Composition Shingles appearance

Composition Shingles (Asphalt Shingles) are the most common shingle you will see on homes across the Nebraska and Iowa area, and in fact, across the USA. Up to 80% of all homes in the United States have composition shingle roofs.

“3 Tab Shingle” You’ll hear asphalt and composition shingles referred to as “three-tab”, because they come in a strip with notches that create what appears to be three separate shingles.

Premium Composition/Asphalt Shingle products are called “architectural” or “dimensional” shingles. These thicker, often laminated shingles cast shadow lines like a thick wood shake. As you can see in the picture, the result is a rich, textured appearance rather than the traditional flat surface of standard three-tab shingles.

All asphalt shingles are coated with a layer of mineral granules that protect the shingle from sunlight, add color and, in some cases, help resist algae and fungus growth. Manufacturers can discourage unwanted plant life by adding copper or zinc to the granule mix.

Lastime works with the top manufacturers to give you the greatest selection of Composition Shingles. The choices can be mind boggling but we can help you quickly sort through your options based on your budget, architecture, color and preferences.
Impact Resistant Shingles

A relatively new roofing application available to homeowners and commercial building owners is Impact Resistant Roofing Shingles and Material. Lastime believes that this new material can be great for many different homeowners and building owners. Nebraska and Iowa are all affected by the damage of hailstorms, so this is a considerable option. 

Between 1991 and 1995, around $8 billion a year in insurance payouts was paid due to wind and hail damage. A considerable amount of these costs were due to roof damage. Hail damage can result in granule loss, material loss, and penetration of asphalt shingles.

The new Impact Resistant shingle products are designed to resist this damage that results from hail impact and high wind speeds. The shingles meet the highest-set standards for impact resistance (class 4) set forth by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL), as well as wind resistance set by UL and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International).

There are several manufacturers offering asphalt shingles that are designed to resist the damaging effects of high wind speeds and impacts from hail or debris. There a few different methods for keeping the granules attached to the shingles, preventing shingles from breaking upon impact, and to keep shingles from flying off in the wind. This classification is so impressive that some major insurance companies offer premium discounts to homeowners who use roofing products that are given a Class 4 rating.