homeowners can raise with any roofer; they are not a list of failures found on any specific job.

• Laying new shingles over an unchecked or damaged deck
• Reusing worn flashing at valleys, walls, chimneys and penetrations
• Skipping underlayment or ice-and-water protection where the roof requires it
• Overlooking attic ventilation found during inspection
• Leaving clogged or sagging gutters that send water back toward the roof edge

Asphalt Roof Maintenance, Disposal and Preparing Your Home

Asphalt roof maintenance is mostly about regular inspection and keeping water moving off the roof. King Roof Care offers proactive maintenance plans that include regular inspections and moss treatment, and its roof inspections check gutters along with shingles and flashing. Inspection reports include insights and recommendations, so you know what to address before it becomes a repair.

Gutters are part of the same system. Leaking seams, sagging runs and clogs can push water where it should not go, and King Roof Care repairs those issues for homeowners in the area. See gutter installation and repair for details.