People frequently ask about the best asphalt shingles. We don’t always give the same answer. Many factors must be considered before determining the best roof shingles brands for a specific roof. There is no single correct answer. People with different roofs in different environments have different concerns and expectations for their roofs. So, in this post, we’ll go over which brands make the best roofing shingles. So stay glued!
Considerations When Choosing the Best Roofing Shingles Brands
A few factors must be considered when determining the best shingles brands for your roof:
#1. Your budget:
Is it worthwhile to invest in high-performance shingles right now? Is it required? If not, the roof shingle brands listed below provide the best roofing shingles for every price range. The best-performing shingles from any shingle manufacturer will typically cost two to three times as much as their most affordable shingles.
Roofing labor costs typically range between 40% and 60% of the total cost of a roof installation, depending on the specifics of the job. The cost of labor in roofing is almost completely unaffected by the quality of the materials; cheaper shingles will not lower labor costs.
#2. Your current location:
Do you live in an area where severe hail is expected? Do you live near the coast or in another windy location? You’ll want top-quality asphalt shingles with high impact and wind resistance ratings.
#3. Your long-term goals:
Are you going to keep or sell your house? A new roof will undoubtedly increase your home’s resale value, but there’s more to it. Will a roof warranty that can be transferred be a selling point? You’ll want shingles from a company that provides a variety of warranty upgrades.
#4. Appearance:
You’ll want a roof that matches the style of your home. Some of these manufacturers provide shingles in colors that others do not. Shingle styles have proliferated in recent years, and available styles differ between brands. You should look through the shingles available on these companies’ websites to find the perfect color and style for your home.
#5. Roof difficulty:
Do you have hips, valleys, dormers, and skylights on your roof? The workmanship will be more crucial than usual. You’ll need a top-tier contractor who is already acquainted with the material. You should probably hire a contractor who has been certified by the manufacturer, and you should buy shingles from a company that has a contractor certification program.
What are the Best Roofing Shingles?
The best roofing shingles on the market will be from one of the top performance lines of one of the top shingle manufacturers.
A group of shingle manufacturers has a similar experience, high standards, quality products, and reputations. These businesses all compete on warranties, product lines, prices, and so on.
When one adopts a new shingle technology, the others typically follow suit. Whether it’s algae-resistant shingles, Energy Star-certified reflective shingles, or improved self-sealing strips, all of these companies stay current and constantly release new products that capitalize on cutting-edge developments.
This group of companies makes the best roofing shingles, and depending on the roof in question, we’d recommend shingles from any of them.
We compiled this list of the best roofing shingles brands to get you started in the right direction and to ensure you’re happy with the shingles you choose.
Why Do You Need the Best Roof Shingles?
#1. Roof efficiency:
The best roofing shingles outperform the competition. High winds, hailstorms, and constant sunlight…the best roof shingles can withstand whatever the elements throw at them. They will be less likely to develop leaks, which can severely damage your home and its contents. They are also less likely to develop other common roof problems that will cost you money to fix.
#2. Roof durability:
The best roofing shingles last longer, and in some cases much longer. They will be less likely to fail prematurely or unexpectedly, which means you won’t have to deal with the hassle of replacing your roof for a long time.
#3. Life-cycle cost:
In the long run, the best roof shingles will save you money. The total cost of ownership over the life of an asset is referred to as the whole-life cost (or life-cycle cost). Life-cycle cost analysis is a well-established asset management technique that typically demonstrates that using high-quality roofing materials reduces the total lifetime cost of a roof by reducing required maintenance and repairs while also extending the roof’s useful life.
#4. Insurance discounts:
The best roofing shingles can help you save money on your home insurance. Discounts for a new roof installed with top-rated performance shingles from a leading shingle manufacturer may help you save up to 20% on your homeowner’s insurance policy premiums.
#5. Resale value:
The best roof shingles will help you increase the value of your home and keep that value over time. When compared to other home improvement projects, your roof has a far greater impact on the resale value of your home.
What Do the Best Roof Shingles all Have in Common?
When someone tells you what they think the best roof shingles are, personal preference is often a factor. Personal experience with a company, a preference for a particular shingle style, and so on.
However, some facts about shingles are simply true and often quantifiable. You can use these criteria to help you choose the best roof shingles.
#1. Quality of production:
The best roof shingles are manufactured to high standards using industry best practices, resulting in a consistently satisfactory final product.
#2. Manufacturer reputation:
The best roofing shingles are produced by a reputable manufacturers. Years of producing quality products, treating customers well, honoring warranties, and being honest about what their products can and cannot do have resulted in a great reputation.
#3. Thickness:
The best roofing shingles are fairly thick. This holds for all types of roofing materials in general. If all other factors are equal, the best roofing material will be a thicker roofing material.
#4. Modified polymer:
Polymer-modified asphalt, also known as “rubberized” asphalt, is used in the best asphalt shingles. 3% to 12% of a polymer-modified shingle is a synthetic rubber, styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), blended into the asphalt during production, similar to modified bitumen roofing used on flat roofs.
#5. Impact resistance:
When discussing impact resistance, you’re referring to how well the shingles can withstand hail. The impact resistance ratings for shingles range from 1 to 4, with 4 being the most impact-resistant.
#6. Fire rating:
Asphalt shingles have fire resistance ratings ranging from Class A to Class C, with Class A having the highest fire resistance. The best roof shingles will have a fire-resistance rating of Class A.
#7. Wind protection:
This is another significant one. High winds cause a lot of shingle damage. In a windstorm, low-quality shingles will tear, crack, or even lose their tabs. If you live in an area with higher-than-average wind speeds, you should pay close attention to this. Regardless of who installs them, the best roof shingles will be covered for wind speeds of up to 110 mph right out of the box.
