As the Sunshine State, Florida receives a lot of sunshine — but that’s not all Florida gets. It is one of the places that witness extreme weather conditions. The conditions here can change in days and sometimes in hours as well. A strong storm can land anytime, and it will be a matter of time before your asphalt roof shingles will be flying away.
This is why having an entire roofing system is the top priority for anyone who wants to protect their family and home from severe weather conditions. It stands up to wind, rain, and snow and prevents leaks and water damage to your floors and walls.
However, if your roof is older than 15 years or has been damaged by weather or leaks, you should consider replacing it with the best shingles. We’ve put together this guide to help you better understand what to look for when choosing asphalt roof shingles.
Understanding The Roof Shingles
If you ask the homeowners of Tampa, Florida, about the material they are using for their roof, the majority of them are likely to say ‘shingles.’ Why is it so?
Asphalt Shingles are the most popular shingles used for residential roofs. They are made from asphalt and fiberglass, along with granules that are strewn onto the surface of your roof mat. Although they don’t last as long as other shingles on the market, they are affordable and easy to install.
Types Of Asphalt Shingles That Are Available In The Market
There are many types of roofing shingles available in the market. However, they are differentiated in terms of their quality and durability. Therefore, they can be ranked from good shingles to the best.
- Three-Tab Shingles: These three-tab shingle roofs are some of the most traditional forms of shingle roofs on the market and for a good reason. They are visually appealing and affordable, making them perfect for homes with a more traditional aesthetic.
- Architectural: Architectural shingles are, without a doubt, the highest quality roofing products on the market. They’re made from a heavy fiberglass base. The mineral granules which can be coated in ceramic are also immersed in the refined asphalt. Since these shingles are high-quality, they tend to last for decades.
- Luxury Shingles: As the word suggests, these shingles are premium in nature, i.e., built from thick fibers that provide high durability and extra resistance to fire, wind, etc.
Why Is It Considered As One Of The Best Roof Shingles?
Asphalt shingles are the most popular choice for residential roofs in Florida, and it’s not hard to see why. Their affordability, durability, and ease of installation make them an excellent choice for homeowners.
Here are some of why they are one of the best roof shingles.
Tough
Asphalt Shingles are tough and durable. These are built to withstand intense weather conditions such as storms, heat, etc. These are also fire resistant.
Lasts longer
An asphalt shingle roof has a lifespan of 15-20 years. So if it’s installed and maintained correctly, you can get many years of use out of it — as much as 30 years, in some cases.
Curb Appeal
Not only are asphalt shingles visually pleasing, but they come in a wide range of colors to give your home a look that’s all you. Shingles come in many shapes – squares, rectangles, and even diamonds. They can be made to resemble clay tiles or slate, adding to their visual appeal. Looking up close at the shingles will reveal a textured pattern that looks almost like tiny scales.
Affordable
One of the primary reasons it is the choice of most homeowners residing in Tampa, Florida, is very affordable. Given the host of features, Asphalt roof shingles provide a good value for money.
Who Are Some Of The Best Asphalt Roof Shingles Manufacturers?
While thinking of roof replacement, you would also want to install the best asphalt roof shingles from a top-notch shingle manufacturer. But which manufacturer should you choose? Don’t worry, and we are here to help. Here is a list of some of the best asphalt roof shingles manufacturers that you can choose from.
#1 Atlas
The business of Atlas is based on three pillars. Quality, integrity, trust. Atlas is one of the leading shingle manufacturers in America. They have experience of over 35 years and still aim to provide their customers with highly innovative solutions to their roofing needs.
Atlas has a wide range of roofing as well as construction materials. Thus, it manufactures asphalt shingles that can meet the needs of any marketing segment.
The one aspect where Atlas shines is in the area of protection. Atlas shingles come with the safety of the Scotchgard Protector, a roofing protection technology from widely recognized conglomerate 3M, which helps protect the shingles from algae. The company also offers a 130 mph wind limited warranty.
Here are some of the best products offered:
- StormMaster Shake
- Pinnacle Pristine (Architectural Shingle)
- Legend
#2 GAF
GAF has been catering to people’s roofing needs since 1886. It is America’s largest manufacturer of the best roofing shingles. The manufacturing plants of GAF are spread across 34 locations, thus enabling it to cater to a large area.
Be it the classic 3-tab, designer, or architectural shingles, GAF offers you all.
GAF uses Time-Release Algae-Fighting Technology that helps protect your shingles from the discoloration caused by algae. It also offers StainGuard Plus protection in some of the products.
Here is one of the best roof shingles products from GAF:
- It is among the top-selling shingle roof material in America and helps give your home’s roof a classic, timeless look.
- GAF’s shingles are entitled to various technologies such as Layer Lock, StainGuard Plus, and a limited warranty.
- It is composed of Fiberglass construction material that provides high performance and durability.
- You can choose various colors for your shingles under GAF’s Harvest Blend Color Collection.
- Many warranties are also available with this type of shingle, such as WindProven™ limited warranty and StainGuard Plus limited warranty.
