If you&#;re replacing the roof of your home or business, you probably have many questions swimming around your mind. One primary concern is what type of roofing material to use.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit 3 tab fiberglass shingles.
If you&#;re exploring the option of asphalt shingles, you&#;ll want to know that there are two main choices: 3-tab shingles and architectural shingles.
What are the differences when comparing 3-tab vs. architectural shingles? Is one option inherently better than the other?
Let&#;s look at everything you need to know to help you make an informed decision.
What Are 3-Tab Shingles?
3-tab shingles get their name because of the pattern at the lower edge of the shingles with three notches. This shingle is relatively simple to install and is composed of lightweight and thin material.
You can find 3-tab shingles with a textured or flat facade and various shapes and sizes.
What Are Architectural Shingles?
Architectural shingles have a base mat that is thicker and sturdier than standard 3-tab shingles. Able to mimic the visual appearance of many other types of roofing while offering durability and versatility, this type of roofing has grown in popularity in recent years.
You might also hear architectural shingles called laminate, composite, or dimensional shingles.
3-Tab Vs. Architectural Shingles: What Is the Difference?
Both architectural shingles and 3-tab shingles are asphalt shingles, but they have many differences that set them apart. Before deciding which type of material to use for your next roofing project, you&#;ll want to consider how their performance varies across essential categories, such as water and wind resistance, longevity, and appearance.
1. Material Composition
3-tab shingles are composed of asphalt and adhesive with an outside layer of external granules and a fiberglass backing. Architectural shingles have a similar composition but are usually made with higher-quality materials, resulting in a thicker, sturdier, and more durable shingle than 3-tab shingles.
The adhesives used in architectural shingles are typically more robust than those used in 3-tab shingles. On top of that, the external granules are finer, more packed together, and of a larger quantity than 3-tab shingles; this makes for more durable and long-lasting shingles.
2. Appearance
You can buy 3-tab shingles in various colors; however, some people feel their appearance is flat and one-dimensional. On top of that, they can look more artificial and less natural than architectural shingles.
If you&#;re looking for shingles that look similar to tile or wood, architectural shingles are likely the way to go. Thanks to recent printing technologies, architectural shingles are available in a wider variety of colors than previously, offering options that look more natural than man-made.
Architectural shingles can be an excellent option for people interested in more expensive roofing materials such as cedar shakes or slate but who want to stay within a budget. Architectural shingles offer a more unique and visually appealing aesthetic if you plan to boost your home&#;s curb appeal.
While many people prefer the visual appearance of architectural shingles to 3-tab shingles, there is a traditional aesthetic to 3-tab shingles that can be well-suited to many homes.
3. Lifespan
Architectural shingles are made out of higher-quality materials and are composed more durably. When properly maintained, they can last for up to fifty years. It&#;s common for architectural shingles to come with a minimum 30-year warranty.
3-tab shingle roofs, on the other hand, typically last between ten and twenty-five years. Depending on several factors, including maintenance and climate, they can last for longer than twenty-five years. The average 3-tab shingles tend to come with warranties that offer twenty to twenty-five years of coverage.
4. Weight
3-tab shingles are lighter than architectural shingles, which are about 50% heavier than standard 3-tab options because they are thicker and heavier due to being composed of multiple material layers.
This extra weight makes architectural shingles more durable than 3-tab and longer lasting. On the other hand, 3-tab shingles are often faster and easier to install because they are lightweight; at the same time, this also means they can be easier to break during installation.
5. Wind Resistance
If you live in a climate that regularly deals with windy weather, you&#;ll want to know that 3-tab shingles aren&#;t nearly as good at dealing with the wind as architectural shingles; this has to do with their lightweight nature.
Architectural shingles are thicker and use stronger adhesives, meaning that they are better able to stand up to wind than 3-tab shingles. If you live in a windy area, you&#;ll want to consider that 3-tab shingles are typically rated up to 60 miles per hour winds, while architectural shingles are often rated up to 120 mile-per-hour winds.
