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Dan Simms is a contributing writer at USA TODAY Homefront specializing in home repair, renovation and renewable energy. While working as a property manager for one of the largest real estate management firms in New York, Dan worked alongside contractors and renovation specialists to prepare homes for sale. He is an avid DIYer and has completed a shed construction and a bathroom renovation in his own home and investment properties. He lives on Long Island, New York. Reach out to him on LinkedIn.
Architectural asphalt shingles are best for most homeowners, effectively balancing longevity and cost.
Consider a roof shingle’s resistance to wind, hail and fire within the context of your local weather.
Your roof’s solar reflectance and thermal emittance ratings impact your heating and cooling bills.
Asphalt roofs are less expensive than most, which is a big reason why they’re the most common roof type. “Other than a cobb and turf roof, it’s the most cost-effective way to keep the elements out of your home. Not only does it offer affordability, but it also comes in a variety of textures, styles and shingle colors too,” said Korey Gregory, superintendent of ASAP Restoration, a home improvement and renovation company in Tempe, Arizona.
The best type of roof shingle is usually architectural shingles. “Architectural asphalt shingles [provide] an optimal balance of performance [and] longevity,” said Daniel Cabrera, a home renovation specialist with 15 years of experience and owner of Sell My House Fast in San Antonio, Texas. “In general, they will last longer than their three-tab relatives, and they’re a whole lot more attractive in appearance.”
A new asphalt roof can cost $5,000—$10,000.
A metal roof replacement ranges from $7,000 up to $70,000.
Clay tile and slate roofs can cost between $55,200 and $59,800.
However, the best roof shingle for you depends on several factors. These include the intensity of weather the material will be exposed to, the level of necessary insulation for the local climate and your budget.
Knowing the difference between the types of asphalt shingles can help you set an accurate budget for your roofing project and set yourself up for success when discussing your options with a contractor.
There are four types of asphalt roof shingles, each of which varies in price, energy efficiency, curb appeal and life span:
Three-tab roof shingles lay completely flat on your roof. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (DOA), these shingles have the shortest life span — lasting from 10 to 25 years.
Asphalt three-tab shingles also won’t stand up to extreme weather as well as performance shingles, but they are a cost-effective option that provides adequate protection for homes in many areas.
Architectural, or dimensional, roof shingles have dimensional variation, so some shingles in a row sit higher than others. They are more expensive than three-tab shingles, but they last longer, usually between 20 and 30 years.
Architectural shingles or “laminated shingles” are thicker and more durable than three-tab shingles, so they stand up better to impact. However, they’re not as reliable in strong winds. “Laminated architectural shingles usually come with a longer warranty than normal asphalt shingles, but they do so at [the] cost of wind speed durability,” explained Gregory. “Typically, architectural shingles begin to fail at wind speeds above 70 mph depending on how well secured they are.”
Luxury roof shingles — also called designer shingles — are made with high-quality materials and are more expensive than three-tab and architectural shingles, but they add the most to a home’s curb appeal. “Luxury asphalt shingles intended to look like natural slates or cedar shake roofs […] are thicker, give better aesthetics and are more durable and long-lived than their counterparts,” explained Cabrera.
High-end luxury or premium shingles last 25 to 40 years, so the higher cost could pay for itself over time since you won’t need a roof replacement as soon as you would with three-tab or architectural roofing. Luxury shingles typically outperform these two other options in terms of weather resistance, although they aren’t as durable as performance shingles.
Performance roof shingles can add about 50% to your roof installation cost, but they’re designed specifically to withstand hail damage or strong winds. They come in four classes, with Class 4 roof shingles providing the best protection from impact and wind.
Architectural shingles are the most common option in the U.S. and typically deliver the best value. They cost more than three-tab shingles but less than luxury and performance options. They can also last 30 years, three times as long as some three-tab shingle roofs. They provide a good balance between upfront cost and longevity.
“If your forever home needs a new roof, it might be a better option to choose architectural shingles over normal asphalt ones,” said Gregory. “Most homes would do well to choose laminated architectural shingles over normal asphalt ones for a happy medium between price point, longevity and aesthetic options.”
There are exceptions to this, specifically if you live in an area where extreme weather is common. Architectural asphalt shingles are less durable than performance shingles and can take more damage from hail or wind-blown debris. Homes in areas where tropical storms, hurricanes, tornadoes or hail storms occur could benefit from performance roof shingles, despite the higher upfront cost.
Check your roof product’s warranty to determine its longevity. Some roofing systems come with a lifetime warranty, while others only have a limited warranty for damage. You’ll want to consider both the roofing manufacturer’s warranty and the warranty you get from your installer.
You have three roof shingle grades to consider when choosing the best material for your property: three-tab, architectural and luxury shingles. No specific roof grade is ideal in all situations, as shingles that are more resistant to impacts, wind and fire are more expensive and may unnecessarily drive up installation costs in locations with mild weather.
