In this article we will dive a little deeper into architectural shingles, discover the pros and cons – and hopefully help you make an informed decision on if they are right for your home.

What Are Architectural Shingles?

Before architectural shingles there were pretty limited options for covering your roof. The most popular form of shingles were those that lay flat up against each other without overlapping. These were named 3tab shingles by those in the roofing trade – due to the 3 tabs they had on the edges of the shingle. They were always laid flat and gave a very one dimensional look to the roof.

Architectural shingles(AKA laminated shingles or dimensional shingles) changed the roofing industry forever. They are designed to be almost the opposite of 3tab shingles. They are layered and overlap each other instead of being uniform in rows like 3tab shingles.

Notice how the shingles on this roof are layered on top of each other (instead of joining up end to end flat). This is what makes a shingle an architectural shingle

This allowed for a whole range of design options which transformed the way architects looked at roof design. No longer was a roof just a purely functional necessity, now the sky was the limit with regards to design – quite literally.

Layers upon layers of architectural shingles could be placed to create a textured and 3d effect. Like traditional shingles they were still usually placed with random intervals between the individual shingles – but occasionally uniform patterns were experimented with.

Architectural shingles are made out of asphalt – reasonably similar to 3 stud shingles. They are made by creating thin sheets of a fiberglass and asphalt mixture. These are then layered on top of each other to make the shingle. Due to intended 3 dimensional usage, they are slightly thicker than the traditional 3 stud shingles to give more depth to the rood.

Why Are Architectural Shingles Better Than Traditional Shingles?

Their main advantage is obviously in their increased beauty over normal shingles. Allowing a roof to be covered in 3 dimensions really surprises people with how much it alters the overall appearance of a building. However the improvements are not purely aesthetic and there are additional benefits to be found.

On average architectural shingles will weigh about 1 pound more per square foot than traditional shingles. This is not a great deal more weight when it comes to structural integrity and nearly all roofs can support their additional weight. The additional weight however makes a world of difference to the durability of your roof.

A great example of how architecturtal shingles can be used to dramatic effect

You can expect a reasonable quality traditional shingle roof to last you around 15-25 years dependent upon weather conditions. However architectural shingles will last much longer – closer to 30-35 years. This also makes them much more capable of handling extreme weather conditions. They are harder to break with floating debris that may be picked up in a storm – and their increased weight means that strong winds are much less likely to make them break free from the roof and require replacement. They are rated to withstand wind speeds of up to 130 mph!

The added thickness of the shingles also means that they are able to hide imperfections in a roof – something that has not gone unnoticed by roofers. If you have a slightly damaged roof with where there are slight sags – architectural shingles are more than able to cover it up without anyone being able to see the damage is there.

They can be used on any roof that has 3 stud shingles and the only type of roof that could cause a little bit of concern is a particularly low pitched roof. Due to their low pitch they are not very good at getting rain and ice to flow off of them. This can become an issue with artificial shingles – and is probably the only situation where they are not recommended.

Architectural shingles are also much more waterproof than traditional shingles due to their overlapping design. While they are not 100% waterproof when damaged – they can certainly take much more wear and tear before needing to be replaced because they are causing a leak.

Many of them even come with a lifetime warranty – which shows how confident these manufactures are in their product!

How Much Do Architectural Shingles Cost?

The price of architectural shingles obviously varies a little and is dependent upon brand and color. But a good general rule of thumb is that you can expect to pay around 20% to 30% more for architectural shingles than you would for traditional shingles.

When estimating the cost of covering a whole roof this can add up to quite a significant price increase. However over the long run you will in all probability not actually be paying any more than you would for traditional shingles. A roof covered in architectural shingles will last a good 10 years longer on average than a traditional shingle roof.

How Can Architectural Shingles Be Used From A Design Perspective?

It really is quite astonishing how much of a difference architectural shingles can make to a property.

Older properties actually benefit the most from having them installed. They transform the property form looking worn and dated, by creating a much more modern and loved appearance. While you still probably won’t be winning any contemporary design awards – the difference is quite astounding.

For some homeowners the 3 dimensions are not enough, so special shingles named hip and ridge shingles were created. These shingles are designed to accentuate features on a roof. They are generally used where two slopes of the roof meet. They overlap all the joins of the slopes of the roof covering the shingles below. This creates an extra layer of depth to the roof and really creates quite a bit of interest. On small steep roofs and peaks this looks especially impressive.

What Colors Of Architectural Shingles Are Available?

There is a common misconception that you can only get architectural shingles in a few colors. While this may have been the case in years gone by – it is certainly not true today.Many architectural shingles will actually come in a different shades within the one color. For example – you can decide you want brown shingles. They will come in a variety of shades of brown. The majority of the shingles in the pack will be of the color you specified but some lighter shingles, and some darker shingles will also be present. This is a typical design choice and does work very well on many homes. It is not compulsory to have these accent color shingles – and you can request to not have them if you wish.

And as for choice – well just take a look at just a handful of the colors available below.

Brown shingles

Black shingles

grey shingles

Blue shingles

Light grey shingles

Stone colored shingles

Infact. You can have architectural shingles in pretty much any color you want!

As more and more people see the benefits of these shingles, more complex and interesting designs are being made. It is now possible for you to get architectural shingles that look like slate, and some that mimic woods like cedar.

These slate style architectural shingles are actually made out of asphalt. They are VERY convincing!

These heavier shingle materials quite often require structural improvements to be made to the roof. Which means a huge added cost. So people who were originally in the market for slate or wood shingles, actually turn to Architectural shingles to get the exotic look without the additional construction work required.

So there you have it – all you could possibly need to know about Architectural shingles. Do you have and questions or have something you would like to say? Please leave a comment in the box below!

