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Serving Cook County

Asphalt Shingle Roofing in Schaumburg: Grades, Layers and What Goes Under Them

How asphalt shingles are chosen, installed and ventilated on the postwar subdivision houses of the northwest suburbs.

  • Roof repair and full replacement
  • Ice dams, hail and storm damage
  • Connected to an independent local roofer

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Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt Shingle Roofing: what it covers

Quick answer

Asphalt shingles are the standard roof on the postwar subdivisions of Schaumburg, Streamwood, Hanover Park and Rolling Meadows. Schaumburg Roofing connects you with an independent local roofer who installs them over proper underlayment, flashing and ventilation. Shingle grade, number of layers and attic airflow decide how the roof ages.

Asphalt Shingle Roofing illustration for Schaumburg, IL

Walk almost any street built between the late 1950s and the 1980s in this part of Cook County and you see asphalt shingles. The material suited the era: it was quick to install, available in a range of colors and priced for the thousands of homes that Weathersfield, Streamwood and Hanover Park added in a few decades. Streamwood incorporated in 1957, Hanover Park in 1958, and the original roofs on many of their houses have been replaced at least once since.

An asphalt shingle is a fiberglass mat coated with asphalt and surfaced with mineral granules. The granules shield the asphalt from sunlight and give the roof its color. Over time, summer heat, freeze-thaw cycles and ice wear the granules away, the asphalt dries and the shingle curls or cracks. How fast that happens depends less on the label on the bundle than on the quality of the installation, the ventilation of the attic and the exposure of the slope.

Schaumburg Roofing is a call line that puts you through to an independent local roofer who serves your village. The roofer chooses and installs the shingles and writes the quote. Call (833) 751-2102, describe the age of the current roof and any trouble you have had, and ask what the roofer recommends for your house and why.

Service area
Schaumburg & Cook County
Availability
Call to reach a local roofer
Warning signs

Signs you need asphalt shingle roofing

Do not walk on an old shingle roof. Brittle shingles crack, granules roll like marbles, and a wet or frosted surface is slick. Look from the ground and call.

  • Shingle corners curling upward or cupping so the slope looks wavy
  • Bald spots where granules have worn away, showing black asphalt
  • Cracks running across tabs, especially after cold snaps
  • Heavy granule collection in gutters and at downspouts
  • Moss, algae streaks or dark staining on the north slopes
  • Exposed or popped nails creating bumps in the surface
  • Roof age that you know, or suspect, to be past the first replacement
Cost

How much does asphalt shingle roofing cost in Schaumburg?

Shingle roofs vary less in material cost than in labor and what lies beneath, so the price turns on the house. No figures are printed here.

Asphalt Shingle Roofing pricing in Cook County (2026)
JobTypical rangeWhat it includes
Grade of shingleSet by productThicker, higher-rated shingles cost more per bundle and sometimes take longer to lay
Roof size and pitchMeasured on siteMore squares, steeper slopes and several levels add materials and staging
Layers to stripCounted at inspectionEach extra layer means more hauling and disposal
Underlayment and eave protectionNamed in the scopeBetter underlayments and waterproof membranes at eaves and valleys raise the cost and the protection
Ventilation upgradesDepends on the atticAdding intake or exhaust vents is priced apart from the shingles
Permit and disposalItemized by the rooferAsk whether they are in the quote

Your exact price is set by the roofer after inspection and confirmed in writing before any work starts.

Options

Types and options for asphalt shingle roofing

Three-tab shingles

The older, flatter style, cut in uniform tabs. It is lighter and usually the lower-priced option, and it dominates many roofs from the 1970s and 80s. It tends to show wear sooner than thicker styles.

Architectural or laminated shingles

Two layers bonded together create a thicker shingle with a more textured look. They are generally rated for higher winds and are the usual choice today. Ask for the wind rating and the manufacturer's installation requirements in the quote.

Impact-resistant and premium styles

Some shingles are built to resist hail and shed heat better. They cost more, and whether they are worth it, or reduce an insurance premium, is a question for the roofer and your insurer. The hail damage page covers the context.

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If it's an emergency, call now. For non-urgent asphalt shingle roofing, send the form and we'll call you back.

How long do asphalt shingles last in northern Illinois?

Published lifespans for asphalt shingles span a wide range, and local weather moves a roof to the lower end. Freeze-thaw cycles, summer heat and attic ventilation all matter. Treat any figure as a rough guide, and ask the roofer to judge your own roof by its condition, not its age alone.

The guide on how long a roof lasts in the Chicago suburbs goes into why lifespan figures differ so much.

Condition tells more than age: granule loss, cracking, curling and loose nails are signs that the roof is approaching the end of its life, whatever the label said when it was installed.

Can a new layer go over the old shingles?

Sometimes, if the village allows it and the roof beneath is flat and sound. It saves the cost of stripping but hides the deck and adds weight. On a house with a history of leaks or on a second layer already, most roofers prefer a tear-off. Ask the building department which rule applies.

