The roof shingle you choose impacts how many years your roof lasts, how much it costs, and much more. This makes picking the right one a crucial decision.
Luckily, there are plenty of roof shingle options that fit any budget, aesthetic, and anything else a homeowner looks for. Unfortunately, it’s like Goldilocks picking the bowls of porridge (chair, bed, or another version).
You need to find the perfect roof shingle fit for your situation, budget, and personal tastes.
For over 30 years, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided unbiased roofing information so homeowners have the power to make the right decisions. That’s why I’ll break down the 6 most popular roof shingles among homeowners.
This article covers the following roof shingles, including their cost, lifespan, material warranty, and pros and cons:
- 3-tab asphalt shingles
- Architectural asphalt shingles
- Luxury asphalt shingles
- Synthetic shingles
- Cedar shake shingles
- Slate tile shingles
3-tab asphalt shingles
3-tab asphalt shingles lay flat and get their name from the 3 tabs on each shingle strip. This asphalt shingle dominated the residential roofing industry until technology improved enough 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:
- Cheapest roofing material on the market
- Ease of repair and installation
3-tab asphalt shingle cons:
- Shortest lifespan
- Being phased out of the roofing industry
- Hard to color matches for repairs and insurance
- Needs yearly maintenance
- Low curb appeal
- Prone to wind damage
Architectural asphalt shingles
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 common asphalt shingle today but also the most common shingle in general for residential roofing.
Cost: ≈$5.86 per square foot
Lifespan: 22-25 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:
- Affordability
- Ease of repair and installation
- Readily available materials and colors
Architectural asphalt shingle cons:
- Low curb appeal compared to other materials
- Needs yearly maintenance
- Prone to hail damage
Luxury asphalt shingles
Luxury (also called designer) shingles are a premium line of shingles designed to look like a natural slate tile roof. They are larger, thicker, and more durable and offer the highest curb appeal than the other asphalt shingles. However, they are also the most expensive.
Cost: ≈$8.00 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:
- Durability
- Longevity
- High curb appeal
- Stands up well to storm damage
Luxury asphalt shingle cons:
- Expensive
- Longer installation compared to the other asphalt shingles
- Needs yearly maintenance
Synthetic shingles
Synthetic (also called composite) shingles are made of a synthetic polymer or recycled materials and designed to mimic the look of a slate or cedar shake roof. This roofing material is newer than the others on this list, but it’s becoming increasingly popular in residential roofing.
(Left: synthetic slate; right: synthetic cedar shake)
Cost: ≈$14.00-$20.00 per square foot
Lifespan: ≈40-50 years
Material warranty: Depends on the manufacturer
Synthetic shingle roofing pros:
- Eco-friendly
- Very high curb appeal
- Class 4 impact rating
- No cracking or breaking like natural material counterparts
- Cheaper than the materials it mimics
Synthetic shingle roofing cons:
- Newer to the roofing industry
- Expensive
Cedar shake shingles
Cedar shake shingles are a premium roofing material made of natural wood (cedar) materials. It’s considered one of the best-looking roof systems on the market.
The shingles are made from large cedar trees in the Northwest United States or Southwest Canada. The quality of cedar shake shingles is split into 3 grades (types): common (most inferior), selects (80/20 split), and 100% straight grain (highest quality).
Cost: ≈$25.00-$30.00 per square foot
Lifespan: ≈30 years (up to 50, depending on your area’s climate)
Material warranty: None (made from natural materials)
Cedar shake shingle pros:
- Very high curb appeal
- Durable
Cedar shake shingle cons:
- Expensive
- Needs yearly maintenance
- Loses the “fresh” color over time
- Cedar shakes rot, crack, and curl as they age
- No material warranty
- Materials may not be readily available
Slate tile shingles
Slate tile shingles are a premium roofing material made primarily out of natural slate mined from the earth that are cut into square tiles. Unlike other roofing materials that come in 3-foot wide strips, slate tiles are installed one at a time slowly and very carefully.
Slate roofs are also incredibly heavy, so your home has to be built or retro-framed to carry the weight of a slate roof.
Cost: ≈$15.00-$30.00
Lifespan: 75 to 100 years
Material warranty: None (made from natural materials)
Slate tile shingle pros:
- Longest lasting roofing material available
- Very high curb appeal
- Durable
Slate tile shingle cons:
- Expensive
- The weight factor
- Slate tiles are fragile
- Slow and skillful installation
- Harder to repair
- No material warranty
The factors you need to consider when choosing the right roofing material
Now you know the 6 most popular types of roof shingles for your home, plus their cost, lifespan, material warranty, and pros and cons. With this information, you’re on your way to picking the best one for your situation.
But it’s understandable if you’re still on the fence or just don’t know what to do with this information. Well, I want you to be 100% confident you’re making the right decision.
That’s why I wrote another article breaking down the main factors you need to keep in mind when choosing between these roof shingles.
Check out 6 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Roofing Material so you have the confidence to make the right decision all on your own.