If you have missing or damaged asphalt shingles due to wind or other circumstances, check out our recent post on how to repair missing roof shingles.
6. Water Resistance
Architectural shingles are more water resistant than 3-tab shingles; this is because they are laminated and coated in fine, tightly packed external granules. While 3-tab shingles have a water-resistant coating that deflects UV light, they aren&#;t nearly as waterproof as architectural shingles.
It&#;s worth noting, however, that the shape of architectural shingles, when installed on a low-sloped roof, can make them more vulnerable to issues from wind-blown rain.
7. Warranties
The warranties for 3-tab shingles don&#;t offer as many years of coverage because the lifespan of these shingles isn&#;t as long as architectural shingles. The average warranty for these is between twenty and twenty-five years.
Coverage for architectural shingles can be forty years or longer and almost always offer at least thirty years. You can even find some contractors that offer lifetime coverage for architectural shingle warranties.
If you&#;re curious to learn more about the warranties you can expect when repairing your roof; this guide goes over the three main types of roof warranties and what you need to know about each one.
8. Maintenance
There are a lot of differences between 3-tab and architectural shingles in several important performance areas, but one thing they have in common is that they both require maintenance.
To keep your roof in good shape for its full potential lifespan, you&#;ll need to perform regular maintenance on both types of asphalt shingles.
This regular maintenance includes (but isn&#;t limited to):
&#; Performing biannual roof inspections: You can save money in the long run if you inspect your roof in the spring and fall every year. You can hire professional roofing contractors to look for wind and water damage, cracking, staining, fading, and buildup.
&#; Clearing gutters and downspouts: If your gutters clog and overflow, they can leak water onto your siding or brick by getting under your asphalt shingles. When you don&#;t clear out your gutters regularly (typically recommended in the spring and fall), it can lead to roof leaks, rotting wood, and bubbling wall paint.
&#; Trimming tree branches and removing debris: It&#;s essential to make sure that tree branches are trimmed away from the sides of your home and your roof so they don&#;t fall on your home during storms. You&#;ll also want to clear debris from your roof bi-annually to help keep your gutters working and protect your shingle&#;s granules.
&#; Sealing the flashing: Flashing consists of thin metal strips that run along joints and edges of your roof and around penetrations like vents, pipes, and skylights; this helps to keep your roof watertight. Flashing is the weakest point of your roof, so you&#;ll want to have roofing contractors caulk any gaps found during the inspection using a waterproof sealant.
&#; Cleaning dirt and algae: Algae can reduce your roof&#;s ability to reflect sunlight and weaken your roof&#;s structural integrity. Because they are living organisms that will feed on the granules of limestone in your shingles, algae can actually lead to your shingles lifting and detaching. Additionally, you should also wash your asphalt roof twice a year to help keep it free of dirt.
&#; Monitoring humidity levels: As a part of your roof maintenance schedule, you&#;ll also want to monitor humidity levels in your attic. When you inspect your roof bi-annually, you&#;ll also want to make sure that your attic&#;s vents are free of insect hives, insulation, or rodent nests. It&#;s also crucial that vents aren&#;t blocked by items stored in the attic. When proper humidity levels are maintained in the attic, it can help prevent ice dams in cold climates as well as mold and mildew growth.
&#; Monitoring moss growth: If moss is allowed to thrive on your asphalt shingles (and many other types of roofing materials, for that matter), it can lead to leaks, exposed underlayment, and lifted shingles.
&#; Taking care of repairs as soon as possible: The best news after a roof inspection is that everything is in good working order. However, if you learn that your roof needs some work, you&#;ll want to schedule the repair work as soon as possible. The sooner you replace missing shingles, replace flashing, caulk your gutter, or perform whatever repairs are needed, the better.
Performing preventative maintenance can help increase the longevity of your roof and reduce the necessity of performing emergency roof repairs.
9. Cost
Considering that architectural shingles outperform 3-tab shingles in a number of areas, it likely doesn&#;t come as a surprise that they are also more expensive.
