3-Tab Roof Shingles vs. Architectural Roof Shingles
Roofing shingles come in many shapes and sizes. Aside from varying styles, colors, and materials, two of the most popular roofing options are 3-tab shingles and architectural shingles.
Despite looking almost identical in color and shape, these shingle options have a number of differences between them.
If you keep reading, we’ll make sure to tell you all the differences between architectural shingles vs. 3-tab shingles.
The Difference Between 3-Tab and Architectural Shingles
The main difference between 3-tab roof shingles vs architectural roof shingles is in their design.
If you’re looking to put shingles on a shed or other smaller project that doesn’t need as much protection, 3-tab shingles work perfectly. This is because 3-tab shingles are thinner, slimmer, and lighter. Because of this, they are usually more fragile, which is why they cost less.
However, when it comes to style, 3-tab shingles are much more limited. They appear flat and have a more uniform appearance, whereas architectural shingles create a dimensional, layered look. In addition, architectural shingles can be styled to look like a wide variety of different materials such as slate, stone, and cedar shakes, while 3-tab shingles cannot. Because of this stylistic difference, architectural shingles are preferred across the board when choosing an aesthetic design or appearance for the roof of a home.
Durability Differences
3-tab shingles are more fragile than architectural shingles because they aren’t as thick or wide. They are typically rated to withstand winds of up to 60 miles per hour, whereas architectural shingles are often able to withstand winds ranging from 80-120 miles per hour. Architectural shingles also have a big advantage when it comes to impact resistance.
Again, relating to the thickness of the shingles, architectural shingles can withstand more force from things, such as hail, when compared to their 3-tab counterparts. 3-tab shingles typically have a class 3 impact resistance rating in comparison to the class 4 impact rating of architectural shingles. 3-tab shingles also do not have as high of a fire rating as architectural shingles.
Because of the overall increased durability of architectural roof shingles, they also have a much longer lifespan as well. 3-tab shingles have a life expectancy of anywhere from 7-10 years when exposed to harsh conditions. They also have a slit that water can seep into, weakening and degrading the strength of your roof, unseen, until it’s too late. Without exposure to such harsh weather conditions, 3-tab shingles will last 12-15 years at best.
The lifespan of architectural shingles is much longer due to their increased resistance to outside elements like wind, snow, rain, hail, and heat. When exposed to harsh weather conditions, the lifespan of the average architectural shingle roof is anywhere from 18-20 years. Without exposure to such conditions, however, these types of shingles can easily last up to a whopping 30 years.
One area in which 3-tab roof shingles vs architectural shingles are superior is in the installation process. Installing 3-tab shingles is a bit easier because they are thinner and come in sheets of three. They can be nailed down relatively quickly whereas architectural shingles take a bit more care and time to install.
Cost, Style, and Warranty
Deciding between 3 tab-roof shingles vs architectural shingles is also a matter of warranty, cost, and style.
Cost
3-tab roof shingles are less expensive because they are made with thinner material, making them lighter with limited qualities of durability compared to architectural shingles. However, although 3-tab roof shingles are less expensive, it’s important to remember that these shingles need replacements much sooner than architectural roof shingles. In other words, by choosing 3-tab roof shingles, you may, eventually, have an overall higher cost compared to that of architectural shingles.
Style
When it comes to style, both types of shingles have an equal variety of colors to select from—though there is still more variety when it comes to architectural shingles.
Architectural shingles can be made to look like different materials—including cedar shake, stone, slate, clay, and more—which often gives them an overall edge when it comes to stylistic performance. In addition, architectural shingles have a layered look that adds depth and complexity to the roof compared to that of the flat-like appearance of the 3-tab shingles.
Warranty
The warranties can also vary when it comes to architectural roof shingles vs 3-tab.
On average, the average warranty of 3-tab shingles is about 25-30 years. In contrast, architectural shingles typically have a warranty of 50 years. (In fact, some architectural shingles even have lifetime warranties.)
3-Tab Roof Shingles vs. Architectural Roof Shingles: Which Type of Shingles Is The Best?
When it comes to smaller sheds and barns, 3-tab shingles are the preferred choice because they are cheaper and easier to install, but overall, architectural shingles are the far superior shingles to add to a home. They come with stylistic variety, higher durability, better warranties, and less required maintenance, which makes them the ideal choice for architectural shingles on any home.