If you're looking to replace the roof of your house, you may wonder what types of roof shingles you should or could use. You have no shortage of options—shingles come in different types, styles, and colors to fit any decor or construction style.
Here's a look at the different types of roof shingles available for the residential roofing of homes, so you can make an informed choice about the right shingles for your needs.
What Are Roof Shingles?
Roof shingles are just one element that make up a residential roofing system and act as a roof covering. The shingle is typically made of asphalt, fiberglass mat, and ceramic-coated granules. They're often installed in overlapping layers or courses. When installed as part of a complete roofing system, shingles help protect your home from water infiltration.
Shingles are generally rectangular in shape for a consistent look, although some are more irregular to appear handcrafted. Shingles are used as the primary water-shedding material, and roofing shingles and tiles may be made out of many different types of materials, including asphalt, metal, wood, clay, concrete, and slate.
Types of Roof Shingles and Materials
Looking for a new roof? Narrow down your options to the types of roof shingles and shingle materials that best match your style and needs.
Types of Asphalt Shingles
- 3-tab: A common type of asphalt shingle is called a 3-tab. These single-layer shingles, like GAF Royal Sovereign®, offer a uniform, flat appearance and are made of a fiberglass mat coated with asphalt. Each piece is cut into three equal sections or tabs—hence its name. This is the most economical roofing choice.
- Architectural: Architectural shingles, like GAF Timberline HDZ® and Timberline® AS II, are made of multiple layers of asphalt-coated fiberglass that are laminated together. They're also cut differently from the 3-tab option, giving the shingle a variation in style and a more three-dimensional look. They often come in a variety of colors, like Driftwood shingles and Birchwood shingles. When installed with the required combination of four qualifying GAF Accessories, GAF architectural shingles with LayerLock® Technology qualify for the WindProven™ Limited Wind Warranty*, the industry's first wind warranty with no maximum wind speed limitation. Architectural shingles are also sometimes referred to as dimensional shingles.
- Designer: These shingles are made just like other asphalt shingles, but they come in different colors and are designed to mimic the look of cedar, slate, or wood shake shingles.
Other Types of Roofing Materials
- Clay and Concrete: These are a popular choice for Spanish-style structures, mainly in the Southwest and Southeast. They're very heavy, so homeowners interested in these materials should address structural concerns with their contractor before installing this type of roof.
- Wood: Wood—generally cedar or redwood—can also be used as a shingle material due to its durability. Before installing this type of roof, make sure the product you select is treated with flame retardant and installed in a manner that meets fire rating requirements in your area. You can find different types of shingles, like GAF Woodland® and Grand Sequoia® AS, that give off a similar wood shake appearance but at a much lower cost and without the downsides of wood.
- Slate: Slate has a distinctive look that's often associated with high-end architecture and traditional Northeastern homes. Slate is beautiful and naturally durable. Before selecting this material, make sure your home can support the weight of this type of roof. Slate is also a very expensive roofing material.
- Metal: Metal shingles are a durable and visually appealing option for homeowners who want the strength of metal with the classic look of shingles. These types of roof shingles provide a sleek appearance with excellent fire resistance and durability, which makes them sought out for many different types of roofs as well as a variety of commercial and residential roofing applications. Premium options, like the GAF TimberSteel™ system, offer valuable warranties, like 15-year limited warranties for hail coverage against leaks and no max wind speed coverage for select system components.
- Solar: Solar shingles act as an integrated solution that combines solar energy production with an attractive roofing system. Unlike solar panels, they have a more low-profile appearance that tends to blend in better with your existing roofing material. Solar shingles, like GAF Energy Timberline Solar® ES 2, get installed directly next to Timberline® traditional asphalt shingles to create a stylish roof appearance that generates solar power and still provides the same weather protection expected from a traditional roof. High-quality solar shingles like these are nailable and installed the same way as other asphalt shingles and roof tile types, so no specialized equipment is required for installers, making the process faster and easier.
How to Choose the Right Roofing Material
The best way to choose the right roof materials is to consider the design and color of the roof that best complements your home. Remember to also consider local building and fire codes as well as your budget.
Any reputable roofing contractor can help you select the best types of roof materials for your specific situation. For example, if your area sees a lot of hail, you may want to opt for higher impact-resistant shingles, like the Timberline® AS II or the Timberline UHDZ® with UltraMat™. Installing new roof shingles isn't cheap, so you want to choose carefully.
Roof Warranties
It's important to understand the warranty that covers your roofing system. In addition to the many types of shingles available, there are many types of limited warranties, such as manufacturer's basic product warranties, contractor warranties, and enhanced manufacturer's warranties.
Warranty periods and coverage may vary depending on the type of products purchased as well as the roofing contractor who installed the roof. Always review limited warranty documents closely to understand the applicable coverage, as they can differ based on roof types.
To see how your home looks with a variety of different types of roof shingles, visit the interactive GAF Virtual Home Remodeler. You can upload a picture of your own home or choose a model home that's similar to yours.
*15-year WindProven™ Limited Wind Warranty on Timberline® Shingles with LayerLock® Technology requires the use of GAF starter strips, roof deck protection, ridge cap shingles, and leak barrier or attic ventilation. See GAF Roofing System Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions. Visit gaf.com/LRS for qualifying GAF products.
