Types of asphalt shingles: the three families

The same recipe for all

A modern asphalt shingle has three ingredients. A fibreglass mat at its core gives it strength. Asphalt coats it and makes it waterproof. Coloured stone granules cover the top: they shield it from the sun and carry the colour.

From one family to another, what varies is the amount of material, the number of layers and the cut. These differences matter when choosing the covering for shingle roofing. None of them makes up for a poor installation.

From thinnest to thickest

Three-tab. This shingle has a single layer, slotted to form three equal tabs. The finished roof is flat and even. Thin and light, three-tab costs less to buy, holds up less well in wind and ages faster. It is still installed to repair a roof already covered with it, or on a secondary building.

Architectural. Also called laminated, it joins two layers bonded at the factory. Its irregular cut creates relief and shadows, and the roof looks thicker, less uniform. Its weight and stiffness help it stay in place when the wind pushes. Its texture hides small unevenness in the deck.

Premium. Thicker still, often in a large format, it is designed to recall slate or cedar shakes. This family also includes shingles designed to better withstand hail. The relief is pronounced and wind resistance generally better. Price and weight rise with thickness, and installation demands more care in the valleys and at the ridge. Premium makes sense on a roof that is clearly visible from the street.

Four checks before signing

The family settles only part of the question.

• The product line name. A manufacturer sells several lines in the same family. Without that name in writing, two prices cannot be compared.
• What the warranty covers. What it covers, how long it applies at full value, and the installation conditions it imposes.
• The matching parts. The starter strip, ridge caps, underlayment and eave membrane form a system. Some warranties require all of them to come from the same manufacturer.
• The roof's pitch. Each manufacturer sets a minimum slope. On a low-pitched slope, we follow special installation instructions or propose another roofing.

What Laval's Code says

Laval's Code de l'urbanisme (urban planning code) keeps a closed list of roofing materials. Asphalt shingles are on it, with no mention of families.

For a residence, the City requires no permit when the roofing is replaced with the same material, and requires one when the material is new. The City does not define same material. If a change of family leaves you in doubt, the Service de l'urbanisme (the City's urban planning department) can clear it up before the work.

Frequently asked questions