Best Asphalt Shingle Brands On The Market Today
What the best brands currently on the market?
There are 7 major asphalt shingle manufactures in the United States. In a general order from the most market share to least market share:
- GAF
- Owens Corning
- CertainTeed
- IKO
- TAMKO
- Atlas
- Malarkey
When it is time to install a new roof, the contractor that you choose to work with will likely install one of these products exclusively. Some contractors install with an option of 2-3 but will recommend one as the "best". Navigating these decisions can be challenging, because the suggestions of contractors may not always have your best interest in mind. While we aren't going to openly bash any brand in particular, we see it all too often, contractors may be pushing the absolute cheapest option, often times for a much higher than average price.
From our experience in the field, GAF, Owens Corning, Malarkey, and a few limited selections from CertainTeed (only from the designer lines) make the highest quality asphalt shingle products currently on the market. At DTE Roofing, we can install any product a homeowner chooses, but these are the brands we generally recommend for most homeowners situations. However there are exceptions, and it should be known that there are what we would consider "good" and "bad" shingles made by almost every brand.
We hope that after reading this post, homeowners will be educated and able to protect themselves from contractors pushing specific options on them, claiming them to be the best.
Here's some detailed information about each manufacturer from our experience.
GAF:
This is the company that sells the most roofing products in all of North America. About 1 in every 4 homes are protected by GAF roofing products. GAF's Flagship shingle, Timberline HDZ, is the most commonly used by contractors certified by GAF. Timberline HDZ is a great option for most homeowners and offers significant value for the price. GAF offers several lines of products that are considered upgrades from their standard lines, including the thicker Timberline UHDZ, the class 4 impact resistant Timberline AS-2, and several designer shingle options such as Slateline, Camelot II, and Grand Sequoia. Any of these are excellent options for homeowners who don't mind investing a little extra money into a slightly more durable, or aesthetically pleasing look. The only area you might want to be careful with a contractor pushing GAF products, is if they are pushing the "builder grade" options from GAF. This would be their Royal Sovereign (3 Tab) and Natural Shadow, product lines. We never recommend installing the old 3 tab style shingles, and almost nobody does anymore thankfully. Many of the old 3 tab shingles are having production shutdown by manufacturers and switching focus to the newer and superior dimensional/architectural shingles. Outside of a desire for the darkest looking shingle absolutely possible in the market (Natural Shadow in the color Charcoal) if you have a contractor trying to sell you Royal Sovereign or Natural Shadow, you might want to consider another contractor.
GAF tends to seal down really well.
Owens Corning:
OC is another one of the biggest producers of roofing products in the US. Many people are familiar with the pink panther themed brand from their prominence and advertising in the finished basement/insulation business. OC has a great flagship offering similar in quality to GAF Timberline HDZ. This is called Owens Corning Duration. The interesting advantage to duration is the industry exclusive/patented fabric reinforced nailing strip. This strip helps to prevent shingles from tearing off the roof in high winds. Among some other great offerings are the OC Duration Flex series, which is their class 4 impact resistance shingle. There is also the Duration Cool series, which flaunt solar reflecting granules for better home efficiency. Owens Corning does have a few options when it comes to designer shingles, but the production of these is often halted, and they become unavailable for long periods of time. GAF and CertainTeed more or less dominate the designer shingle market. Keep an eye out for contractors pushing Owens Corning "Oakridge" and "Supreme" (3 tab) products. These are on the lower end of quality/function, and may be the preferred lines for contractors looking to save a quick buck.
Owens Corning Duration shingles tend to seal down very well.
CertainTeed:
CertainTeed is a well-known brand in the roofing industry, offering a range of asphalt shingle products to suit different needs and preferences. Their flagship product, the CertainTeed Landmark series, is a popular choice among homeowners and contractors alike. With a wide array of colors and styles available, Landmark shingles offer both durability and aesthetic appeal.
One of the standout features of CertainTeed shingles is their WeatherGuard technology, which helps to protect against the elements and extend the life of the roof. Additionally, CertainTeed offers a variety of specialty shingles, including the Landmark PRO series, which features enhanced performance and durability.
While CertainTeed is known for producing high-quality shingles, it's important for homeowners to be aware that not all of their product lines offer the same level of quality. Contractors may try to push lower-end options like the CertainTeed XT 25 or CT 20, which may not provide the same level of protection and longevity as their premium offerings.
