Three-tab shingles
A flat, single-layer shingle cut into three tabs. It is the simplest, thinnest product, and it tends to be the lowest price. Some roofers no longer carry it. Ask what is available and what the quote assumes.
Serving Kent County
Asphalt Shingle Roofing for Warwick Homes
New asphalt shingle roofs and shingle replacement on single-family houses around Warwick, through an independent local roofer.
- Roof repair and full replacement
- Ice dams, leaks and storm damage
- Connected to an independent local roofer
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 751-2102. Or send this and we call you back.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt Shingle Roofing: what it covers
Quick answer
Asphalt shingles are the most common residential roof covering in Rhode Island, and one cost guide calls them the most affordable option. Warwick Roofing connects you with an independent local roofer serving Warwick and Kent County who installs them, explains the product choices, and puts the scope and price in writing.
Most of the roofs you see in Warwick, Cranston and Coventry are asphalt shingle. The city's housing is mainly detached single-family houses, about 69 percent of its 37,516 units, and a plain pitched roof on a ranch, cape or colonial is exactly the kind of surface asphalt shingles were made for.
This page is about the material itself: what a shingle is, how the choices differ, and what to ask before you sign. For the wider question of tearing off and replacing a whole roof, see roof replacement. The two overlap, but shingle choice has its own decisions.
- Service area
- Warwick & Kent County
- Availability
- Call to reach a local roofer
- Phone
- (833) 751-2102
Warning signs
Signs you need asphalt shingle roofing
Do not walk on an old shingle roof to inspect it, since worn granules and wet or frosty surfaces are slippery and a fall can cause serious injury. Look from the ground with binoculars if you want a closer view, and call (833) 751-2102 to be put through to a roofer who can inspect safely.
- Granules collecting in gutters and at the foot of downspouts after rain
- Shingle tabs that curl upward at the corners or sag away from the roof surface
- Cracks running across shingles or a pattern of splits along the nail line
- Dark, bald-looking patches on the slope that faces the afternoon sun
- Exposed fiberglass mat showing through where the surface has worn away
- Lifted shingles along the ridge or rake edge after each windy storm
- Blisters or pimples on the surface that burst and leave small pits
- Fresh patches that do not match a roof that has faded unevenly
Our process
How our asphalt shingle roofing visit works
Choose the shingle line
The roofer shows you the product lines, colors and what each is made of, and the quote names the one you choose. The product name, not just the word asphalt, belongs in writing.
Prepare the deck and underlayment
Once the old roofing is off, the deck is checked and the underlayment goes down, along with drip edge at the eaves and rakes. This layer works behind the shingles.
Install starter courses and field shingles
A starter course goes along the eaves, then each row of shingles overlaps the one below. Nailing pattern and placement matter, so ask the roofer to follow the manufacturer's installation instructions.
Flash every interruption
Vent pipes, chimneys, walls and valleys get their own flashing, installed as the shingles reach them. This is where most shingle roofs leak if work is rushed.
Ridge, cleanup and walk-through
Ridge caps or ridge vent go on last, the yard is cleaned, and the roofer walks you through what was done. Ask for the product information and the paperwork for the permit.
Cost
How much does asphalt shingle roofing cost in Warwick?
Published Rhode Island cost guides give per-square-foot and whole-roof figures for asphalt shingles, and they disagree with each other by a wide margin. For that reason this page quotes none of them as a price for your roof. What follows is what moves the number.
| Job | Typical range | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Shingle line chosen | Named in the quote | Three-tab, architectural and premium lines are priced differently |
| Roof size and complexity | Measured on site | Hips, valleys and dormers add cutting, flashing and time |
| Tear-off versus layering | Stated in the scope | Removing old layers adds labor and disposal |
| Accessories and ventilation | Itemized | Ridge vent, drip edge, pipe boots and underlayment are separate lines |
| Access and staging | Set by the roofer | Tight lots, steep roofs and tall houses need more setup |
Your roofer sets the price, and it is confirmed in writing on site before work starts.
