3-TAB VS ARCHITECTURAL

3-TAB SHINGLE: is the classic shingle a builder would have put on your house 10 years ago. It is made of one layer (same thickness throughout). The base of this shingle can also be composed of either fiberglass or organic materials with granules over the base. The warranty for this type of shingle varies mostly between 20 and 30 years

Advantages: low-cost shingle, rather simple to work with.

Disadvantages: less wind resistant, doesn’t hide roof defects as well.

Comparable shingles: Certainteed XT25, GAF/Elk Sovereign, IKO Marathon, IKO Aristocrat, BP Rampart, BP Yukon

ARCHITECTURAL: is a newer shingle on the market. It has a dimensional appearance. It is made of two layers of shingles and is much heavier than the classic 3-tab. The base of this shingle can also be composed of either fiberglass or organic materials with granules over the base although the majority of them are now made of fiberglass. The warranty for this type of shingle is typically between 25 years and 40 years but is also offered in lifetime warranties.

Advantages: looks great on roof, very good wind resistance, hides most roof defects well, easier to install, longer warranties.

Disadvantages: more costly then the classic shingle, harder to perform simple repairs.

Comparable shingles: Certainteed, Landmark Lifetime, GAF/Elk Timberline, IKO Cambridge, IKO Roofshake, BP Everest

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIBERGLASS AND ORGANIC SHINGLES

There are many manufacturers and types of shingles in the market today. We will try to clarify the options for you. Essentially, there are two main types of shingles: 3-Tab regular shingles and Architectural. The base material can either be fiberglass or organic. The organic type is in general made from felt and saturated with asphalt which makes them waterproof. The top coating consists of a coating of adhesive asphalt with ceramic granules embedded into them. The granules contain some elements of copper or tin which helps to prevent moss from growing on the roof. Organic shingles are produced with 40% more asphalt per 100 square feet than fiberglass shingles making them heavier and provide greater durability and blow off resistance. Shingles are always judged taking into account their weight per square foot. There have been several issues with organic shingles and most manufacturers have discontinued them.

Fiberglass shingles are manufactured into shape using a glass fibre reinforcing mat which is coated with asphalt containing mineral fillers. The fiberglass mat isn’t the reason the shingle remains watertight and is instead used for reinforcement. This is accomplished using a wet laid fiberglass mat which is bonded with urea-formaldehyde resin. The waterproofing properties are gained through the use of asphalt in the manufacturing process.

OUR PRODUCTS

Rancourt Roofing offers you a wide variety of quality products. Here are the shingle manufacturers we recommend.