The glass is held in place by a frame which is made of different materials including aluminum, wood, PVC and fiberglass. The glass however does not have to be a single piece –and can be a combination of many small windows which when combined with the aluminum frame provides quite a dramatic effect.

Their specific design proves to be useful by allowing in lots of sunlight and giving an elegant and sophisticated look to the room. Having been made entirely of glass, they are mostly chosen by those consumers who are looking for doors which would open in their patio, garden or at times in their balcony.

Why Aluminum?

Many of those looking for french doors opt for aluminium as their material of choice as they are a little cheaper than wooden doors (usually) and are also lighter in weight. They also certainly last much longer than wooden doors.

A huge advantage of aluminum is its ability to be used in intricate designs due to its strength. This multi panel aluminum door is a perfect example

They provide users with the option of having more glass and less frame in their door owing to the natural slim line of aluminium. French door frames made from fiberglass and PVC mimic the look of wooden frames and thus are the preferred options for people who wish to keep a traditional feel to their home.

However they do provide a distinct modern look of their own. And are very popular with people who have particularly contemporary tastes in design. Both aluminium and PVC door frames can be colored in a myriad of colors according to the preference of the user – allowing for some quite intricate and specific design choices.

With a view like this its easy to see why they opted for the minimal frame of an aluminum door

Depending on the taste of the buyer, french doors can be bought both as hinged single or double doors which open in or out of the room or even as sliding doors. Since a they nearly always connect the outside to the inside of the home all modern french doors will come with double glazing.

How much do aluminum french doors cost?

The prices of aluminum french doors are quite expensive – but they are certainly worth the money. All of them these days will be double glazed. And as any homeowner will tell you – double glazing is not cheap.

You can expect to pay about $1000-$1200 for average quality aluminum french doors (this includes the double glazing). More ornate and designer doors can cost anywhere up to $3000.

So there you have it – a basic buyers guide. Take a look online at the myriad of doors on offer. But be warned – they are hard to resist!

The correct balustrade will not only be functional in terms of offering safety to the user, but will also define the area and add a certain charm to the overall perception of the building. This is the reason why quite a number of people are taking more than an active interest when it comes to choosing that perfect baluster that not only blends but even add a certain charm to it. Today, the market offers different kinds of balustrades in different materials to please the taste of one and all.

When you have a view you want to preserve – a glass balustrade is almost certainly your best option (but they are not cheap!)

Materials used in balustrades

One of the most commonly used materials for balustrades in ancient times was the ubiquitous wood – it remains popular to this day. Depending on the taste and budget, the wood posts can be plain or carved and can even be painted in different colors. Although this kind of balustrade needs to be periodically treated (as opposed to more modern building materials which do not)

The next popular material which finds favor with those looking for sleek lines and modern design is steel. Balustrades made of steel are both durable and versatile. It can be shaped and designed in various ways and is also easy to maintain.

They don’t have to be fancy to get the job done…

Glass paneled balustrades are the preferred choice for those looking for a material which will not obstruct their view and like the contemporary look. Toughened glass is used in this type of baluster and depending on the taste; clear, frosted or tinted glass can be used. Users can also opt for fully framed or semi-framed glass balustrades which can be both straight and curved.

Wrought iron and wrought aluminium too are a popular choice for balustrades for those who want their baluster to be a bit ornamental yet low on maintenance.Other less popular choices in balustrades are lace, stone, vinyl, polymer and polyurethane.

This stainless steel solid balustrade will give you unrivaled privacy if that is your main aim.

Lace baluster is made of aluminium panels or cast iron and is very intricate in its design. Balustrades made of stone or granite are preferred by the rich since it is one of the most striking (and expensive) options available.

So if you are looking to replace your balcony balustrade – these are your main options. You obviously have a fair bit of research still to do as this is just a brief overview of your options!

So look around online, see what advertisers have on offer, and then look into your specific choice a littler further to make sure you know what you are getting into!

Not only were front doors important for security and heating purposes but they even reflected the sense of style and the social status of the inhabitants of the house. Hence people took great care when it came to selecting their front door. This custom has continued in one way or another through to modern times too.

Today homeowners, architects and interior designers are extremely meticulous when it comes to choosing a front door- whether it is from a wide range of contemporary doors or traditional doors that are available in the market. To put it bluntly, a front door says more about you than you may think.

And the design has come a long way since 5000 years ago.

Not all contemporary front doors look good… What do you think?

The demand for different kinds of doors has given rise to an extensive industry of manufacturers which specialize in all kinds of doors – from modern contemporary doors or traditional heavy wooden ones. From physical shops to online websites, the door industry is HUGE.

Most of the leading front door manufacturers and dealers keep in sync with the changing trends and come up with new products according to the ever changing tastes and styles of consumers. The most popular design choice for homeowners today is undoubtedly the contemporary look. Which is defined by its clean lines and uncluttered looks.  But why is this design type so popular?

Some people are slightly concerned about the effect that the cold design of contemporary doors may have on their home. To combat this the option of softening it by choosing to blend traditional elements (such as accents in metallic copper or wood) is becoming a popular choice. But unfortunately more often than not, these doors still look out of place on “normal” everyday homes

With growing awareness of feng shui; an increasingly large number of people have started believing front doors to be the harbinger of positive energy into the house. The front door, which is referred to as “the mouth of chi” helps channel positive energy from the outside to the inside of the home and thus is one of the most important aspects of a house. The clean lines are said to provide additional benefits and an uncluttered life. Perhaps this is the reason?

We just think it’s the fashion at he moment and trends within home design come and go – but the contemporary front door seems to be here to stay. For better or worse…