Is it time to replace your asphalt shingle roof? Are you trying to choose the right type of asphalt shingle?
Asphalt shingles have been the standard in the roofing industry for decades and continue to be to this day. But did you know there are 3 different types of asphalt shingles?
If you didn’t, you’re not alone. Many homeowners think an asphalt shingle is just an asphalt shingle, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The different asphalt shingles have major differences in quality, lifespans, warranties, and much more. So, it's crucial to understand how they match up on the things that matter most to homeowners like you.
For over 35 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners choose the right asphalt shingle for their situation. Now, I'll break down everything you need to know about each one and compare them to give you confidence when making a final decision.
In this article, you’ll learn:
The 3 types of asphalt shingles are 3-tab, architectural, and luxury. The great thing about asphalt shingles is there’s one for every budget and home aesthetic.
However, there are massive differences between the 3 types. Let’s look at each shingle’s basic information, look, cost, lifespan, warranty, and pros and cons.
3-tab asphalt shingles get their name from the 3 tabs on each shingle strip and lay completely flat when installed. This asphalt shingle used to dominate the residential roofing industry until technology improved to create architectural asphalt shingles.
Cost: $4.00 per square foot
Lifespan: 20 years at most
Material warranty: 25-year limited warranty from the manufacturer
3-tab asphalt shingle pros:
3-tab asphalt shingle cons:
Architectural (also called dimensional) shingles provide a random pattern to give your roof dimension or simulate the look of a wood-shake roof. It’s not only the most popular asphalt shingle but also the most common roofing material installed on homes in general.
Cost: $5.00 - $7.00 per square foot
Lifespan: 20-25 years
Material warranty: 30-year warranty (prorated after 10 years) from the manufacturer. Upgrade to a 50-year non-prorated enhanced warranty with a full roof system.
Architectural asphalt shingle pros:
Architectural asphalt shingle cons:
Luxury (also called designer or premium) shingles are the high-end type and designed to look like a natural slate tile roof. They are larger, more durable, offer the highest curb appeal, and are the most expensive type of asphalt shingle.
Cost: $8.00 - $10.00 per square foot
Lifespan: 30 years or longer in perfect conditions
Material warranty: 30-year warranty (prorated after 10 years) from the manufacturer. Upgrade to a 50-year non-prorated enhanced warranty with a full roof system.
Luxury asphalt shingle pros:
Luxury asphalt shingle cons:
The information above gives you a good idea which asphalt shingle is right for you. However, let's go deeper and put everything into context with actual comparisons.
| Comparison | 3-tab shingles | Architectural shingles | Luxury shingles |
| Availability | Phasing out | Readily available | Readily available |
| Curb appeal | Low | Moderate | High |
| Impact rating | N/A | Class 3 and Class 4 available | Class 4 (Unless stated otherwise) |
| Wind rating | 60-mph | 110-mph to 160-mph | 110-mph to 130-mph |
| Warranties | 25 years (prorated) | 30 years (prorated) | 30 years (prorated) |
| Lifespan | 15 to 20 years | 20 to 25 years | 30 to 50 years |
| Cost | $4.00 per square foot | $5.00 to $7.00 per square foot | $8.00 to $10.00 per square foot |
The table gives you a high level overview of the comparisons, while the rest of this article goes further in the break down.
Architectural shingles are widely available, especially considering their the most common type of roofing material installed on roofs in the United States. Luxury shingles are also widely available, but certain ones may have to be special ordered depending on suppliers in your area.
So, you should have no problem finding and getting architectural or luxury shingles. However, 3-tab shingles are being phased out of the industry as technology and materials improve.
Obviously, they won't disappear overnight. However, many of the colors are discontinued, and suppliers rarely keep them in stock like they used to.
When it comes to curb appeal, luxury shingles are the clear winner. The slate-like design provides a high-end look that architectural or 3-tab shingles can't compare to.
However, aesthetic tastes are subjective. Architectural asphalt shingles have plenty of color options, and certain ones even try to mimic cedar shakes.