When choosing a CertainTeed shingle for your roof, it's important to work with a reputable contractor who can help you select the right product for your specific needs and budget. By doing your research and asking the right questions, you can ensure that you're getting the best possible value for your investment in a new roof.
From our experience in the field, CertainTeed Landmark and a handful of other CT products have a tendency to delaminate, fall apart when attempting repairs, lose their granules prematurely, and generally speaking don't seal down very well.
IKO:
IKO is another major player in the asphalt shingle market, offering a range of products to suit different budgets and preferences. Their Cambridge series is one of their most popular offerings, known for its affordability.
They also have a Dynasty Line of shingles that have an ArmourZone technology, which provides enhanced wind resistance and helps to prevent shingle blow-off. This is a copy of Owens Corning's patented Sure Nail Strip, and because of the existing patent, IKO has to put this reinforcement on the backside of their shingle, limiting the true effectiveness of this addition.
IKO also offers a designer shingle, Royal Estate. This is a good option for homeowners who may have an old roof with the extinct product made by ELK Corp called Capstone, and want to preserve the unique visual appeal.
While IKO shingles are generally considered to be of good quality, some contractors may try to push lower-end options like the Marathon or Cambridge series. Homeowners should be wary of these lower-quality options, as they may not provide the same level of protection and longevity as IKO's premium offerings.
From our experience in the field, IKO shingles have issues staying attached to the roof after 7-10 years. The seal strips do not seem to remain adhered for very long.
IKO also is the brand that works with large roofing companies on private label brand deals. Able Roofing, Erie, Menards, and many other large companies that tout their own "proprietary shingles", simply use IKO's shingle lines (It's the Cambridge line). So if you are buying Erie's "Premium Shingle", you are simply buying an IKO shingle with the different logo on the bundle.
TAMKO:
TAMKO is another well-known name in the roofing industry, offering a range of asphalt shingle products to suit different needs and preferences. TAMKO has long held the lions share of new construction business.
Their Heritage series is one of their most popular offerings, known for its durability and affordability.
While TAMKO shingles are generally considered to be of good quality, some contractors may try to push lower-end options like the Elite Glass-Seal series. Homeowners should be wary of these lower-quality options, as they may not provide the same level of protection and longevity as TAMKO's premium offerings.
From our experience in the field, TAMKO shingles have a VERY difficult time staying sealed down. Virtually every TAMKO roof we have inspected over 10 years old is almost completely unsealed. When performing repairs on TAMKO shingles it often joked about not needing a prybar because none of them are sealed.
ATLAS:
Atlas is a major manufacturer of asphalt shingles, offering a range of products to suit different needs and preferences. Their Pinnacle series is one of their most popular offerings.
One of the key features of Atlas shingles is their Scotchgard Protector, which helps to prevent algae growth and staining for a cleaner, more attractive roof. Additionally, Atlas offers a range of specialty shingles, including the StormMaster series, which features enhanced wind and impact resistance for added peace of mind.
While Atlas shingles are generally considered to be of good quality, some contractors may try to push lower-end options like the GlassMaster/Castlebrook series. Homeowners should be wary of these lower-quality options, as they may not provide the same level of protection and longevity as Atlas's premium offerings.
From our experience in the field, ATLAS makes a quality shingle. We have a limited amount of real world observation of this product and how it performs over time because of its somewhat limited use in our area outside of the past few recent years.
MALARKEY:
Malarkey is a unique manufacturer of asphalt shingles, offering a range of products to suit different needs and preferences. Their Legacy series is one of their most popular offerings, known for its durability and performance. Malarkey shingles are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and come in a variety of colors and styles to complement any home.
One of the standout features of Malarkey shingles is their Nexgen polymer modified asphalt technology, which provides enhanced flexibility and weather resistance. Additionally, Malarkey offers a range of specialty shingles, including the Windsor series, which features a unique architectural design for added curb appeal.
Malarkey shingles are generally considered to be of high quality.
From our limited first hand experience with this product, the science behind it puts this brand near the top of our list of best shingles on the market. The popularity of this brand is largely associated with the high impact resistance achieved by their use of recycled tires to modify the asphalt, but has yet to really take off in many parts of the country.
We hope you found this information insightful, especially if you are currently on the market for a new roof and possibly comparing different estimates. If you'd like to talk to us about helping on your project, reach out to us at 614-971-6028, to schedule an assessment.