On average, architectural shingles are 20% to 50% more expensive than 3-tab shingles. Not only are they made of higher-quality materials and heavier duty, but they also take longer to install.
If you&#;re on a tight budget, 3-tab is the more affordable option. One square of shingles covers 100 square feet, and one square of 3-tab usually costs around $270-$340 per square foot. The cost of architectural shingles per square is more like $300 to $550.
When choosing a roofing material, you can&#;t simply go off the up-front price when considering how much the project will cost you. You&#;ll also want to consider lifespan, maintenance, and potential roof repairs.
A 3-tab shingle roof will cost less right off the bat, but it would likely mean a shorter lifespan, more maintenance, and a higher likelihood of performing repairs along the way. At the same time, 3-tab shingles tend to be cheaper to repair if they do experience storm damage.
Did you know that there are three different categories of roof repair? This guide goes over each category in detail to help you stay informed as a homeowner.
Which Type of Shingle Is Better?
3-tab shingles and architectural shingles are both solid options for residential roofs. While architectural shingles outperform 3-tab shingles in durability, lifespan, and a few other categories, 3-tab shingles might be the right choice for homeowners on a strict budget or rental property owners.
Architectural shingles are likely the better option if you&#;re looking for longevity, prioritizing aesthetics, or choosing a shingle type for a high-end home.
Are you interested in learning more about custom Stone Coated Roof wholesale? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
How Do They Compare to Other Roofing Materials?
Before you choose between 3-tab and architectural shingles, it&#;s worth remembering that there are a number of other roofing materials out there you might want to consider.
Some other common options include:
&#; Metal: metal is a popular material for residential and commercial buildings that is durable and long-lasting. It is typically more expensive than asphalt shingling and is best installed by experienced contractors. While metal roofs are durable and long-lasting, they can be noisy in rain storms and dented by falling objects or hail.
&#; Composite/synthetic: Also more expensive than asphalt shingles, composite shingles are very resistant to leaks and weather damage. Available in a variety of colors and styles, these shingles typically require professional installation.
&#; Cedar shake: Cedar shakes are a beautiful but high-maintenance option for roofing materials. Though they are resistant to leaks and weather damage, they need to be treated with a sealant regularly and replaced every ten to twenty years, depending on your climate type.
&#; Slate: Slate roofs are a beautiful and historic option that offers the highest durability of all of the materials on this list. These roofs can last 75 or even 100 years, but this longevity comes at the cost of also being a very expensive roofing material. On top of that, slate is incredibly heavy, so your home needs to be framed, retrofitted, or built to carry the weight in order for slate to be a viable option.
Each of these materials has its own pros and cons and range in lifespan, cost, required maintenance, and visual appeal. Be sure to check out our post on the top five roof materials for a roof replacement to learn more.
Are You Looking For Experienced Roofers in the Atlanta Area?
When it&#;s time to replace your roof, you want to know that the roofing professionals you hire are knowledgeable, hardworking, and trustworthy. At Colony Roofers, we pride ourselves on providing incredible customer service and high-quality, affordable roofs.
No matter what your roofing needs are in the Atlanta area, you can always trust Colony Roofers. If you&#;re interested in a quote or simply have a question, please feel free to contact us today.
When it comes to replacing your roof, it's important to understand the different options available and the potential consequences of choosing lower-quality materials. A new roof is a significant investment, and while it may be tempting to choose the cheapest option, it's important to consider the long-term effects on the durability and lifespan of your roof.
So it is vital to have a basic knowledge of the different shingle options available to save money both now and in the future, by getting the roof you need rather than just the cheapest option.
The first and most important point to remember is that not all roofs are built the same, not all shingles are made the same, and one cannot compare roofing contractor quotes and scopes of work without looking into all the differences first.
Just because you can get an inexpensive quote that complies with building code minimum standards and roofing material manufacturers' written guidelines doesn't mean it is the best one for your home.
