Arlington and Mansfield Composition Asphalt Shingles
What is an Asphalt Shingle?

Composition (aka. Asphalt) Shingles have been around more than 100 years and are the most common roof covering material used in the United States. In fact, around 75% of residential homes are covered in asphalt shingles in the U.S.
Composition Asphalt shingles are cheaper than most other alternative roofing materials and are readily available in a variety of sizes, styles and colors.
Although Composition Asphalt Shingles have a shorter lifespan than alternative, more expensive materials, their lower cost makes them attractive. They typically last 20 to 40 years and usually offer a 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40 year factory warranty depending upon the specific product purchased.
An asphalt shingle roof can be layered over the top of an existing shingle roof if the initial roof is a single layer and in good condition. An ’overlay’ roof will typically not last as long as a completely new roof.
What is a Composite Shingle?
There are two types of asphalt shingles that use different base materials: organic felt, and fiberglass. Both types have their base in between two layers of stabilized asphalt. Their top sides are coated with mineral granules to help resist weathering while their bottom sides have a heat activated self seal strip that seals the shingle to the layer below to combat wind damage. These materials can be installed on most roof pitches and types.
What are Asphalt Roofing Shingles Made Of?
Organic shingles were the first type of asphalt shingle offered but are much less commonly used today. They have a base of organic felt, which is saturated in liquid asphalt. They are more resistant to tearing during installation than fiberglass mat shingles.
Unlike fiberglass shingles, organic shingles are more prone to three aging problems that may negatively impact the appearance of your roof.
As the base organic felt dries, the shingle may:
● Bow up in the center while the edges stay flat (clawing)
● The edges of the tabs may curl up (curling) or
● The middle edge of the shingle may raise up as the outside edges stay flat (fish mouthing)
The more commonly used fiberglass based shingles are lighter, more flexible, and cheaper. They are less resistant to tearing than organic felt, so precaution is needed during installation. Once installed, fiberglass mat shingles are just as durable as organic felt shingles. While clawing, curling, and fish mouthing can occur on fiberglass based shingles, it is less likely.
Pros and Cons of Asphalt Shingle Roofing
Pros:
● Durable
● Easy to repair
● Easily available
● Variety of sizes styles and colors
● Material expense
● Works on most roof types and pitches
Cons:
● Shorter life expectancy compared to other roof types
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Customer Reviews
- Agustin Martinez12/15/2018 - GoogleDustin and his crew were great! He explained everything in detail, and delivered in a timely fashion. They... read moreDustin and his crew were great! He explained everything in detail, and delivered in a timely fashion. They were professional, clean, and any concerns were handled quickly to my satisfaction. The work was excellent, and I now have a beautiful new -and-improved roof! read lessAdam Matthews12/15/2021 - GoogleWe used James Kate Construction to handle our roofing project. The overall workmanship and quality was excellent. Shannon Lambert did... read moreWe used James Kate Construction to handle our roofing project. The overall workmanship and quality was excellent. Shannon Lambert did a great job communicating with us and went out of her way to make sure we had a thorough understanding of the entire process. Very professional, punctual and easy to work with. We are very happy with the final result. read lessLinda Carlisle7/15/2022 - GoogleThey are very professional all around. Office staff are helpful, Bryan is on-the-ball, knowledgeable, and concerned about getting things done... read moreThey are very professional all around. Office staff are helpful, Bryan is on-the-ball, knowledgeable, and concerned about getting things done right. He has worked on our roof repairs before and goes a great job. Daniel arrived at 7 am and worked for 7 straight hours on our burning hot roof redoing two skylights. He was meticulous and professional. I trust them to do a good job. Don’t waste your time looking for a “cheaper” company - get the work done right by James Kate Roofing! read less
- Nancy Markham12/15/2016 - GoogleVery pleased with this company. Received a call back immediately and was able to do work the next day.... read moreVery pleased with this company. Received a call back immediately and was able to do work the next day. Very courteous and great customer service. read lessRaymond Ly12/15/2021 - GoogleI had roof damages due to strong wind. I contacted James Kate Construction where people were nice, professional and willing... read moreI had roof damages due to strong wind. I contacted James Kate Construction where people were nice, professional and willing to help. An roof inspector came to inspect roof damages. Then a roof technician was sent to repair the roof damages. There were only 5 days from the time when I contacted James Kate Construction to the time that the roof damages were fixed. The price of repairing is reasonable. James Kate construction also give discount to seniors. I thank people at James Kate Construction. read lessDan Ward12/15/2014 - GoogleI have known and worked closely with Dustin (James) for over 8 