Also called composite shingles, this is by far the most common residential roofing material in the United States. Asphalt shingles are usually made of fiberglass sandwiched between layers of asphalt. The top layer of asphalt has small stones embedded into it. These stones help to add durability to the life of the shingle by protecting the shingle from impact and the damage caused by the sun. There are two major sub types of asphalt shingles, three tab shingles and architectural shingles.