The roofing material you choose for your replacement has a significant impact on the entire roofing project. It impacts the cost, installation, warranty options, and more. 

If you’re like most homeowners, you’re probably going with the commonly seen asphalt roof. But did you know there are actually different brands of asphalt shingles?

If you didn’t, you’re not alone. There are plenty of asphalt shingle brands to choose from, but the question most homeowners have is, “who’s the best?”

The truth is, it’s hard to say one roof shingle brand is better than the other because they all make great products. But there are some that stand out to roofing contractors and offer homeowners like you more varieties to give your roof the exact look you want. 

That’s why we’re going to give the top roof shingle brands. 

Since 1990, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners in the Nashville area get the beautiful roof they deserve while staying in their budget. We provide you all the information you need to make the right decision for you and your situation. And after we’re done with your roofing project, we’re proud to offer you a lifetime warranty on our workmanship. 

By the end of this article, you’ll learn the top 5 roof shingle brands and what they offer you. Because they all make great products, the list below is in no particular order. 

CertainTeed

CertainTeed specializes in exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, insulation, gypsum, and ceilings. For residential roofing, they offer a wide variety of styles and colors of the 3 types of asphalt shingles. 

No matter what look or color you want, CertainTeed has you covered. For example, if you want a slate look, they have the widely popular Grand Manor luxury shingle in 8 colors. 

If you hire a roofing contractor that’s certified by CertainTeed, you’ll have the opportunity to get their non-prorated enhanced warranty when you get an entire roof system with architectural or luxury shingles. This covers your roofing materials for 50 years (or the life of the materials) that’s transferable one time. 

At Bill Ragan Roofing, we use CertainTeed more often because of all the color and style options available to you and other homeowners. 

GAF

GAF specializes in residential and commercial roofing materials. They offer 3-tab, architectural, and luxury asphalt shingles but don’t have all the style and color options that CertainTeed has.  

GAF standouts in residential roofing because they have one of the most popular asphalt shingle lines in America today, Timberline Roofing Shingles. GAF actually created the style of architectural asphalt shingles when they developed Timberline. 

Since its development, the other shingle brands have copied and now make architectural asphalt shingles to compete with GAF’s Timberline collection. GAF also provides a 50 year (or life of the roofing materials) non-prorated enhanced warranty when you get an entire roof system with your new architectural or luxury shingles.

Just like CertainTeed, the local roofing contractor you hire has to be certified to be able to offer you an enhanced warranty.  

Owens Corning 

Owens Corning manufactures residential and commercial insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composite materials. They offer 3-tab, architectural, and luxury asphalt shingles for residential roofing. 

While they have luxury shingles that mimic slate, Owens Corning doesn’t have the same variety of other luxury styles like CertainTeed and GAF. What they lack in luxury shingles, they make it up with their dimensional shingle lines. 

With Owen Corning’s 5 architectural asphalt shingle lines, you’ll be able to find the look and color you want. As long as you hire a roofing contractor that’s certified, they also offer a 50 year (or the life of the roofing materials) non-prorated warranty if you get an entire roof system.    

Atlas

Atlas manufactures high-quality roofing and construction materials. They offer 3-tab, architectural, and luxury asphalt shingles. 

Like Owens Corning, they don’t offer the same variety of luxury style shingles that CertainTeed and GAF offer. But they’re architectural shingle lines more than makeup for it. 

They have 5 different types of architectural shingles with a variety of colors and styles to give your roof the look you want. But what sets Atlas apart is their patented process of putting scotch guard on some of their shingles.  

This means Atlas’s StormMaster Shake shingles, StormMaster Slate shingles, and Pinnacle Pristine shingles come with a lifetime guarantee that they’ll never get streaks on them. They also offer a non-prorated enhanced warranty for the life of the roofing materials when you get an entire roof system.   

TAMKO

TAMKO offers residential and commercial roofing products, as well as waterproofing products, cement, and coatings. For residential roofing, they offer 3-tab, architectural, and luxury asphalt shingles. 

While they don’t have as many asphalt shingle style options as the other brands listed here, they offer something unique with their steel shingle line called MetalWorks. The line includes StoneCrest Slate, StoneCrest Tile, and StoneCrest AstonWood Cedar Shake. 

The StoneCrest steel shingle lines give you the luxury styles some of the other brands have, but with metal instead of asphalt. Like the other roof shingle brands, you’ll have the opportunity to get an enhanced warranty on their Heritage Woodgate, Heritage Premium, and Heritage Vintage lines when getting an entire roof system. 

Find a great roofing contractor by asking the right questions

Now you know the top 5 shingle brands. Like I said earlier, one roof shingle brand isn’t better than the other, and they all make great products. 

Remember, to get an enhanced warranty, you have to hire a roofing contractor that is certified by all 5 or at least some of the brands. Because of this, you should always ask a roofing contractor what certifications they have.

But that's just one question you need to ask a roofing contractor to ensure you're making the best hiring decision. 

That's why you need our checklist of 16 questions to ask a roofing contractor. Not only does the checklist contain the questions, but it also gives you the right answers a reputable roofing contractor will give back. 

To ensure you make the right hiring decision, get the checklist of questions to ask a roofing contractor. 

The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided high-quality residential roof repairs and roof replacements in Nashville and surrounding areas since 1990. We’re certified by the main shingle manufacturers to offer you the best products and warranties possible.

If you’re local to Nashville, don’t hesitate to contact us for any of your roofing needs. 

Here's your Checklist of 16 Questions You Need to Ask a Roofing Contractor, so you're able to make the best hiring decision. 

checklist of questions to ask a roofing contractor