Best Roof Shingles: Brands, Things to Consider & More

Best Roof Shingles: Brands, Things to Consider & More

Handyman's World is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

If you are on the hunt for roofing shingles, then you’ve come to the right place. The simple reality is that there are plenty of brands out there that sell shingles and roofing products, but not all of them give you what you need. As such, we’re going to narrow down the selection to the seven best shingle brands out there.

Continue reading to figure out which of them is the best fit for your project.

7 Best Roof Shingles Brands

Here, we have what are by far the seven most popular roofing shingles brands available in North America, so let’s take a quick look at each of them.

Owens Corning

Owens CorningFirst, we have Owens Corning. This is an American company that was founded in 1935. It was first started by combining two major glasswork companies, Corning Glass Works and Owens Illinois, and began by making fiberglass composites. However, it was not long after that the company started creating a variety of roofing products, mainly shingles.

At this time, this manufacturer is one of the most popular producers of shingles in the United States. It also produces other insulation products and roofing materials. One defining feature of this brand is that many of its products are made out of recycled materials.

Overall, this is a very popular brand name, mainly because it sells products that feature a good mix of durability, functionality, and affordability. Although most would not consider this brand to be an absolute top-of-the-line brand, it’s still up there and it produces high-quality products that come at reasonable prices.

See how Owens Corning compares with: Atlas | CertainTeed | GAF | IKO | Malarkey | TAMKO

Product Line-Up

As far as architectural shingles are concerned, this brand features two main lineups, the Oakridge series, and the Duration series. The Duration series is by far the most popular, and there are eight different types of this shingle available.

These include the TruDefintion Duration, Duration Designer, Duration STORM, Duration MAX, Duration FLEX, Duration COOL, Duration COOL Plus, and Duration Premium Shingles. There are also quite a few shingle options available in the Oakridge series.

Colors

The shingles from both of these lineups come in a wide variety of colors. The Duration shingles come in nearly 50 different colors and the Oakridge shingles have about 14. One big benefit of this brand is the so-called SureNail technology that allows for great holding power and consistent installation. This also allows shingles to stay in one piece for longer.

Quality

Owens Corning shingles are across the board known for being quite durable and retaining their drains well, as well as for being wind, algae, fire, and impact resistant.

CertainTeed

CertainTeedCertainTeed is one of the oldest shingles manufacturers in the world. It’s been around since 1904, and at this time has over 60 different manufacturing facilities in both Canada and the United States. If you are willing to pay high prices for high-quality shingles, then this brand is probably right for you.

If you are looking for a brand name that is synonymous with high quality, then CertainTeed is certainly one of the best brands to consider. In fact, this is often regarded as being one of the premier roofing manufacturers in the world.

The reason for this is quite simple: the products from this brand name are very high quality and last for a very long time. One of the defining features of these shingles is that they are extremely heavy.

Most shingles weigh anywhere between 160 and 280 lbs per square, whereas CertainTeed shingles weigh anywhere between 250 and 480 lbs per square. This means that they are on average around twice as heavy as regular shingles. This, therefore, helps make them much more impact-resistant, wind resistant, and more.

See how CertainTeed compares with: Atlas |BP | GAF | IKO | Malarkey | Owens Corning | TAMKO

Product Line-Up

The product lineup from CertainTeed is absolutely massive as well. They have a variety of asphalt shingles, metal shingles, starter shingles, underlayments, and more. They also have a variety of 3-tab, shake, and slate shingles, and they come in all sorts of colors.

Some of the most popular shingles from this brand include the Grand Manor, the Carriage House, the Belmont, the Residential Shake, the Landmark, the Landmark Pro, the Landmark Premium, and the Landmark Solaris.

Colors

What is interesting to note is that most of the shingles are available in at least eight or nine different colors, with some being available in as many as 30 colors.

Quality

There is simply no denying the fact that CertainTeed shingles are some of the very best in the world. They have excellent fire resistance, great wind ratings, excellent algae resistance, and more. You really get what you pay for with this brand.

IKO

IKO ShinglesYet another popular brand name for shingles is IKO. This is a Canadian company that was founded in Calgary, AB, and it’s been around since 1951. What’s quite impressive is that this is a family-owned company, which has managed to grow to over 37 different manufacturing facilities in both North America and Europe.

Something that really stands out about IKO shingles is the fact that they are quite affordable. When it comes to cost-effective and budget-friendly brand names, IKO is at the very top of the list.