“There are a number of variables that would go into determining [which grade is best], but overall, you have solid options in cost, durability, weather protection and aesthetic options [with] three-tab shingles and architectural laminate shingles,” advised Gregory. “These two options will offer a high degree of weather protection, and they won’t break the bank to get the look your home needs.”
Local building codes may dictate which are required in your area, and a professional roofer can help you decide which type of roof shingle is best. There are also a few different roof grading metrics you can look at to determine which roofing product might suit your home best.
There are four classes to separate roofing shingles by their ability to stand up to impacts, including hail. Class 1 offers the lowest resistance, and Class 4 provides the highest. Class 4 might be overkill for homes that aren’t subjected to frequent hail storms, but it’s technically the best.
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) classifies a roof material’s wind resistance into three groups: Class D, Class G and Class H.
“Class D singles are resistant to uplift for speeds topping out at around 90 mph,” explained Gregory. “Class G shingles can resist wind speeds approaching 120 mph. And class H shingles can withstand high winds up to 150 mph.”
“There are variations in cost between these options,” continued Gregory. Class H roof shingles will perform best in severe windy conditions, but they might be unnecessarily expensive if your location isn’t prone to these kinds of weather conditions.
The fire rating of a roof shingle is determined by the testing standards of ASTM and Underwriters Laboratories (UL). There are three classes: A, B and C. Class A roofing is the most resistant to fire, followed by Class B and then Class C.
Architectural shingles are laminated, so they provide some added dimension to your roof and are much more attractive in appearance. Standard shingles, also called three-tab shingles, sit flat on your roof.
Architectural shingles are also more expensive and last longer, usually between 20 and 30 years, as opposed to the 10 to 25 years you’d get from standard three-tab shingles. However, they don’t stand up as well in heavy winds.
“For areas prone to hail, [the] top-rated roofing is impact-resistant asphalt shingles, which are classified in the category of Class 4, based on the UL 2218 standards,” said Cabrera. “They are meant to absorb high impacts, reducing the destruction [impact] would otherwise inflict compared to the less durable types.”
The important part of choosing a roof that will withstand hail damage is the impact resistance rating. Class 4 shingles are the most resistant to physical impacts, making them the best option for areas that experience extreme weather and hail storms. Some luxury roof shingles will also have a Class 4 designation.
The best shingles in the roofing industry for areas with high winds are usually performance shingles or luxury shingles that are made to resist uplift under heavy wind loads. The most resistant shingles will have a Class H designation for wind resistance from the ASTM.
Class H shingles can handle winds of up to 150 mph, meaning they should survive a Category 3 hurricane and might not take damage during a Category 4 hurricane, and they’re likely to remain on the roof even through an F2 tornado.
According to Energy Star, asphalt shingle roofs have two specifications that can help determine how energy-efficient they are: solar reflectance and thermal emittance.
Solar reflectance, also called albedo, refers to the shingle’s ability to reflect solar radiation. The higher the solar reflectance value, the less sunlight the shingle absorbs, which means the less heat the roof will transfer into your living space. Thermal emittance describes how readily the shingle releases heat to the surrounding air. The higher the value, the less the shingle will allow the sun to heat your home.
Unfortunately, efficiency standards vary for different climates and temperatures. In warmer weather, you want a high solar reflectance and a high thermal emittance to prevent the sun from adding heat to your home. In colder weather, you ideally want a low solar reflectance and a low thermal emittance so that the sun can naturally warm your home.
The most energy-efficient shingle for you depends on where you live and which season is most extreme. Speak with a roofing company and consult Energy Star’s list of roofing products to see solar reflectance and thermal emittance values for products from many different roofing shingle brands, such as GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, IKO and more.
It’s also important to define what “energy-efficient” means for you, as it could refer to providing more comfortable interior temperatures and reducing your heating and cooling bills, or it could mean choosing shingles that are more sustainably produced using recycled materials for fiberglass base mats, asphalt and granules.
“There are green shingles that have been made from recycled materials, and while they may not offer as much solar reflection or heat insulation capabilities as other shingles, they are keeping debris from a landfill, so you have to weigh your carbon footprint goals,” said Gregory. “[Cool shingles] have a higher albedo than regular asphalt shingles and, as a result, reflect more sunlight and require less energy in the home to keep it cool during the summertime.”
You can also opt for insulation composite shingles, which “are designed with a layer of insulation embedded in their design to prevent energy transfer from one layer to the next,” said Gregory.
Understanding which roof shingle will serve you best should be the first step to replacing your roof. Armed with that knowledge, you can now reach out to roofing companies in your area to discuss the brands and options they carry.
Ask about the type of shingles they install and recommend, the class designations for impact, wind and fire, and use the Cool Roof Rating Council’s database of roof products to check solar reflectance and thermal emittance values for the products.
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