If you are doing your own roof, and you need some high-quality shingles, then there are many different brands for you to choose from. Two very popular brands in the world of roofing are TAMKO and IKO. Both are very commonly used, although there are some differences between them.
Today, we are going to determine what the differences between the two are, so you can make an informed decision about which – if either – is the better one for your project.
TAMKO Overview
First, we have TAMKO, which is one of the newer companies on the market. It has been around since just 1994, and it was founded in the state of Missouri. It is an American manufacturer of various shingles and roofing products.
This brand has many different types of shingles, including asphalt and metal shingles, to choose from. One of the more popular types of shingles from this brand is the Heritage shingle, which is known for being decently durable, yet also quite affordable.
TAMKO is generally considered to be more of a budget brand, certainly not the best in the world, although the shingles are fairly high quality considering the reasonable prices they come in at.
Yes, this manufacturer does also have some more state-of-the-art or premium shingles, although they are relatively expensive for what they are.
IKO Overview
We then have IKO, which is a brand name that has been around since 1951 and was founded in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is therefore significantly older than TAMKO.
Furthermore, it is also a family-owned company, and it currently has over 37 different manufacturing facilities and production plants, both in Europe and North America.
One of the biggest selling points of IKO shingles is that they are relatively affordable and designed for basic use. The selection is quite big, and many products are fairly high in quality as well.
TAMKO vs. IKO: How Do They Compare?
Now that you know what the basics of both brands are, let’s take a closer look at what sets them apart.
Product Lineup
If we are talking about TAMKO, one of the most popular shingles from this brand is the Heritage. Furthermore, this brand has six different types of asphalt shingles, and some metal shingles as well.
IKO has several categories of shingles to choose from, including 3-tab, performance, designer, and architectural shingles, all of which have several shingles within those categories. Technically speaking, the product selection from IKO is a bit bigger.
Overall Quality
Although IKO may have a bigger product selection, their products are generally known for being lower in quality than TAMKO products.
IKO has some of the cheapest shingles on the market, although their quality might not be the best in the world.
Durability
What it really comes down to here is that in general, TAMKO shingles are more durable and longer lasting. This is especially the case if we are comparing the TAMKO Heritage with the IKO Cambridge.
TAMKO Heritage is known for having minimal granule loss, great impact resistance, and overall durability against the weather. It’s not like the IKO Cambridge shingle is bad by any means, but it’s just not nearly as durable. We suppose that this is the trade-off for coming in at a low price.
Wind Rating
In terms of wind resistance, the TAMKO Heritage and the IKO Cambridge both appear to be rated for 130 mph, making them equal on this front. That said, TAMKO does appear to have more shingles that are rated for higher wind speeds than IKO.
Algae Resistance
TAMKO shingles do feature a special Scotchguard layer that protects against algae and should stop it from growing for many decades to come. TAMKO shingles are well known for having excellent algae resistance.
On the other hand, when it comes to IKO shingles, although they do have decent algae resistance, it’s not the best in the world, and they may start developing some algae after a few decades.
Energy Efficiency
What can be said is that both the TAMKO Heritage and the IKO Cambridge are Energy Star certified. This means that they should help reduce energy costs by around 15%, both in the summer and winter.
However, in the grand scheme of things, TAMKO has many more Energy Star-certified shingles than its competitor. IKO only has a few shingles in its lineup that are actually Energy Star certified.
Fire Rating
If we are talking about fire ratings, mostly all of the shingles from both brand names, including both the Heritage and the Cambridge, have Class A fire ratings.
Warranty
What is surprising to note is that most TAMKO shingles have a 50-year warranty, while most IKO shingles have a limited lifetime warranty.
Price
TAMKO shingles will usually end up costing you anywhere between $2.00 and $4.00 per square foot, whereas IKO shingles will usually cost between $0.50 and $1.00 per square foot.
TAMKO vs. IKO: Which Offers Better Roofing Shingles?
What it really comes down to here is that TAMKO has the better shingles, especially if we compare the Heritage to the IKO Cambridge. However, IKO is the far better brand to go with if you need affordable shingles that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. This is not to say that these shingles are bad, but they’re not quite as good as most TAMKO products.
When it comes down to it, both brands are known for being fairly budget-friendly, although IKO is more so. Now that you know what the main differences between them are, you can make an informed decision as to which shingles to choose for your next roofing project.
How Do TAMKO and IKO Compare with Other Shingles Brands?
See how TAMKO compares with: Atlas | CertainTeed | GAF | Malarkey | Owens Corning
See how IKO compares with: BP | CertainTeed | GAF | Malarkey | Owens Corning | Soprema