01 / 09 · Materials
Asphalt shingles, the default for almost every Des Moines roof.
Asphalt shingles cover somewhere north of nine out of ten houses in Polk County, and there are real reasons for that — not just inertia. This is the page to start on if you're picking a material for the first time.
An asphalt shingle is a mat of fiberglass, saturated in asphalt, coated with weather-resistant granules, and cut into tabs. Bundle them onto a deck and they shed water, shrug off hail within reason, and last two or three decades in Iowa's climate. The reason they dominate Des Moines isn't marketing — it's that the category has quietly gotten very good at what it does, and every local crew knows how to install it.
Section oneThe three grades, honestly labeled
Three-tab shingles are the flat, thin, old-school product you still see on rental houses and 1990s subdivisions. They're the cheapest to install and the first to curl. Architectural (also called dimensional or laminate) shingles are the current Iowa standard — thicker, layered, with a shadow line that reads as depth from the street. Luxury or designer shingles — Landmark Premium, Grand Manor, Presidential — are heavier still and mimic slate or shake. If a bid quotes three-tab, ask why.
Section twoWind and hail ratings that actually matter
Every manufacturer advertises a wind rating (typically 110 or 130 mph with standard install, up to 150 with enhanced nailing). For central Iowa, 130 with six-nail install is a sensible floor. Impact resistance is rated Class 1 through Class 4; Class 4 is the only one insurers in Iowa will discount for, and for storm-prone addresses in Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties the premium discount often pays for the shingle upgrade over the first roof cycle.
Section threeLifespan, and why "50-year" is marketing
Manufacturer warranties read like promises of forever. Actual Iowa lifespan for a mid-grade architectural shingle is 22–28 years, assuming proper attic ventilation and no major hail events in between. Hail is the wildcard. A single bad supercell can end a roof's life at year seven, and central Iowa is on the receiving end of those more often than the national average.
Three-tab shingles are the flat, thin, old-school product you still see on rental houses and 1990s subdivisions — if a bid quotes them, ask why.
Section fourWhat should be in an asphalt bid
A legitimate Des Moines asphalt bid spells out the shingle brand and line (e.g. GAF Timberline HDZ, Owens Corning Duration, Malarkey Highlander), the underlayment type (synthetic vs. felt), the ice-and-water shield placement (eaves, valleys, and around penetrations), the flashing metal, the ventilation plan (ridge vent, baffles, or box vents), and the tear-off depth (one layer or two). Anything vaguer than that is a sketch, not a contract.
Practical tip
Ask for the shingle wrapper
When the crew starts tearing off, ask for one of the empty shingle bundle wrappers. It prints the line, color, and manufacture date — your warranty paperwork later will need exactly that information, and some roofers quietly substitute cheaper lines if you don't verify on site.
Section fiveWhen asphalt isn't the right answer
Low-slope sections (anything under 2:12 pitch) shouldn't wear asphalt shingles — water sits and seams leak. For porch roofs, dormer returns, and additions with near-flat runs, ask specifically about TPO, EPDM, or standing-seam metal panels on those sections. A good Des Moines roofer will volunteer this before you ask.
Informational only. This page is general guidance from an independent resource — not legal, insurance, or professional contracting advice. Roofing is a significant financial and safety decision; confirm specifics with a licensed Iowa roofing contractor, your city's building department, and your own homeowners policy before acting on anything here.
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