You’ve decided you need new roofing shingles but are unsure which ones to get. Understandable, as there are lots of different types available today. And, there are now metal roofing products called ‘stone-coated metal shingles’. From a distance, these resemble traditional asphalt shingles. There are also asphalt shingles that resemble rock slate or wood shake. So, how do you decide which shingles to get? To make things more confusing, technically, clay tiles and corrugated sheet metal are considered ‘roofing shingles’. Below, we layout the 4 types of roofing shingles for your home or small office.
Short Answer: The 4 most common types of roofing shingles are 3-tab, architectural/dimensional, designer/luxury, and stone-coated steel shingles. 3-tab are the least expensive short-term. However, stone-coated steel shingles are the least expensive long-term since they’re more durable and last longer.
4 Types of Roofing Shingles
3-Tab/Strip
Architectural
Designer
Stone-Coated Steel
3-Tab/Strip Shingles
3-tab shingles are the least expensive roofing shingle. They also offer the fewest features, such as hail and high-wind resistance. Some areas, such as Fort Collins, 3-tab shingles are not allowed since none are impact resistant. 3-tab shingles are visually flat with no visual dimension. They offer the shortest warranty of around 25 years. Although all major roofing product manufacturers offer 3-tab shingles, not all are the same. All are Class-A fire rated, however, none are impact resistant. Only Tamko’s Elite Glass-Seal are Class H wind rated. That is, 150mph wind rated. Other brands are no more than 60mph wind rated.
If budget is most important to you, a 3-tab type roofing shingle is for you. If better storm protection is more important, consider architectural/dimensional shingles. They only cost a little more, but come with better protection from hail and wind.
Architectural/Dimensional Shingles
Architectural shingles, also known as dimensional shingles, are the most common type of roofing shingles in Colorado, as well as around the country. They are a step-up from the common 3-tab shingles as they add depth and color variation to your roof, giving your home or office more curb appeal. In addition, architectural shingles are often more wind and hail resistant. Most roofing product manufacturers also offer longer warranties for their architectural/dimensional shingles – Limited Lifetime compared to 3-tab’s 25 year. They also offer better technology, such as Owens Corning’s SureNail technology. Needless to say, architectural shingles are also more expensive than 3-tab shingles, but not by much. They are worth the upgrade.
Designer/Luxury Shingles
Designer, or Luxury, shingles up the ante even more, by giving the shingles the appearance of a different roofing material, such as wood shake or slate. Because appearance is the most important concern with these shingles, resistance to the elements might suffer. For example, Owens Corning’s Berkshire shingles cost more than their TruDefinition Duration Storm shingles, yet offer less storm protection. Designer shingles often cost the most of all the asphalt roofing shingles. If style is most important to you, a designer/luxury shingle will look great on your home and offer a more unique look. If performance is what you want, you’re better off with a lesser expensive architectural shingle that’s impact and high-wind resistant.
Stone-Coated Steel Shingles
A new type of roofing product is steel shingles and tiles, also called stone-coated metal shingles or tiles. They are great as they combine the durability and longevity of steel with the attractive appearance of traditional shingles, barrel or Pacific tiles, or real wood shake. In fact, stone-coated metal shingles more closely resemble real wood shake than asphalt shingles resembling wood shake. Asphalt shingles do, however, currently come in more colors than stone-coated metal shingles.
Stone-coated metal shingles have a metal foundation instead of the fiberglass found in traditional asphalt shingles. They also use screws instead of nails to secure them to the roof deck. Screws have superior holding power over nails. As a result, a metal roof lasts longer than asphalt shingles or wood shake – 2 to 3 times longer. An average asphalt shingle roof will last around 25 years. A metal roof, when professionally installed, often lasts 70 years or more. Metal or steel is also the lightest roofing products. Lastly, steel shingles are recyclable, unlike asphalt shingles, which makes them more eco-friendly.
Our Recommended Type of Roofing Shingle
If you’re shopping for new roofing shingles, stone-coated metal shingles are the longest-lasting and most cost-effective. These shingles often last 70 years or more. Traditional asphalt shingles, on the other hand, typically only last 25 to 30 years. Metal shingles also offer more character or dimension. This is because you can form metal better than the fiberglass of traditional asphalt shingles.
Metal shingles are also much more durable than traditional shingles – they’re much more resistant to fire, wind, hail, and the sun. Metal shingles are also recyclable in our area, unlike traditional asphalt shingles. Asphalt shingle manufacturers offer recycling programs, however, those programs don’t reach Colorado.
Stone-coated metal shingles are 2 to 3 times as expensive as traditional asphalt shingles. They do last longer, so they often end-up costing less in the long run. That said, if metal shingles are still outside your financial reach, impact resistant asphalt shingles are your next best bet. IR shingles will last longer than non-impact resistant shingles, such as 3-tab/strip shingles, since they’re designed to withstand high-winds and hail.
If you are local and are in need of Colorado roofing shingles services, get in touch with us! We can help you decide which type of roofing shingles are right for you. We install and repair roofs in Greeley, Loveland, Fort Collins, Longmont, Denver, and surrounding areas. We offer free roofing consultations and estimates. All our work is backed by our 5-year workmanship guarantee. We have over 30 years roofing experience, offer competitive pricing, are fully licensed and insured, and are a Preferred Contractor of Owens Corning, Tamko, and CertainTeed.