This site does not state the legal limit on layers for Schaumburg or neighboring villages, because it has not been confirmed. Ask the village Permitting Division, which can be reached at 847-923-4420 for Schaumburg.

The multi-layer tear-off page explains what the crew finds when it strips a house with more than one layer.

How do I read a shingle warranty and a wind rating?

Ask for both in writing and read what they cover. A warranty is the manufacturer's promise about the product, and often excludes poor installation, ventilation problems and storm damage. A wind rating describes the product when installed to the maker's instructions. Neither replaces the roofer's own written workmanship terms.

This site does not state any warranty length or rating, because they differ by product and change over time. What matters is that the quote names the product and grade, so you can look up the terms yourself, and that it says what the roofer guarantees about the installation apart from what the manufacturer guarantees about the material.

Ask three plain questions. Who honors the warranty if something fails, the manufacturer or the roofer? What actions void it, such as an unventilated attic or a second layer? And what must you keep, such as an invoice and the permit, to make a claim?

Why does attic ventilation matter for shingles?

Heat and moisture trapped in the attic cook the underside of the roof deck in summer and feed ice dams in winter. Air moving from soffit intake to ridge exhaust carries both away and helps shingles last. A new roof is the best time to correct an attic that is poorly vented.

Look at the soffits from the ground for vents, and ask the roofer how the attic will breathe after the work. The attic ventilation and insulation page covers the sequence of air sealing, insulation and venting.

What should a written quote list?

The roofer's name and Illinois license number, the shingle brand and grade, the number of layers to remove, the decking allowance, underlayment and eave protection, flashing and vents, the permit, cleanup, and what happens if hidden damage appears. Compare scopes line by line, not just the total.

Illinois requires a roofing licensee's number to appear on every contract and bid, so a quote without it is a warning sign. The license guide shows how to check a number with the state.

Our process

How our asphalt shingle roofing visit works

  1. Inspect and measure

    The roofer measures the roof, counts layers and checks the decking and ventilation. The inspection decides whether the old roof can come off in one pass and what has to be repaired underneath.

  2. Choose the shingle

    The roofer shows the available grades and colors and explains the difference in thickness, wind rating and appearance. Ask for the product's name and grade in writing.

  3. Strip and prepare the deck

    Old shingles and underlayment are removed, nails are cleared and any bad boards are replaced. A clean, flat deck is what the new shingles depend on.

  4. Install the layers in order

    Drip edge, eave protection, underlayment, starter strip, field shingles, valley treatments and ridge cap go on in that sequence, with flashing at every wall, chimney and pipe.

  5. Ventilate and inspect

    Intake and exhaust vents are checked or added so air can move beneath the deck, and the finished roof is walked for loose nails, missed laps and debris. The village final inspection follows where a permit was pulled.

Cook County

Why asphalt shingle roofing is different in Northwest Chicago suburbs

Asphalt shingle is the default across the tract suburbs of the northwest: Streamwood, Hanover Park, Rolling Meadows, Carol Stream and Glendale Heights tend to be postwar or 1970s planned and tract suburbs, and many of their roofs have been replaced once or twice. Expect the roofer to be familiar with the common ranch and split-level roof shapes in these towns.

Newer stock in Bartlett, Buffalo Grove and Bloomingdale tends to have more complex rooflines, with several valleys and dormers. More cuts and more flashing mean more labor, even when the shingles are the same.

Color is a decision with local consequences. Many streets here have a shared look, and some associations or covenants ask for approval of roof color. Check before you order, since a returned bundle is rarely accepted.

Related

Roof Replacement

Full tear-offs and re-roofs for Schaumburg-area houses, with the village permit and the state license check built into the job.

Wind Damage Shingle Repair

Replacing and resealing wind-damaged shingles along ridges, rakes and corners of roofs in the northwest suburbs.

Guides

Read before you book

FAQ

Asphalt Shingle Roofing FAQs

What is the difference between three-tab and architectural shingles?

Three-tab shingles are single-layer and flat; architectural shingles are laminated, thicker and textured. The thicker style is generally rated for higher winds. The roofer can show samples and explain the price difference.

Do I need to replace the underlayment?

On a tear-off, yes, as a rule: old underlayment is brittle and cannot be reused. The scope should name the new underlayment and where the eave and valley protection goes.

Is a darker shingle hotter?

Dark shingles absorb more heat, which can affect the roof surface in summer. In a ventilated attic the effect on the house is modest. Color is mostly an appearance choice, but ask the roofer about it if cooling costs matter.

Can moss or algae streaks be cleaned?

Streaks are mostly cosmetic but can hold moisture. Cleaning should be gentle, since pressure washing strips granules. Ask the roofer for a method that will not void the shingle's warranty.

Will the village inspect the new roof?

In Schaumburg a reroof permit is followed by a final inspection. Other villages set their own rules, so ask the building department or the roofer.

How many bundles make a square?

A roofer measures in squares, each covering one hundred square feet. The number of bundles per square depends on the product. The quote should state the measured squares so you can compare bids.