If you are looking for the best roof shingles, then you come to the right place. Today, we are here to look at two specific brands, TAMKO and CertainTeed. Both are very popular and highly trusted brand names in the roofing industry. However, there are some pretty big differences between these two companies, and between their specific products, that need mentioning.
Let’s get to it and figure out which of these two shingles manufacturers is the better one for you to go with.
TAMKO Overview
First, we have TAMKO, which is one of the newer companies around, as it was founded in just 1994 in Missouri, making it a proud American manufacturer of shingles and roofing products. This brand does have a relatively decent selection of products to choose from, including many different asphalt and metal shingles.
The Heritage asphalt shingle is one of the more popular ones from this brand, so this will be our main focus and reference for comparison today.
TAMKO is known for being a relatively cost-effective and budget-friendly brand that produces shingles that come in at reasonable prices, although it’s certainly not known for being the best in the world in terms of overall durability.
Yes, these shingles, particularly the Heritage shingle, perform perfectly fine on most fronts, although it’s just not the most durable in the world.
CertainTeed Overview
We then have CertainTeed, which is one of the biggest roofing manufacturers in Canada and the USA. It also happens to be one of the oldest, as it’s been around since 1904. It is known as being one of the best and biggest premier asphalt shingle brands in North America, with over 60 different retail and manufacturing facilities in both Canada and the United States.
The product selection from this brand is absolutely massive, with the asphalt shingles being very popular. The defining feature of the shingles from this brand is that they are all extremely heavy, with their shingles containing much more asphalt than any other brand.
The shingles weigh on average anywhere from 20% to 50% more than those from other brands. This means that they are extremely wind resistant, impact resistant, have minimal granule loss, and much more. They are some of the best shingles in the world. One of the most popular lineups from this brand is the Landmark lineup.
The Landmark shingles are some of the most popular residential shingles from this brand, so this will be our main focus for today. They are one of the more affordable products that this manufacturer has to offer, although they’re still quite expensive when compared to other products and brands.
TAMKO vs. CertainTeed: How Do They Compare?
Now that we know the basics about both TAMKO and CertainTeed, let’s take a closer look at how they compare to each other.
Product Lineup
TAMKO does have a good selection of products to choose from, including six different lineups of asphalt shingles, as well as a few different types of metal shingles, giving it a fairly good product lineup to choose from.
CertainTeed, on the other hand, has an even bigger selection of products. There are no fewer than 14 shingles to choose from on the website, and likely more if you were to continue to dig. As mentioned above, one of the most popular options for homeowners is the CertainTeed Landmark shingle.
Overall Quality
When it comes to overall quality, there is simply no denying the fact that CertainTeed shingles are known for being some of the most durable in the world.
They have excellent impact, fire, wind, and algae resistance, minimal granule loss, and more. There is a reason why CertainTeed shingles are relatively expensive.
On the other hand, while TAMKO shingles are also known for being relatively good, they’re also known for being quite budget-friendly. Therefore, these shingles, while they should last for a couple of decades, likely won’t last quite as long as CertainTeed.
Durability
Let’s keep in mind that CertainTeed shingles are some of the heaviest on the market and they’re made with some of the best materials. For this reason, they are known for being some of the most durable and long-lasting.
On the other hand, we have the TAMKO shingles, which are pretty decent, but nowhere near as durable as CertainTeed shingles, especially not when it comes to impact resistance or granule loss.
Wind Rating
Both the TAMKO Heritage and the CertainTeed Landmark are rated to withstand winds up to 130 mph, or about 210 kilometers per hour. The latter are even covered by a 15-year warranty that covers winds up to 115 mph.
While both shingles are rated for up to 130 mph, based on customer reviews and research, it does appear as though CertainTeed should have better wind resistance.
Algae Resistance
TAMKO products do feature a Scotchguard system that helps to protect against algae, and they should be perfectly algae-resistant.
However, CertainTeed Landmark shingles use a variety of technology and adhesion methods that also help prevent algae build-ups from occurring. When it comes down to it, CertainTeed shingles are likely much better on this front.
Energy Efficiency
Both the TAMKO Heritage and the CertainTeed Landmark shingles are Energy Star certified. When it comes down to it, both brands feature many different products that are Energy Star certified, although CertainTeed does of course have more. That said, this could simply be because the manufacturer has a bigger product selection overall.
Fire Rating
Both of the shingles being reviewed today, as well as most of the products in both brand names in general, have Class A fire ratings, which are the best in the world.
Warranty
TAMKO shingles often have a 50-year or a limited lifetime warranty, whereas virtually all CertainTeed shingles have limited lifetime warranties.
Price
TAMKO shingles will usually cost between $2 and $4 per square foot, whereas CertainTeed shingles will cost between $4 and $8.50 per square foot.
TAMKO vs. CertainTeed: Which Offers Better Roofing Shingles?
There’s simply no denying the fact that CertainTeed shingles are far higher in quality than TAMKO, as they score higher in virtually all categories. Of course, there is the fact that CertainTeed products on average cost anywhere between two to four times as much as TAMKO shingles, but we think that cost is a working investment.
As such, what it really comes down to here is cost versus quality. With CertainTeed, you’re looking at some of the most expensive shingles in the world, but also some of the very best. TAMKO shingles, although they’re not the cheapest in the world, certainly aren’t the most expensive either. If you want something more budget-friendly, but still good enough to last for many decades to come, then TAMKO is a good option to consider too.
How Do TAMKO and CertainTeed Compare with Other Shingles Brands?
See how TAMKO compares with: Atlas | GAF | IKO | Malarkey | Owens Corning
See how CertainTeed compares with: Atlas |BP | GAF | IKO | Malarkey | Owens Corning