Is it time for a new roof? Are you having trouble deciding which asphalt shingle to choose?
Well, you’re in the right place. The asphalt shingle you choose impacts everything from pricing to when it’ll need replacing in the future.
You need to be fully confident when making your shingle decision. Luckily, all it takes is asking yourself some simple questions.
For over 30 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has provided unbiased advice and information to help homeowners like you make the best decisions. Now, I’ll help you find the right asphalt shingle for your roof replacement.
Let’s look at the three types of asphalt shingles and questions you need to answer to make the right choice.
Before you can decide which one is right for you, you need to know the differences between the three asphalt shingle types. Below, you’ll learn basic information about each shingle, plus their pros and cons.
3-tab asphalt shingles have three tabs on each shingle strip that lay completely flat when installed. They used to dominate the residential roofing industry until technology improved to create architectural asphalt shingles.
3-tab asphalt shingle pros:
3-tab asphalt shingle cons:
Architectural (also called dimensional) shingles have a multilayered pattern on each strip that provides texture, with some simulating the look of a wood-shake roof. They are heavier and thicker than 3-tab shingles, which makes them a much more durable option.
Architectural shingles are not only the most popular asphalt shingle type, but also the most commonly used roofing material in residential roofing.
Architectural asphalt shingle pros:
Architectural asphalt shingle cons:
Luxury (also called designer or premium) shingles are the high-end shingle line designed to look like a natural slate tile roof. They are larger, thicker, more durable, and offer higher curb appeal than architectural shingles.
However, they are the most expensive type of asphalt shingle on the market today.
Luxury asphalt shingle pros:
Luxury asphalt shingle cons:
Now that you know a little about the three types of asphalt shingles, you’re ready to learn which one is right for you. But how do you do that?
The best way is to ask yourself these questions:
There are no wrong answers, but asking yourself the questions above is the best way to determine which shingle fits your needs, budget, and situation.
No matter which asphalt shingle you choose, it’ll increase your home’s curb appeal. And the truth is, we all like different things.
So, if you don’t care about looks, the low curb appeal of 3-tab shingles may be right for you. However, color options are becoming extremely limited and increasingly harder to find in some areas.
Architectural shingles have lower curb appeal than other roofing materials, but it’s still much higher than 3-tab shingles. There are plenty of color options, and certain ones even try to mimic cedar shakes.
But if you want to substantially increase your home’s curb appeal, luxury asphalt shingles offer the slate look to really make your home stand out. That’s why I recommend going with architectural or luxury asphalt shingles if your home’s look is important to your decision-making.
Each type of asphalt shingles comes with a warranty from the manufacturer to protect against defects and other manufacturer related problems. The basic warranties aren’t that far apart in length, but there’s a little more to it.
3-tab asphalt shingles come with a basic 25-year limited warranty from the manufacturer, while both architectural and luxury asphalt shingles come with a 30-year prorated warranty.
However, architectural and luxury shingles can qualify for a 50-year non-prorated enhanced warranty if your roofer is certified with the manufacturer.
All of your asphalt roofing components (including your asphalt shingles) must also come from that one specific manufacturer to form a complete roof system. After installation, the warranty ensures the manufacturer covers all of your roofing materials for the life of your roof.
If you want the best material warranty, architectural and luxury asphalt shingles are definitely the way to go.
Other than resale value, a roof’s lifespan is the ROI you get from your investment. That’s why it’s crucial to ask yourself how long you want your roof to last when considering shingles or any other roofing material.
As long as the asphalt shingles are properly installed and your attic is adequately ventilated, they’ll get as close as possible to their maximum lifespans. With that in mind, 3-tab shingles have the shortest lifespan of three types, lasting around 15 to 20 years.
Architectural shingles have a manufactured stated lifespan of 30 years but will realistically last around 25 years. Because luxury shingles are the thickest and largest of the three types, they’ll get up to 30 years and potentially up to 50 in the right conditions.
I recommend architectural shingles to any homeowner looking for a good lifespan while also being affordable. But if you don't want to replace your roof again in your lifetime, luxury shingles are the way to go.
The shingles make up the bulk of the material costs of your roof replacement, so it’s crucial to consider how much you’re willing to spend. 3-tab asphalt shingles are the cheapest, but you sacrifice a lot of quality.
And remember, they’re becoming less available as they phase out of the industry. Architectural asphalt shingles are the best quality roofing material for most budgets, which is why they're so popular.
They will be around 20% to 30% more expensive than 3-tab shingles, but they're the best option if you’re looking for affordability. Luxury asphalt shingles are the most expensive option, coming in at almost double the cost of architectural shingles.
However, the premium price point is worth the extra durability, longer lifespan, and increased curb appeal.
Now you know your asphalt shingle options and the questions to ask to help you make the right decision. I recommend architectural asphalt shingles to most homeowners for the affordability and the quality you get for the price.
However, luxury asphalt shingles are a great investment if you have the budget. And remember, the shingle you choose makes up most of the material costs.
Unfortunately, you can’t determine your budget until you know how a new asphalt shingle roof costs as a whole. This article gave you an idea of the price difference between the shingles, but a lot goes into estimating a roof.
So, let’s look at how much a full roof replacement costs for each type of asphalt shingle.
Check out How Much an Asphalt Shingle Roof Costs to learn the budget you’ll need for an asphalt roof replacement based on the shingle you choose.