Why are asphalt shingles so common in Rhode Island?
Asphalt shingles are widely available, quick for a crew to install, easy to repair in pieces and generally the lowest-cost residential covering, according to one Rhode Island cost guide. They suit the pitched roofs on most single-family homes here. Other materials trade higher cost for particular looks or rules.
A shingle roof can be fixed one section at a time, which suits a state with plenty of wind and freeze-thaw wear. Replacement shingles are stocked by most suppliers, which makes repairs simpler than with specialty materials.
Where asphalt is a poor fit is on very low slopes and on some historic buildings. Flat sections need a membrane instead, covered under flat and low-slope roof repair, and historic districts may have preferences of their own.
What should I ask about wind and the coast?
Ask how the shingles are fastened and how the edges, ridge and rake are secured, because bay wind tests those places first. Do not rely on a verbal promise about wind resistance. Ask for the manufacturer's installation instructions and for the specific product named in writing.
Hurricane Bob in 1991 brought sustained winds of 100 mph and a gust of 125 mph at Providence, with extensive roof damage, and Sandy in 2012 caused widespread roof damage across the state.
That history does not mean your shingles will fail in a storm. It does mean a Warwick roof, particularly near Narragansett Bay, is worth installing carefully, with attention to edges and nails.
Does cold weather change how shingles go on?
It can. Asphalt shingles seal to the row below with a factory adhesive strip that works with warmth, so installers handle cold days with care, and snow or ice must be cleared from the deck first. Ask your roofer what they do on a cold or damp day and how they protect an open roof.
Warwick's cold season runs about 3.3 months, from early December to mid-March, and January highs are roughly 38 degrees. Not every cold day stops roofing, but the roofer's judgment matters.
Ask whether any shingles that did not seal will be hand-sealed, and what the plan is if rain or snow comes in the middle of the job.
How does shingle color and style matter in a neighborhood?
Color and shape affect how your house looks from the street and, in a historic district, may affect whether the work is approved. In most Warwick neighborhoods the choice is yours, within the roofer's available lines. Ask to see a sample in daylight against your siding and trim.
A small sample in a showroom looks different on a full roof. Ask the roofer for a sample board or a photograph of a finished roof in the same line.
Where a historic commission is involved, such as in the Apponaug and Pawtuxet Village districts, check first. Review may apply there, and the Building Department can tell you.
What is under the shingles that matters as much as the shingles?
Underlayment, drip edge and flashing do the sealing work if a shingle cracks or lifts. A quote that names only the shingle product leaves out the parts that decide whether a roof stays dry. Ask the roofer to list each layer going on, in order, from the deck up.
Shingles shed most water, but wind-driven rain and meltwater find their way under them at edges and joins. Underlayment is the second line, drip edge guides water into the gutter, and flashing seals the places where the roof meets a wall or pipe.
When two quotes differ in price, the cheaper one often leaves out one of these layers or uses a thinner version of it. Comparing line by line, not total to total, shows what you are really being offered.
Options
Types and options for asphalt shingle roofing
Architectural (laminated) shingles
Two layers are bonded to give the roof a thicker, shadowed look and more mass on the deck. This is the common choice on newer jobs. It costs more per square foot than a basic shingle, and the quote should show the difference.
Premium and designer lines
Some manufacturers sell thicker shingles that imitate slate or shake. They are heavier and more expensive. If the house is in a historic area, check first whether the commission will accept an imitation product, and read slate, cedar and historic roofing for context.
Kent County
Why asphalt shingle roofing is different in Narragansett Bay
Warwick is a city of mainly detached single-family houses, with a median build year of 1960. Many of those roofs were first covered in asphalt shingle, and many are now on a second or third covering. If your house is older, the roofer may find layers that need to come off.
