Doraville Architectural Shingle Roofing

What is the difference between architectural shingles and the old flat kind? Architectural shingles are made in two layers glued together, so they are thicker and heavier, they look more like wood shakes from the street, and they generally do better in wind. They are the most common roof you will see around here. But why do some shingle roofs lose pieces in every storm while others ride it out? Most of the time it comes down to how they were put on. Each architectural shingle has a nailing strip, a narrow band where the nails have to go to catch both layers. Miss it high or low and the shingle can let go. Skip the starter row at the edges and the first course never seals. Leave out the leak barrier in the valleys or reuse tired old flashing and water finds a way in. We do it the way the maker lays it out: right number of nails in the strip, starter at the eaves and rakes, underlayment across the deck, membrane in valleys and around pipes, new drip edge and wall flashing, matching ridge cap. And since a shingle roof is a system, we balance the attic vents and look at the gutters too.