Asphalt shingles are suitable for most residential projects, and in fact account for around 80% of residential roofs. If properly installed, asphalt shingles protect against, rain, snow, and wind, as well as enhancing the beauty, character, and value of your home.

The Advantages of Asphalt Shingles

• A relatively inexpensive but durable and cost-efficient roofing product.
• Asphalt roofing shingle has a proven history of over 100 year’s service in many harsh climatic conditions. This should give you peace of mind.
• Products are commonly and widely available.
• A wide selection of sizes, styles, and colors is always available to meet every taste and need.
• Asphalt shingles are protected by warranties ranging from 20 years to Lifetime, depending on your needs and budget.
• Because more expensive roofing products can require special maintenance and specialized tools, asphalt shingles represent low maintenance and easy repairs.

To learn more about how Hartwell Exteriors offers you peace of mind in selecting a roofing contractor, please complete our Free Estimate Form online or visit our Contact Page. Do you know what to look for in roofing? Roofing services are not all equal. Roofing materials such as fiberglass shingles and asphalt roofing shingle are not the same.

Choose quality home roofing from Hartwell Exteriors, perhaps the Massachusetts area’s most experienced roofing contractor, featuring the best in roofing shingles and roofing products.

Organic Shingles vs. Fiberglass Shingles Asphalt roofing shingle absorbs roof stresses better than fiberglass shingles and are more tear-resistant than fiberglass. Organic shingles are softer and easier to work with than fiberglass shingles, especially in cold weather applications. Contain more asphalt and nearly always use heavier weight reinforcement than fiberglass shingles of similar weight. Are typically thicker than fiberglass shingles and better able to hide minor imperfections in the roof deck or in the old layer of shingles. Organic shingles represent many decades of proven performance.

Important Considerations

Selection of quality roofing materials is important, with shingles being the most important component. Thicker, heavier shingles tend to have better warranties and longer life spans.

• Considerable damage can be caused by ice that builds up during winter’s freeze and thaw cycles. This makes eave protection critical. A waterproofing membrane can help protect the eaves.
• To shed water that may be driven under the shingles by high winds, an extra layer of protection is prudent. This membrane covers parts of the roof that are not covered along with the eave protection. This is especially useful on low-slope roofs.
• For efficient water shedding on the roof edge, install metal or vinyl drip edges on the eaves and rake edges.
• Valleys are a common spot for snow and ice buildup. Water proofing membrane rolls must be placed as a base for any valley in the roof.
• Vulnerable areas include skylights, vents, chimneys, and windows, places with the highest potential for leaks.
• All roofs must have proper air circulation. Regardless of the weather, good circulation reduces the chances of leaking, blistering, curling, and other potential problems.
• The appropriate roof deck is critical for optimal shingle performance. The roof deck is the structural surface that the shingles are attached to. The roof deck must be clean, dry, flat, and securely nailed.

Learn about Ice Dams and Roof Ventilation.

Areas of Service

Hartwell Exteriors has served customers in Boston, Newton, Canton, and throughout Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island for over 45 years. We have remodeled homes and have replaced roofs, siding, windows, doors in many towns and neighborhoods including:
Abington, Acton, Amesbury, Andover, Arlington, Ashland, Attleboro, Avon, Ayer, Bedford, Bellingham, Belmont, Beverly, Billerica, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Brookline, Burlington, Canton, Concord, Danvers, Dedham, Dover, Dracut, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Everett, Fairhaven, Fall River, Foxboro, Framingham, Franklin, Hanover, Hanson, Haverhill, Hingham, Holbrook, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Hull, Ipswich, Kingston, Lakeville, Lawrence, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lowell, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Manchester, Mansfield, Marblehead, Marlboro, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Maynard, Medfield, Medford, Medway, Melrose, Methuen, Middleboro, Milford, Millis, Milton, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, North Andover, North Attleboro, North Billerica, North Easton, North Reading, North Weymouth, Northborough, Norton, Norwell, Norwood, Peabody, Pembroke, Plainville, Plymouth, Quincy, Randolph, Raynham, Reading, Revere, Rockland, Salem, Saugus, Scituate, Sharon, Sherborn, Shrewsbury, Somerset, Somerville, South Easton, Southborough, Stoneham, Stoughton, Stow, Sudbury, Swampscott, Taunton, Tewksbury, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley, West Bridgewater, West Roxbury, Westborough, Westford, Weston, Westport, Westwood, Weymouth, Whitman, Wilmington, Winchester, Woburn, Wrentham

In Boston - Allston, Boston, Brighton, Cambridge – Central, Charlestown, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale, South Boston, Winthrop, Brookline, West Roxbury

In Newton - Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Newton, Newton, Newton Center, Newton Corner, Newton Highlands, Newton Lower Falls, Newton Upper Falls, Newtonville, Nonantum, Waban, West Newton