This is where you will get some of the most affordable shingles, starting at just $0.50 per square foot, which is quite affordable when compared to the minimum $4 per square foot that CertainTeed charges.

This is not to say that IKO shingles are in any way bad. However, they probably won’t stand up to the elements quite as well as some of the other options on this list.

See how IKO compares with: BP | CertainTeed | GAF | Malarkey | Owens Corning | Soprema | TAMKO

Product Line-Up

IKO does have a fairly decent lineup of shingles to choose from. These include 3-tab shingles, designer shingles, performance shingles, and architectural shingles. All of these also have anywhere between two and five options per category.

This means that the product lineup from IKO is fairly good, and they generally have something for everybody. For a budget brand name, the selection of products is quite good.

Colors

Most of the shingles from this brand are available in anywhere between two to five colors. The color selection here is not massive, although it should still be good enough for most people.

Quality

In terms of overall quality, measurements from IKO are certainly not the best in the world. They are more than good enough considering the extremely low price they come in at, but their quality just doesn’t compare to some of the much bigger names on the list.

Atlas

Atlas ShinglesWe then have Atlas, which is yet another relatively old American manufacturer of shingles and roofing products. It was first started in 1982, and since then has managed to grow to over 36 different production and manufacturing facilities in North America.

It does also have worldwide distribution, which means that these shingles can be found on most continents on the planet.

When it comes to molded products, shingles, insulation products, underlayments, and more, this is one of the best brands to consider. It doesn’t just do shingles as you can see. This brand is also known for producing fairly decent shingles and related products for reasonable prices.

It’s not seen as the very best in the world, but also not nearly as the worst. However, this brand is seen more as being budget-friendly than super high-quality. We personally think that with Atlas, you get a good mix of quality and affordability.

See how Atlas compares with: CertainTeed | GAF | Malarkey | Owens Corning | TAMKO

Product Line-Up

Atlas has a variety of products to choose from, including basic asphalt shingles, 3-tab shingles, specialty shingles, and architectural shingles.

Across the board, you should have no fewer than 12 options to choose from. There appear to be options for everybody, from more cost-effective options to some higher-end products as well.

Colors

The vast majority of the shingles from this brand name are available in anywhere between 4-10 colors, usually on the lower end of that spectrum.

Quality

In terms of overall quality, Atlas shingles are known for being on the lower end of the spectrum. They aren’t bad shingles by any means, but when compared to some of the more expensive options out there, they may suffer from increased granule loss and decreased impact resistance.

Quite a few of the shingles from this brand name also don’t have the best wind ratings. They’re perfectly fine for the price, but there are better brands out there.

Malarkey

Malarkey ShinglesNext on the list, we have Malarkey shingles. This brand has been a leading manufacturer and producer of shingles and roofing products in the world for over 65 years.

It was first started in 1956 and is at this time one of the most popular American roofing companies in the world. In terms of professionals, it’s one of the first choices they go with.

Something to keep in mind here is that the shingles from this brand can only be purchased and installed by professional contractors with licenses in the roofing industry.

A regular homeowner cannot purchase Malarkey shingles. You have to buy them through certified contractors. That said, these shingles are seen as one of the biggest and best premium options in the world. They cost a good deal of money, but they’re also known for being some of the best in the world.

See how Malarkey compares with: Atlas | CertainTeed | GAF | IKO | Owens Corning | TAMKO

Product Line-Up

What needs to be said about Malarkey as a brand is that the product selection is not very big. Generally speaking, there are just three or four main shingles to choose from. However, the tradeoff here is that all of the shingles from this brand name are extremely high quality.

Whether we are talking about wind, fire, algae, or anything in between, these are quite simply some of the best shingles in the world. This brand follows the mentality that quality is always better than quantity.

Colors

The same thing can be said for the colors of the shingles. There aren’t all that many colors to choose from, but the ones they do have are very long-lasting and aesthetically appealing.

Quality

There is just no denying the fact that Malarkey shingles are some of the very best in the world, and this is the case for all product categories.

TAMKO

TAMKO ShinglesTAMKO is yet another popular brand in the world of the roofing industry. That said, it is one of the newer ones, perhaps the most infantile on the list, as it was founded in Missouri in 1994.