Cheap materials and minimum installation methods may work well in milder climates but not in the Lower Mainland. We live in a region with climate extremes. So a cheap new roof is unlikely to last as long as expected and will likely start to leak much earlier than expected.
Short history of asphalt shingles
Asphalt shingles have been with us for over a century, first invented in in North America. Asphalt shingles have a base layer of fabric or paper coated with bitumen asphalt. Then slate and or ceramic granules are spread across the exposed side. Talc or sand is put on the back ( in some cases, more granules) to keep the shingles from sticking together. These granules protect the shingles from ultraviolet light, thus preventing quick and premature degradation, cracking, and aging. The granules form an important element of the architectural look and style of many asphalt shingles.
Back in the day, the base fabric in the shingle used to be constructed out of ground-up fabrics such as old army uniforms. These were "Duroid" shingles, a name-brand from Domtar. In the early s, a felt paper base replaced these and became the go-to reinforcement for shingles until the early s.
In the late s fibreglass matt started to replace paper as the shingle base in Western Canada. These new shingles improved paper-based shingles as they laid flatter and did not wrinkle or distort as much.
Amount of asphalt determines the longevity & quality of a shingle
It is important to know that the life of a shingle is directly related to the amount of asphalt in the shingle and its weight. It is the amount of asphalt that gives the shingle and your roof its waterproofness and longevity.
Three grades of shingles
Today, there are three basic categories of asphalt fibreglass laminated shingles -- entry-level or 3-tab traditional, medium grade or architectural, and designer or premium grade -- and one other unique category.
As you move from one grade to the next, the amount of asphalt increases as well as the life expectancy of the shingle.
Roofers calculate the quality of a particular shingle using a measurement called a "square." A "square" is the weight of shingles needed to roof a 10' by 10' area or 100 square feet.
Entry-level or traditional
Entry-level shingles today weigh roughly 204 to 225 lbs. per square, depending on brand and manufacturer. Only a few years ago, these shingles were 240 to 250 lbs per square. However, manufacturers reduced their quality by 20% either to reduce manufacturing costs or for some other reason.
As Absolute Roof Solutions has been installing asphalt fibreglass shingles in the Lower Mainland for almost 25 years, we have a pretty good idea of how long shingles ought to last.
In the past, we expected an entry-level shingle roof to last 25 years. But now with the lower weight, we expect a shorter roof life expectancy of only 17 to 21 years.
It only makes sense that if you reduce the asphalt by 20%, you will get a less durable shingle. It's lighter, so it's easier to be blown off the roof. The lack of weight also makes it harder for the shingles to adhere to their "self-sealing" strips of extra wind-seal asphalt. So in a challenging climate like the Lower Mainland, you will not get as much service life.
The lifespan also depends on proper roof ventilation and regular roof maintenance. You can't have trees hanging over it or the roof covered with moss and algae. Otherwise, the lifespan will be much shorter.
Medium-grade or architectural
As we move up, the medium-grade shingles weigh in at 240 to 250 lbs per square. These mid-range shingles not only have more asphalt but tend to have a better formulation and features. They are made better as a premium offering.
Why are these preferred here in the Lower Mainland?
Well, it's a 20% heavier shingle on average than the entry-level. So it's that much more wind resistant. And it's not just 20% more wind resistant, it's more like 50% more wind resistant because the heavier the shingle, the more it adheres to the self-sealing asphalt tabs the factory puts on. This means that this heavier weight shingle is more bonded to the base shingle making it harder to lift in the wind.
So, all in all, you have a more storm-resistant roof on your home when you install such a shingle.
And we have storms here in the Lower Mainland.
This is why we at Absolute Roof Solutions recommend medium-grade shingles or greater to most of our clients. We expect a medium-grade shingle roof, properly maintained and ventilated, to last for 25 to 28 years. This is the service life that many of our clients are looking for as their goal.
The additional cost for a mid-range shingle, depending on the size of the roof, is only a few thousand more dollars usually than the cheaper, less long-lived entry-level shingle.
