Let’s Talk Shingles: Architectural vs. 3-Tab

No homeowner wants to spend money repairing or replacing their roof. Almost without exception, a new roof comes from an immediate need – without action damage will persist, both interior and exterior. 

But protecting your home from exterior elements starts with hiring the right home improvement contractor. At Burr Roofing, Siding, & Windows we pride ourselves on transparency with our clients while providing the right job for the right price. 

When it comes to roofing shingles, there are so many options that the “right job” may get lost in the shuffle. But don’t worry – Burr is here to clear some things up about your roofing system! Let’s discuss shingles, from ROI to aesthetic value, and beyond.

3-Tab Shingles

3-tab shingles are the most basic roofing shingles available. The typical 3-tab is a flat, 2-dimensional mat, made of fiberglass, that is coated in asphalt and covered in ceramic granules, creating different color blends. 

These shingles are low in quality compared to 3-dimensional architectural shingles and often end up being costly in the long run. 3-tab shingles will blow off your roof a lot sooner than other economical options. 

Surprisingly, 3-tab shingles are more complicated to install and have less holding power since the nails penetrate only one thickness of shingles, compared to the architectural shingles which have a double thickness or laminate at the nail line.

Architectural Shingles

An architectural shingle is a thick, heavy mat made of fiberglass, then coated on the underside with a special material, with the top layer covered in granules. 

Due to the three-dimensional nature of these shingles, manufacturers can create intricate color blends to complement any color pallet. If you plan on selling your home, architectural shingles are the best option on the market to increase curb appeal and overall home value, for many years to come.

Burr Roofing, Siding, & Windows is credited as a CertainTeed Silver Star Certified Contractor, meaning our crews adhere to the strictest workmanship requirements set by the manufacturer. 

We choose to work with CertainTeed because we believe in delivering the best quality products. CertainTeed is, by every measure, the premier manufacturer of exterior building materials and a winner of the Professional Remodelers Best in Class award. 

The way CertainTeed shingles are manufactured provides 4 or 5 layers of coverage over the entire shingle field. More material, when as well-constructed as CertainTeed, leads to better resistance to wind, impact, cupping, and cracking. 

CertainTeed has a 110MPH wind rating and a warranty that can be boosted to 130MPH with enhanced installation practices including extra nails, matching starter shingles, and caps. 

More so, they are Class A fire-rated and have ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) certification. It is no shock that homeowners who choose to replace their existing roof with CertainTeed shingles see an average ROI of 60%. 

Burr ensures that each of our clients receives the extended Sure Start Warranty, covering both labor and material costs.

Under this warranty feature, CertainTeed, at no charge, will pay to repair or replace, at its option, any shingles CertainTeed determines are defective during the SureStart period. Burr will provide you with all necessary warranty information at the end of your project, answering any questions you may have.