This brand features a wide variety of both asphalt and metal shingles to choose from, with asphalt shingles being the number one selling product from TAMKO. In fact, the Heritage lineup is one of the more popular ones here, as it features a good mix of affordability and durability.

This company is often considered to be a budget brand, although the products are of decent quality considering the low prices. It does have more premium shingles, but they can be quite expensive considering what they are.

See how TAMKO compares with: Atlas | CertainTeed | GAF | IKO | Malarkey | Owens Corning

Product Line-Up

TAMKO has six different asphalt shingles to choose from and three different metal shingles, which is a decent product selection. It’s not the biggest selection on the list, but also not the smallest. As we said before, the Heritage lineup is one of the most popular from this brand.

Colors

Most of the shingles from this manufacturer come in at least seven or eight different colors to choose from, which should be more than enough for most people.

Quality

As mentioned above, TAMKO scores pretty well on all fronts as far as durability is concerned. This applies to fire, wind, and algae ratings. They certainly aren’t the most durable shingles in the world, but for the low prices they come in at, there’s not much to complain about.

GAF

GAF ShinglesFinally, we have GAF shingles. GAF is at this time the number one largest roofing and waterproofing business in the whole world. It’s been around since 1886, and yes, it is also an American company. Based on that date, it is actually the oldest roofing company on the list today.

In terms of regular homeowners, this is one of the most popular brands out there. It has an absolutely massive selection of products that all come in at relatively affordable prices.

In terms of quality, this is seen as being a relatively high-end brand, although not quite as high-end as some others such as Owens Corning or Malarkey, although certainly up there with the best of them.

If you need very high-quality shingles that won’t cost you a complete fortune, then this is a decent brand to consider and is the number one choice for regular homeowners across North America.

See how GAF compares with: Atlas | BP | CertainTeed | IKO | Malarkey | Owens Corning | TAMKO

Product Line-Up

As mentioned above, GAF has one of the biggest product selections in the world when it comes to shingles. Here, you’ll find no less than 15 different types of shingles available for sale, which includes a variety of architectural, 3-tab, designer, and other types of shingles.

One of the most popular shingles from this brand is the Timberline. The Slateline and the Camelot II are also very popular.

Colors

Just like with product selection, this brand also has a huge selection of colors that all of the shingles come in. If you’re looking to do some color matching, this is one of the best manufacturers out there.

Quality

All of the products from this brand are rated as being moderately high in quality. They’re not the very best in the world, but also very far from being the worst. They are definitely on the higher end of the spectrum as far as quality is concerned.

Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Shingles for You

If you are still not sure which brand to go with, below is a breakdown of the things you should be considering when choosing the best roof shingles for you:

  • Fire rating: Shingles can be rated as Class C, Class B, and Class A in terms of fire resistance. Class A is the best, and Class C is the worst. You always want to go for the highest class.
  • Wind resistance: Shingles are also rated in terms of wind resistance, or in other words, how much wind they can resist before they are torn up. Most shingles feature wind ratings of between 110 and 130 mph, with some going as high as 150 mph.
  • Algae resistance: One of the biggest problems that so many shingles face is the build-up of algae. You always want to look for shingles that come with special technologies or substances that prevent the buildup of algae from occurring, as algae can ruin shingles very quickly.
  • Weight and thickness: Another thing to pay attention to here is the weight and thickness of the shingles. This does in part determine how durable they are, because the heavier and thicker the shingles are, the more impact they can resist.
  • Granule loss: Asphalt shingles have very small particles of what is essentially sand on them. Many shingles start to lose these particles, which in turn decreases their overall durability and functionality. You want to look for shingles that have minimal granule loss.
  • Overall durability: You always want to read some reviews to see just how durable these shingles really are, and reviews are important because they provide you with information from the consumer’s standpoint. However, all of the above points, such as weight and thickness, granule loss, fire rating, and more, contribute to this factor.
  • Cost: The other thing you of course need to consider here is how much the shingles will cost you. You need to consider both the upfront purchase cost and the installation costs. Some shingles may cost as little as $1 or less per square foot, whereas others might cost $10 or more per square foot.

So, What Is the Best Roof Shingles Brand?

This is a completely subjective question, as it really depends on what you are going for.

If you are going for quality irrespective of price, then Owens Corning, Malarkey, and CertainTeed are great options to go with. However, if you are looking for something much more budget-friendly, then IKO is a fantastic option. If you want something that is somewhere in between, then GAF and Atlas are also good choices.