Asphalt shingles come in a wide range of price, color and fire class. A good result depends on the choices around the shingle: the underlayment beneath it, how it is nailed, and which rules apply where the house stands.
Shingles under a hot sun
A shingle's surface is a layer of mineral granules, and the color and finish of those granules set how much sun the roof sends back. Cool shingle blends exist for this reason. In climate zone 4 and zones 8 through 15, a steep-slope reroof that replaces over 50 percent of the roof must reach aged reflectance 0.20 with emittance 0.75. SRI 16 is the alternative (California Energy Commission, 2022).
We check the CRRC listing for the shingle you like before it is ordered. A shade that looks right in a sample board but fails the rule is easier to catch at the start than at inspection.
What worn shingles are telling you
Granules wear off with sun and rain. Collected in gutters or at downspouts, they mean the surface is thinning. Curling edges, cracked tabs and bare spots are the next stage.
Insurers read the same signs. United Policyholders reported on 3 May 2025 on re-underwriting letters asking homeowners for a new roof, with worn shingles and granule loss named as reasons (United Policyholders, 2025). Insurance Business America (26 May 2026) covered Farmers: asphalt roofs past 15 years can be limited to actual cash value (Insurance Business America, 2026). Your own policy sets the terms, so read it.
What a shingle replacement includes
- Old shingles stripped and the deck inspected
- Soft sheathing replaced before anything goes down
- Underlayment and drip edge installed
- Starter course and nailing to the maker's pattern
- Ridge, vents and flashing finished with the new roof
- CRRC listing checked for the shingle you choose
Signs shingles are near the end
- Granules collecting in gutters or at downspouts
- Curled, cracked or lifting shingle tabs
- Bare spots where the surface has worn through
- A roof that has had a run of fixes in the same area
Fastening in Santa Ana wind
Wind gets under shingle edges and lifts tabs that are not held down. Fastening is the defense: nails driven straight at the line the maker marks, not high and not overdriven, in the number the instructions call for, over a clean starter course at the eave.
The maker's installation instructions set the nailing pattern, and we follow them. Roofs on exposed ridges or slopes can call for extra attention, which we note in the scope when the visit shows it.
Fire class, permit and cost
Shingle assemblies can reach Class A. The City of Los Angeles asks for Class A where the address falls in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. LADBS treats a re-roof in a Class A or B covering under 6 lb per square foot as an express permit, provided the sheathing is solid (LADBS, 2026).
On price, Angi (2026, Los Angeles) lists asphalt near $8.50 per square foot installed. Fixr (2026, national) gives $12,000 for an asphalt shingle roof, in a spread from $8,000 to $16,000. Both are third-party figures. A written scope for your roof beats any average.
Questions on shingle roofs
How do shingles stand up to Santa Ana winds?
Shingles hold in wind when they are nailed to the maker's pattern over a sound deck. Edges and ridges need the closest attention, since air gets under the edges first. Ask which nailing pattern is in the scope.
What does granule loss tell you about a shingle's age?
It tells you the surface is thinning, not the exact age. Granules in gutters, a darker look in places and exposed asphalt show wear from sun and rain. A roof with those signs across several slopes is near the point of replacement.
How does the age of a shingle roof change what insurers will do?
Carriers set their own age limits. Per the report, Mercury and Wawanesa have declined roofs past 25 years (Insurance Business America, 26 May 2026). Check your own policy.
Must new shingles be cool rated?
Only where the rule applies. Steep-slope reroofs in zone 4 or zones 8 through 15 must hit a 0.20 aged reflectance and 0.75 emittance, or SRI 16, once the job passes 50 percent of the roof (California Energy Commission, 2022). Some houses meet the rule another way, such as ceiling insulation of R-38. We check which route applies.
Should I get class 3 or class 4 shingles?
A class 3 or class 4 shingle has passed a hail impact test. In Los Angeles the code items are fire class and cool roof values.