Cambridge Double Layer Asphalt Shingles: All You Need to Know

A roof is usually the first line of defense on any building; It protects the building’s occupants and their treasures from nature’s elements such as rain, strong winds, heat as well as cold. Over time, roofs have evolved from just covers over people’s heads to aesthetic elements in a building’s design.

In the past, clay and metal were the predominant roofing materials of choice. They had their limitations and were difficult to use on low pitched and curved roofs primarily because their nailing application method had little to no overlap, thus, they would always cause leakages. They also could not take complex shapes without breaking.

As the roofing industry continued experimenting with different varieties of roof shapes designs, better products such as asphalt roofing shingles, stone coated metal tiles, and App waterproofing membranes were introduced to keep up with the complex roof details that continued to emerge.

Today, our focus will be on the Cambridge double layer asphalt roofing shingles.

The word shingle is in fact derived from the German word Schindle which was used to refer to any tile that is placed on a building as a roof covering. Shingles therefore can refer to either wooden, metal or asphalt/bituminous roofing materials. It is for this reason that your developer and architect should carefully specify the type of shingle they require when working on your project.

Before asphalt shingles were invented, the most common type of roofing shingles was wooden shingles. This is because wooden shingles were readily available (since their base product is wood), they were light in weight and could also take varying roof angles. The main disadvantage of wooden shingles besides the quick deterioration following exposure to changing weather patterns was that they were quick to catch and spread fire. These shortcomings, among others, led to the innovation of the fireproof and water resistant asphalt shingles.

The first asphalt shingle produced was a single ply roofing shingle with 3 tabs per ply meaning that each tab was separated by a slit from the next tab. With all their advantages, the asphalt shingles did not perform well for low pitched roofs, as stagnating water on the roof could easily find its way into the roof structure. These asphalt shingles however performed well on high pitched roofs from 25 degrees and above.

The roof pitch refers to the steepness of a roof and is always expressed in degrees.

As roof designs and complexities continued to evolve, technologies in the manufacturing of asphalt roofing shingles continued to evolve. Homeowners and developers needed a product that could fit their specific style; a true expression of their individuality.

This is how the Architectural Cambridge double-layer asphalt shingles also known as laminated shingles was born. The term architectural simply refers to their high-level aesthetic features while laminated emphasis the concept of binding two layers of the traditional asphalt shingles together.

• Highest wind ratings compared to other asphalt shingles- Cambridge shingles have the highest wind resistance above 130MPH, not only because they are heavier in weight but also because they are specifically engineered to withstand more stringent weather changes.
• Impact resistance and fire resistant
• Built-in Algae resistant granules hence no ugly stains and discoloration on your roof
• Available in full range of colors to blend in with your exterior walls
• Efficient to install due to the smart nailing zone provision with an additional wind blow off protection
• Less wastage hence wider coverage

• Cambridge double layer shingles have less wastage and are more efficient to install because there are no slits in between the tabs
• They are available in many beautiful colours
• Although the Cambridge shingles are 15-20% more expensive than the traditional asphalt shingles their product guarantee ranges between 25-30 years while that of the traditional 3 tab shingles is between 10-15 years.

Stone coated tiles are zinc-aluminium base tiles coated with ceramic granules, they are the most current innovation in metal roofing systems and some have been done to resemble the asphalt shingles, hence one will hear about stone coated –Shingle profile. Cambridge shingles have the following advantages over stone coated tiles:

• Cambridge shingles can take any shape. Cambridge asphalt shingles are easy to install with limited wastages because unlike stone -coated tiles that are not flexible enough to bend without breaking.
• They are not prone to leakages unlike stone coated aluminium tiles that expand and contract over time due to thermal expansion
• Less structural support during construction of the roof structure, since they are fixed on a firm decking while the stone-coated tiles are laid directly on closely spaced battens.
• They don’t need additional accessories such as valleys, angle ridges because shingles ridges are made from shingle off cuts due to their flexibility.

Would you like to know more about the architectural Cambridge Double Layer Asphalt Shingles? We conduct a FREE program ‘’Roofing 1on1’’ at our REXE Showroom on Menelik Court, off Menelik Road and we would love if you could pay us a visit. Feel free to Get in Touch with us for more information on our Roofing materials and products which include supply and installation of APP Waterproofing membrane, Roofing Shingles and Stone Coated Roofing Tiles among other Roofing Boards and accessories