years and would highly recommend his company. ... read moreI have known and worked closely with Dustin (James) for over 8 years and would highly recommend his company. He pays close attention to detail, cares about getting things done right and just plain works hard. It is always difficult to choose a contractor when you have no experience working with them but I am confident Dustin will take care of every project like it's his very own. He has taken extremely good care of my projects time and time again. read lessHeather Nigh12/15/2018 - GoogleDustin was fantastic throughout the entire process...he communicated with my insurance company’s adjuster, he was fast to respond to the... read moreDustin was fantastic throughout the entire process...he communicated with my insurance company’s adjuster, he was fast to respond to the insurance company’s requests for photos of damage to my roof, and then he met with the insurance company’s contractor at my house to walk the roof and help show him the hail damage. He always quickly returned phone calls and texts when I had questions or concerns. He took time out of his busy schedule and also rearranged his schedule when possible to help me get the new roof put on before my closing date. The new roof looks beautiful! I highly recommend James Kate Roofing and will use them again if I need a new roof in the future. read less
- Melanie Boatwright12/15/2020 - GoogleIsaac, our project manager, was very easy to work with and did a great job keeping everything coordinated and completed... read moreIsaac, our project manager, was very easy to work with and did a great job keeping everything coordinated and completed in a timely fashion. He was willing to work around our schedules, making multiple trips to our house later in the evening once we were home. He was also easy to get in touch with if we had questions or concerns. read lessLexy Harris12/15/2021 - GoogleI reached out to JKC after I noticed water dripping through the water heater pipe during a rain storm. They... read moreI reached out to JKC after I noticed water dripping through the water heater pipe during a rain storm. They set an appointment for the next day with Daniel Franco who was not only able to locate the problem and fix in a flash, but did it with a smile in 90 degree weather. Thanks Daniel, I have your card and I'll be reaching out if I ever need further assistance, or know someone else who might! read lessJeffery Kelley12/15/2021 - GoogleJames Kate Construction was a great experience. We have a clay tile roof and the prior 3 painters refused to... read moreJames Kate Construction was a great experience. We have a clay tile roof and the prior 3 painters refused to even quote the job. I think they were set up for high volume and were afraid of working on the tile. Anyway I'm glad they declined as James Kate immediately said the roof was not problem for them. Very prompt in providing an onsite visit, asking me what I wanted in detail. The quote was itemized and they completed all work and then some. I can tell they are proud of the work they do and their crew was fantastic. Sandra and Joseph prepared the quote and when it came time for color selections Shannon brought her design expertise and after seeing options we all agreed on a new stucco color. Slightly darker and it looks great next to the stone and Chicago brick areas of the house. I am an architect but having Shannon's designer eye really helped. Work started as initially scheduled at the time of the quote. The crew was great and cleaned up each day after non-stop activity. No breaks until the job was finished. I mean these guys work hard. Thanks guys..! 4 full days and a day of cleaning up Joseph's small punch list. My wife and I completely endorse this company. You can't go wrong. read less
- Larry B12/15/2018 - GoogleGreat Company for your roofing needs. Very professional company to work with. Kept me notified of all time... read moreGreat Company for your roofing needs. Very professional company to work with. Kept me notified of all time frames and completed all work on time. Work site was kept clean and all workers respected my property and neighbors. If I have any roof issues in the future they will be my 1st call. read lessWiegert Events wiegert12/15/2021 - GoogleIf your roof needs replacement look no further than James Kate Construction. Their professionalism and work ethic is extremely... read moreIf your roof needs replacement look no further than James Kate Construction. Their professionalism and work ethic is extremely evident from the start of the job until the very end. Our house has taken on a completely new look with a new roof and gutters. We love it! read lesshector sanchez12/15/2018 - GoogleIt has been great working with Dustin. Very knowledgeable and patient even when dealing with the insurance company and their... read moreIt has been great working with Dustin. Very knowledgeable and patient even when dealing with the insurance company and their delays. I would definitely use this company again for my future Roofing needs and recommend to my family and friends. I used Dustin with James Kate roofing after I saw the work his company did on my brother's house. His company is not a fly by the night company, they are strictly professional with high integrity. You may find other roofers that are cheaper but do not provide the same high quality work. I truly believe that Dustin cares about his customers and his employees. Thank you for the best customer service read lessAsha White12/15/2017 - GoogleMy experience went very well. Stephen was very professional, helpful, and thorough. They worked around my busy schedule which I... read moreMy experience went very well. Stephen was very professional, helpful, and thorough. They worked around my busy schedule which I appreciated. The roof and gutters look great. My only complaint is that the crew did not pick up the nails and screws after replacing gutters. I would recommend this company to others and I would use them again if needed. read less