#3 CertainTeed
This ace manufacturing company was founded in 1904, then known as the General Roofing Manufacturing Company. The name CertainTeed has been derived from its slogan and mission, “Quality made certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed.”
Shingles manufactured by CertainTeed use multiple high-class technologies that they have developed through their expertise, such as:
- QuadraBond Technology
- StreakFighter®
- CertaSeal
- NailTrak®
Some of their best asphalt roof shingles products include:
These are high-quality shingles that offer you rugged protection along with improving the visual ability of your home. These shingles emulate the appearance of a wood shake, giving a classic appearance to your roof. At the same time, you get this look with the performance and the cost affordability of an asphalt shingle.
Here are some of the product features:
- Constructed from a dual layer of shingles
- Best in industry 4-point adhesive shingles
- Has achieved class A fire rating
- Comes in a variety of colors that you can choose from according to your preference.
#4 IKO
IKO was established in the year 1951 in Canada. Since then, it has only moved in the forward direction. They have now expanded and have their manufacturing plants in 96 locations, majorly in America and parts of Europe.
IKO offers Performance Shingles, Designer Shingles, Traditional Shingles, and of course, the traditional 3-Tab variant. They also offer certain world-class technologies such as ROOFViewer that help you visualize how the color you choose would look on your roof.
Their ROOF PRO contractors will help you provide exceptional service, extend your warranty, and work to ensure your customers return for further work.
Here are some of the top products:
These are designer shingles that give your home a premium feel. Colors such as Regal Stone are available. Apart from its great visual appearance, these shingles’ performance is suitable for home residential use. These shingles have a Class 4 Impact Resistance Rating. It also has a laminated adhesive.
These shingles are thick, are designed beautifully, and offer sturdy performance. These also carry a Class 4 Impact Resistance Rating and wind resistance of up to 130 kmph.
If you want to add a little something extra to your home or business, Royal Shingles are a perfect choice. These premium shingles have beautiful colors and a classy design. Their precise cuts give them a great look, while their durable material makes sure that they last a long time.
IKO Cambridge is one of the best architectural shingles in the market. Its premium-quality, straight-cut shingles are designed to mimic the wood shakes, giving you higher-quality shingles with a good look.
#5 TAMKO
TAMKO was established in 1944 and made rapid strides in the shingle industry for more than 75 years. TAMKO follows a continuous improvement program that has helped the company include more efficient models for manufacturing asphalt roof shingles.
Its product, Titan XT, has been regarded as one of the best roofing shingles. It has the following features:
- The shingle uses TAMKO’s own AnchorLock Technology. This helps provide extra anchoring for a larger area of Titan XT.
- Fastest installation of the shingles.
- A brilliant line-up of over 20 colors to choose from.
- Warranties such as wind protection and limited lifetime.
Some other asphalt shingle products include the likes of Heritage and Storm Fighter IR.
SouthShore Roofing & Exteriors Prefer The Best Asphalt Shingles
Before installing your roof, you need to select the material that will go on your roof.
The quality of the material you choose is of the utmost importance as it will decide the quality of your roof itself.
Our primary objective at SouthShore Roofing & Exteriors is to deliver you the best possible service relating to all your roofing needs. This is why we only provide the best asphalt roofing shingles from one of Atlas’s shingle manufacturers. In addition, we are Atlas Pro certified roofers, which means Atlas trains our technical crew.
Why ATLAS?
There are many reasons for this. However, the first and foremost reason is to provide you with the best and the most professional experience. Atlas is one of the leading suppliers in America. It aims for excellence and focuses on the goal of achieving customer satisfaction.
Training from Atlas gives our professionals experience to handle every situation. In addition, it enables us to provide you with world-class material and workforce. And last but certainly not least is Atlas’s warranties. By choosing Atlas, our customers get written warranties.
You can get lifetime limited and wind limited warranties.
If you also want help with any of the problems associated with roofing, be it installation, replacement, or repair, then we are here to help. Connect with us now at (813) 400-3329.
FAQs
Q1. How to choose the asphalt shingle color?
Asphalt shingles come in a variety of colors. The color you choose depends on factors such as the area you live in, your exterior color, and, most importantly, your personal preference. You can also use 3D tools to visualize the color of your roof.
Q2. How long do asphalt shingle roofs last?
Asphalt Shingles are known for their performance and long-lasting ability. An asphalt shingle roof can last for 15-25 years. However, this depends on various factors such as proper maintenance, selection of a quality contractor, material, etc.
Q3. How to install an asphalt shingle?
One of the reasons asphalt shingles are so popular is that they are easy to install. You can do this yourself as well. Take into account the area of your roof, remove your old shingles and start working from the bottom left of your roof. It is best to contact a professional roofing contractor for expert installation.
Q4. Are there different grades of asphalt shingles?
Yes, Shingles can be classified as per their quality or grade. The 3-Tab shingles are the most traditional and most affordable out of all the shingles. Up next comes the architectural shingles. These are thicker than their traditional counterparts and offer more durability. The best shingles are known as premium shingles. They are also called luxury asphalt roof shingles and provide the utmost protection and durability.
