YOUR GUIDE TO CHOOSING AN ASPHALT SHINGLE

If you are a consumer looking for the best asphalt shingle then you have come to the right place. 

This article is intended to break down the features of asphalt laminated shingles produced by the major brands in the United States. There are so many styles of shingles to choose from and everybody seems to be promising the world. We are going to lay all of them out on the table, show you what they have to offer, and then you can decide what is best for your roofing project. We will cover the three basic shingle styles from each manufacturer which include 3 tab, architectural laminates and key-cut or tri-laminate roofing shingles.

THE KEY FACTORS FOR EVERY SHINGLE

The typical factors that are important to a homeowner when choosing a roofing shingle are:  price points, true life expectancy, wind ratings (rated in mph), and color selection. These are all extremely important issues, but I would consider them surface issues. There are additional areas of a roofing shingle that play into its performance, longevity and price. Some of those factors are: how the shingle is made, is it an AR (algae resistant) rated shingle, the weight of the material, how wide is the nailing strip, pitch of the roof the product is installed on, what type of warranty does the shingle carry and what type of wind rating does it carry. When you purchase a new roof you want a shingle that is going to be aesthetically appealing on your home but will also perform well in the type of weather your particular city or region experiences.

GAF ROOFING SHINGLES

GAF roofing shingles has long been the best selling and performing roofing material in the industry. A few of their awards include the Womens Choice and Contractors Choice awards.   What distinguished GAF is the advanced mat technology the released in 2011 which was accompanied by their new 50 year limited lifetime warranties. They ‘broke the sound barrier” so to speak with their new shingle mat and the rest of the industry was forced to follow. GAF remains to be the only roofing manufacturer that has made in any changes to their shingle justifying the stature of the warranty they offer.

GAF SHINGLE LINE UP

Royal Sovereign 3 Tab Shingles                   
25 year limited warranty/3 years non-prorated
60 mph limited wind warranty
Class A fire rating
3 bundles per square
225 lbs per square
True roof life 8-15 years w/ maintenance

Timberline HD Architectural Laminate Shingles
50 year limited lifetime warranty/10 years non-prorated
110 mph wind rating; 130 mph w/ 6 nails
Class A fire rating
3 bundles per square
210 lbs per square w/ new advance technology fiberglass mat
True roof life 17-25 years w/ maintenance

Grand Canyon Heavyweight Key-Cut Shingles
50 year limited lifetime warranty/10 years non-prorated
110 mph wind rating; 130 mph available
Class A fire rating
5 bundles per square
450 lbs per square w/ new advance technology fiberglass mat
True roof life 25-35 years w/ maintenance

CERTAINTEED ROOFING SHINGLES

CertainTeed is another industry leading brand name among roofing products. They are predominantly recognized for the Presidential and Presidential TL series. In fact most HOA’s (home owners associations) list the Presidential shingles as their first choice. Like GAF, they also offer great upgraded warranties and systems that protect consumers.

CERTAINTEED SHINGLE LINE UP

CT 20 3 Tab Shingles
20 year limited lifetime warranty/3 years non-prorated
60 mph wind rating
Class A fire rating
3 bundles per square
196 lbs per square w
True roof life 8-15 years w/ maintenance

Landmark Architectural Laminate Shingles 
50 year limited lifetime warranty/10 years non-prorated
110 mph wind rating. 130 mph w/ 6 nails
Class A fire rating
3 bundles per square
240 lbs per square w
True roof life 17-25 years w/ maintenance

Presidential TL Tri-Laminate Shingles 
50 year limited lifetime warranty/10 years non-prorated
110 mph wind rating; 130 mph available
Class A fire rating
5 bundles per square
480 lbs per square w/ new advance technology fiberglass mat
True roof life 25-40 years w/ maintenance

OWENS CORNING ROOFING SHINGLES

Owens Corning is a quality roofing shingle and so much more. They specialize in fiberglass products which is what makes up the core of every asphalt laminated shingle. Their Surenail Technology is a big hit with contractors and helps to ensure your roof is fastened well and withstands high winds.  They are well known for their insulation as well and branded with the famous Pink Panther which Im sure you have seen. Owens corning was founded in 1938 and has been a fortune 500 company for 59 years.

OWENS CORNING SHINGLE LINE UP

Supreme 3 Tab Shingles
25 year limited lifetime/5 years non-prorated warranty
60 mph wind rating
Class A fire rating
3 bundles per square
180 lbs per square w
True roof life 8-15 years w/ maintenance

Duration Architectural Laminate Shingles 
50 year limited lifetime warranty/10 years non-prorated
110 mph wind rating
Class A fire rating
4 bundles per square
260 lbs per square w
True roof life 17-25 years w/ maintenance

Woodmoor Heavyweight Shingles

50 year limited lifetime warranty/10 years non-prorated

110 mph wind rating; 130 mph available

Class A fire rating

6 bundles per square

450 lbs per square w/ new advance technology fiberglass mat

True roof life 25-40 years w/ maintenance

• Barfield Contracting uses GAF, CertainTeed and Owens Corning Products

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