Warwick sits on Narragansett Bay and gets roughly 48 to 49 inches of precipitation and about 32 to 37 inches of snow a year, so a shingle roof here has to cope with wind, wet and winter. That is a reason to put as much attention on underlayment, edges and flashing as on the shingle.
Inland towns such as Coventry and Smithfield add large trees and shaded roof planes. Leaves and branches fall onto the shingles and clog the valleys, and snow on north-facing slopes lingers. Gutters and roof cleaning keep those roofs in better shape.
Still stuck? We pick up 24/7.
If it's an emergency, call now. For non-urgent asphalt shingle roofing, send the form and we'll call you back.
Where we work
Asphalt Shingle Roofing across Kent County
- Asphalt Shingles in Warwick
- Asphalt Shingles in Cranston
- Asphalt Shingles in East Greenwich
- Asphalt Shingles in West Warwick
- Asphalt Shingles in Coventry
- Asphalt Shingles in North Kingstown
- Asphalt Shingles in Barrington
- Asphalt Shingles in Bristol
- Asphalt Shingles in Warren
- Asphalt Shingles in East Providence
- Asphalt Shingles in Providence
- Asphalt Shingles in Johnston
- Asphalt Shingles in North Providence
- Asphalt Shingles in Pawtucket
- Asphalt Shingles in Central Falls
- Asphalt Shingles in Lincoln
- Asphalt Shingles in Smithfield
- Asphalt Shingles in Portsmouth
- Asphalt Shingles in Middletown
- Asphalt Shingles in Newport
- Asphalt Shingles in Jamestown
- Asphalt Shingles in Seekonk
- Asphalt Shingles in Swansea
- Asphalt Shingles in Somerset
- Asphalt Shingles in Fall River
- Asphalt Shingles in Tiverton
- Asphalt Shingles in Rehoboth
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Related
Related services
Roof Replacement
A full tear-off and new roof on Warwick-area homes, handled by an independent local roofer you reach through one call.
Roof Repair
Targeted repairs to valleys, dormers, shingles and roof edges, done by an independent local roofer reached through one call.
Attic Ventilation
Ridge, soffit and baffle work that keeps a roof deck cold in winter and dry in summer, and cuts the heat that feeds ice dams.
Metal Roofing
Standing-seam and metal shingle roofs for Rhode Island homes, from a roofer who serves your town and quotes after seeing the roof.
Guides
Read before you book
Roof Replacement Cost in Warwick, RI: What the Published Guides Say
Published cost guides for Rhode Island do not agree.
Roofing on the Massachusetts Side: Fall River, Swansea and Somerset
In Massachusetts towns such as Fall River, Swansea, Somerset, Seekonk and Rehoboth, contractors working on one- to four-unit owner-occupied homes register as Home Improvement Contractors, and the roof permit is normally pulled by a Construction Supervisor Licence holder.
FAQ
Asphalt Shingle Roofing FAQs
What is the difference between three-tab and architectural shingles?
Three-tab shingles are a single flat layer cut into three tabs. Architectural shingles are laminated in two layers, which makes them thicker with a more varied look. The roofer can show you both and explain the price difference for your roof.
Can new shingles go over old ones?
Sometimes, depending on what is on the roof and what the town allows, but it is not always the best idea because it hides the deck. Ask the roofer to put the plan, the reason and any permit requirement in the quote.
How long will my shingles last?
No honest figure can be given without seeing the roof, its ventilation and its exposure. Ask the roofer what product they are installing and read the manufacturer's information that comes with it, rather than relying on a number.
Do shingles need ventilation?
A roof needs air moving under the deck so that heat and moisture can escape, and that affects shingles and ice dams alike. Ask the roofer what ventilation your attic has and read attic ventilation for more.
Who removes the old shingles?
The roofer's crew does, as part of the tear-off, and the quote should say what happens to the debris. Ask about nails in the yard and about protection for landscaping, gutters and the driveway.