- Kim P10/15/2022 - GoogleThey inspected my roof after horrible storms with wind and hail and understood my financial posture and agreed to do... read moreThey inspected my roof after horrible storms with wind and hail and understood my financial posture and agreed to do minor repairs that they believed would hold 3 years so I could replace roof at that time in a better financial posture. They were prompt and efficient. Even the project manager dropped by to do a quick inspection and ease a question I had. She was awesome too! read lessDebra Frizzell12/15/2018 - GoogleFrom the moment I called Dustin with James Kate Roofing he was professional and very responsive for my roofing needs.... read moreFrom the moment I called Dustin with James Kate Roofing he was professional and very responsive for my roofing needs. He explained every detail of the process and helped work with my insurance to get the job done in a very quick manner. The process was easy and stress free due to the help and assistance from Dustin. If I (or anyone I know) ever need another roof I would only recommend James Kate Roofing! Dustin is fabulous! read lessDan Salgado12/15/2018 - GoogleVery professional during the install and listened to our needs on the followup afterwards. We received the highest quality roof... read moreVery professional during the install and listened to our needs on the followup afterwards. We received the highest quality roof and definitely would recommend them to anyone. James Kate Roofing is far superior to any other company we encountered in regards to pricing, quality, and customer service. We're extremely happy with our new roof. read less
- Eric Fogarty12/15/2017 - GoogleGreat work and great customer service. We had wind damage occur before they were going to install our new roof.... read moreGreat work and great customer service. We had wind damage occur before they were going to install our new roof. They came out and put a temporary patch on the damage since there was rain in the forecast. New roof looks great and they did an awesome job. I highly recommend James Kate Roofing. 👍 read lessSarah Kewak12/15/2015 - GoogleAbove and Beyond! I needed a few shingles replaced and requested a quote via their website after business hours.... read moreAbove and Beyond! I needed a few shingles replaced and requested a quote via their website after business hours. I received a response the same evening and had an appointment for the next morning. Dustin was out early, replaced my shingles and even looked over the roof for other issues. Despite being busy, he took the time to explain a few things to me and offered to check my attic for leaks. Very professional and personable. Will recommend to family and friends. read lessBbobinku812/15/2021 - GoogleFrom start to finish, my experience was excellent. I worked directly with Isaac Price. He assessed my roof, gave me... read moreFrom start to finish, my experience was excellent. I worked directly with Isaac Price. He assessed my roof, gave me my options, and worked with me to ensure that I got a brand new roof within my budget. The pricing was more than reasonable, the work was completed efficiently, and everyone that I encountered throughout the process was very professional. Even the cleanup was great. I didn’t have to go behind the crew to do any extra cleaning. I highly recommend James Kate. My roof looks amazing and I was very pleased with their service. read less
- Rick and Julie Redington11/15/2022 - GoogleI called Brian to report a new roof leak which had developed since his team did work previously. He sent... read moreI called Brian to report a new roof leak which had developed since his team did work previously. He sent out Daniel very promptly. Daniel looked in the attic for a leaky pipe, then climbed on the roof where he found potential leak site. He fixed the place suspected to be the problem. We had a 2 1/2 inch rain within a few days without evidence of further leak. I appreciate their fast response and professional expert work, and will use their company in the future . read lessCliff Scott12/15/2021 - GoogleI couldn't be more pleased with James Kay Construction. In particular, Justin Visitacion was outstanding. He was... read moreI couldn't be more pleased with James Kay Construction. In particular, Justin Visitacion was outstanding. He was always there when I needed an explanation or reassurance. It didn't matter what trade was involved. They all went out of their way to complete each item all to my complete satisfaction. Thank you! read lessRyan Allen12/15/2021 - GoogleOverall excellent experience with James Kate construction, including professional and friendly help from roofing specialist, Isaac. They completed the job... read moreOverall excellent experience with James Kate construction, including professional and friendly help from roofing specialist, Isaac. They completed the job in a timely manner, made quality repairs and offered exceptional pricing. Will absolutley use JK in the future when needs arise. read less
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