So, they may be a better fit for your home's look or the style you want. It really just depends on what you like and how important curb appeal is to you.
However, you should go with architectural or luxury asphalt shingles if you want to increase your home’s curb appeal.
Architectural shingles and luxury shingles are the clear winner over 3 tab shingles when it comes to impact resistance. However, luxury shingles usually have a higher impact rating than architectural shingles.
Recently, certain architectural shingle lines are specifically being designed with stronger impact-resistant ratings in mind. In fact, the top architectural shingles, GAF's Timberline HDZ and CertainTeed's Landmark architectural shingles, now come with a Class 3 impact rating.
However, the majority of luxury shingles come with a Class 4 impact rating, which is the highest available. Just know that there are architectural shingle lines with Class 4 options, but they are considered "performance" shingles.
All asphalt shingles have wind-resistant ratings, but the difference is dramatic. Architectural shingles and luxury shingles are thicker, higher-quality materials, and their installation method gives them higher wind rating than 3-tab shingles.
Let’s use CertainTeed’s shingles (our preferred brand) as an example.
CertainTeed shingles wind ratings |
| CertainTeed’s XT25 3-tab shingle has a 60-mph wind rating |
| CertainTeed's Landmark architectural shingle has a 110-mph wind rating |
| CertainTeed's Grand Manor luxury shingle has a 110-mph wind rating |
The wind resistance between 3-tab shingles and the other two is obviously dramatic. However, you can increase architectural and luxury shingles’ wind rating even further with the appropriate roof system accessories.
Luxury shingles have the longest lifespan of the three types of asphalt shingles. As long as they are properly installed and your attic is adequately ventilated, they should last 30 years and could get close to 50 years in perfect conditions.
The long lifespan is due to their thickness, weight, and, depending on the manufacturer, a Class 4 impact resistance rating. On the other hand, architectural shingles last around 20 to 25 years, while 3-tab shingles last 15 to a maximum of 20 years in perfect conditions.
Just keep in mind that multiple factors impact a roof’s lifespan, so it’s always possible for premature failure.
All three asphalt shingles come with warranties out of the package, but their differing lengths reflect the quality. 3-tab shingles come with a 25-year limited warranty, while architectural and luxury shingles come with a 30-year warranty (prorated after 10 years).
This doesn’t seem like much difference, but both architectural and luxury shingles come with the opportunity to get a 50-year non-prorated enhanced warranty. By getting a roof system (components and asphalt shingles) from one manufacturer and installed by a certified roofer, this warranty ensures your roof is covered for the life of the materials.
With the enhanced warranty, architectural and luxury shingles are the clear winner for this category.
Asphalt shingles in general are the most affordable roofing material on the market today. However, the price increases based on the quality, which means 3-tab shingles are the cheapest and luxury shingles are the most expensive.
3-tab shingles are the cheapest asphalt shingle option, costing around $4.00 per square foot. Architectural shingles cost around $5.00 to $7.00 per square foot, which isn't much more than 3-tab shingles.
However, luxury shingles cost $8.00 to $10.00 per square foot, which makes them a very large investment. Just keep in mind that numbers are for a full roof replacement and aren’t exact due to cost factors, such as roofing contractor, area, and availability.
Price is always important to consider when choosing a shingle. However, it's crucial to invest in quality over trying to get the cheapest roof possible, no matter which one you choose.
After reading this article, you should have a good idea of which asphalt shingle is right for you. If you and your budget are like most homeowners, you’ll most likely go with architectural asphalt shingles.
However, you can’t beat luxury shingles if you have the budget. No matter which one you choose, you’re about to embark on a huge home improvement project.
And picking the right shingle is just one thing to think about and consider before replacing your roof. That’s why I wrote another article breaking down the 7 things every homeowner should consider before a roof replacement.
Check out the 7 Things You Need to Consider Before You Replace Your Roof to get the crucial information you need before calling a roofer or signing a contract.