#8. Warranty:
The best roofing shingles brands will come with a ten-year non-prorated material warranty. The length of the warranty’s non-prorated period reveals how confident the manufacturer is that these shingles will perform and continue to perform.
Best Roofing Shingles Brands
The roofing material you choose for your replacement has a significant impact on the entire roofing project. It impacts the cost, installation, warranty options, and more. If you’re like most homeowners, you’ll go with the standard asphalt roof. But did you know that there are different types of asphalt shingles?
You’re not alone if you didn’t. There are numerous asphalt roofing shingles brands to choose from, but most homeowners wonder, “Who is the best?”
The truth is that it’s difficult to say one roof shingle brand is superior to another because they all produce excellent products. However, some stand out to roofing contractors and provide homeowners like you with more options for giving your roof the exact look you desire.
That is why we will list the best roofing shingles brands. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of the top roofing shingles brands and what they have to offer. The list below is in no particular order because they all make excellent products.
#1. Malarkey Roofing Products
Malarkey Roofing Products, founded in 1956, produces some of the best asphalt shingles in the industry. Also, Malarkey produces a wide range of shingles, including 3-tab shingles, architectural, dimensional, designer, luxury, and premium shingles.
One feature that distinguishes Malarkey from the competition is the use of “rubberized” asphalt in all of their shingles. Shingle companies in their premium options commonly use this higher grade of asphalt, but Malarkey is the only company that uses it in all of their products. Malarkey is one of the best companies on our list, despite being one of the smallest.
#2. IKO
IKO, founded in 1951, is one of the most successful shingle companies in the industry With an estimated value of more than $1.17 billion. They manufacture a wide range of shingles, including 3-tab, dimensional, architectural, designer, luxury, and premium shingles.
IKO’s long-term success is built on its ability to provide low-cost shingles without sacrificing quality.
#3. Owens Corning Inc.
Owens Corning, founded in 1938, is one of the oldest and most successful companies on our list, with an estimated value of more than $8 billion. They sell 3-tab shingles, architectural, dimensional, designer, premium, and luxury shingles, among other things.
One of the most appealing aspects of choosing Owens Corning shingles is their warranty program, which is one of the industry’s most generous. Owens Corning provides installers with a certification process that is linked to the warranty. If you use their product and an Owens Corning certified contractor, you can get a guarantee that lasts up to 50 years.
#4. TAMKO
TAMKO, which was founded in 1944, manufactures 3-tab, dimensional, architectural, premium, luxury, and designer shingles. Accessories, specialty underlayment, waterproofing products, and modified bitumen rolls are also produced.
TAMKO’s estimated value is $500 million, which is slightly lower than the other companies on this list. This is due to their emphasis on the middle and lower end of the market.
#5. Atlas Roofing Corporation
Atlas is one of our list’s younger companies, having been founded in 1982. In its 40 years on the market, they have established itself as a company that offers consumers a variety of options.
Atlas, like the other companies we’ve discussed, provides 3-tab shingles as well as architectural, dimensional, luxury, premium, and designer models. Atlas also offers a variety of colors, which helps them stand out from competitors.
#6. CertainTeed
CertainTeed is one of the oldest companies on our list, while Atlas is one of the youngest. Also, CertainTeed has been producing high-quality shingles for nearly 120 years, having been founded in 1904.
CertainTeed offers a certification program for contractors, which affects the warranty you receive on their products. These warranties range from five to ten years depending on the product.
CertainTeed has one of the best reputations in the roofing industry, with a market capitalization of more than $2 billion. Expect your roofing contractor to recommend CertainTeed, as many industry professionals believe they are the best manufacturer.
#7. GAF
GAF is the oldest company on our list (founded in 1886) and the most financially successful, with a market capitalization of $3 billion. In addition to 3-tab shingles, folks also offer dimensional, architectural, premium, luxury, and designer shingles.
GAF also manufactures roll roofing, slate roofing, ventilation products, solar roofing products, fiber cement siding, modified bitumen, and other roofing materials.
Because GAF shingles are less expensive than CertainTeed shingles, they are a popular choice. They have the most experience in the industry, so they must be doing something right.
What is the best type of shingles for roofing?
Asphalt Roofing Shingles
Asphalt shingles are the best choice for most houses because they are relatively lightweight, inexpensive, and simple to install. They are available in sheets that are layered on a roof to create the appearance of more expensive single shingles, such as cedar and slate, that are installed one shingle at a time.
What is the longest-lasting shingle roof?
Luxury (or premium) asphalt shingles are the most durable. Luxury asphalt shingles are thicker and larger than 3-tab or architectural shingles, making them more durable.
Which roof lasts the longest?
Concrete, clay, and slate tiles have a lifespan of 100 years or more. They are without a doubt the most durable materials, but they are also among the most expensive.
Which roof is the most durable?
The five most long-lasting roofing materials
- Luxury asphalt shingles.
- Cedar shake shingles.
- Standing seam metal roof.
- Composite (synthetic) shingles.
- Slate tiles.
What are the three types of shingles?
Strip, dimensional, and luxury shingles are the three major types of asphalt roofing shingle products available today.
What are the most expensive roof shingles?
By far the most expensive roofing material on the market is slate. It costs ten times more than the average asphalt shingle because it complements Gothic, Tudor, Chateau, and other expensively styled, historic-looking homes.
Conclusion
Choosing the right shingles is an investment in the long-term viability of your home. Inquire with your roofing contractor about the brands they recommend. You can also use the information provided here to get started. Many brands provide high-quality products, but which is best for you will depend on your location, design, needs, and budget.
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