There is no other investment necessary as everything else remains the same on the job. It's the same work and disposal costs to take off the old roof no matter what you're putting back on. It's the same cost for all the underlayment, all the vents, all the plumbing stacks and metal flashing, and the ridge capping. These are all fixed costs.
So going with a medium-grade shingle is a very worthwhile investment, getting 10 to 12 more years of life from your roof for a relatively small additional investment.
Premium or Designer
When we start talking about the 3-ply, heavy-weight premium grade shingles we are moving into much longer longevity and commensurate higher cost. These shingles weigh in at 450 lbs. per square.
These premium shingles are often used to replace cedar and tile roofs which have become extremely expensive. Because of their style and layering, they provide that street appeal and executive look. We expect them to last 38 to 60 years.
This luxury category of shingles comes with a slightly larger roof investment cost structure. Still, it can be well worth the additional investment to keep up the real estate value of the home by improving or maintaining the architectural style of the roof.
Typically, the mid-weight and the premium heavy-weight shingles include a granule formulation that includes a higher percentage of copper in the shingle granules. These formulations will better resist blue-green algae growth and roof staining.
Warranty does not guarantee shingle life
Now the major confusion for a homeowner in deciding about which category of shingle to go with is that all shingles today have a "limited lifetime" warranty.
Such a warranty often leads a homeowner to wrongly conclude that a cheap shingle will last as long as a higher quality shingle for the lifetime of the house and if it doesn't, a warranty will kick in.
This is often what a homeowner may think when presented with a quote for a new roof. Why not save money and go with the less expensive shingles if they have the same warranty as a higher-cost shingle? So there isn't any difference, right?
Wrong. This is not what "limited lifetime" means. The warranty has nothing to do with how long the shingles will last. Nothing. The amount of asphalt determines a shingle's life. The warranty is simply a quality pledge that the shingles have been made to a certain standard of manufacture. If the shingle fails and it is found the shingle was substandard in manufacture, then the warranty may kick in on a pro-rated basis. Remember, the warranty is a quality pledge, not a longevity pledge.
This is the trap that a homeowner can fall into and needs to avoid.
Impact resistant shingles
There is one other type of shingle to mention.
Shingle manufacturers are now producing a line of shingles called Glass or Impact Resistant that contain a polymer modifier additive to the asphalt. This is the same ingredient that is used for torch-on flat roofing membranes - styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) or styrene ethylene butadiene styrene (SEBS).
This additive makes the asphalt more rubber-like and allows the shingle granules to adhere strongly to the shingle, preventing granule loss from impacts such as hail. It is the granules that give the shingles their ultraviolet light protection as well as protection from drying out. It is granule loss that causes shingles to age prematurely.
SBS or SEBS shingles also don't just adhere to each other, they weld together once on the roof due to the nature of the additive. Winds can blow, but they stay right there, bonded together. This makes them the most wind-resistant type of shingle. This welding makes it difficult to repair a roof because the shingles are so strongly bonded together.
This shingle was initially manufactured because it was more flexible in cold weather, allowing roofers to install a roof in colder temperatures. It was discovered by accident that this type of shingle rebuffs impacts such as hail extremely well. In regions such as Calgary, roofs with SBS-modified shingles showed no apparent damage after a severe hail storm whereas roofs with other types of shingles required immediate replacement.
For the Lower Mainland, if we have a house sitting underneath some big trees, with lots of branches dropping down onto the roof, it's one of the first shingles we look at for a client. It's more durable when you may have an impact. Also, if the client is seeking long-term durability or wants the shingles installed mid-winter, or they are higher up with more snow loads or sliding snow and ice, we often consider these SBS-modified shingles to be an ideal choice for clients to consider.
Your decision on which to use
Which category of shingle is chosen is the investment decision for the homeowner to make. Having the facts is necessary so that an optimum shingle selection can be made.
Our roofing representatives can help with advice, pricing and options.
For more shingles roof sheetinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
If you have questions about your shingles or roof, just fill out our online form or give our office a call at (604) 263- to get a quote.