Asphalt shingle roofing in Horsham, PA

Three-tab vs. architectural shingles: what is on your roof?

Nearly every shingle roof around Horsham is one of two types. You can usually tell which from the driveway.

Three-tab shingles

One flat layer, with two slots cut in each shingle so it looks like three equal tabs. The roof looks like a neat brick pattern of rectangles. Lighter and thinner, and it was the standard on houses built or re-roofed through the 1990s. In our climate they tend to wear out sooner, and the flat tabs lift and tear off more easily in wind.

Architectural (dimensional) shingles

Two layers laminated together, with irregular cut-outs, so the roof has shadow lines and a textured, uneven look. Heavier and thicker, they hold up better to wind and usually last noticeably longer than three-tab. This is what we install on new shingle roofs, from GAF, Owens Corning and CertainTeed.

Why it matters for a repair: If you have an older three-tab roof, it can be hard to find shingles that match, because many colors are no longer made. A repair will still keep the water out, but it may show. If the roof is near the end of its life anyway, that's worth weighing before you spend on it.

How to tell your shingles are wearing out

You do not need to climb up there. A pair of binoculars from the yard, a look in the gutters and a trip to the attic tell you most of it. Look at the south and west sides first; they get the most sun and wear out first.

• Granules in the gutters. The sandy coating protects the shingle from the sun. A handful after a new roof is normal. A steady pile years later means the shingles are going bald.
• Curling or cupping. Edges turning up, or the middle of the tab sinking. A few is wear; the whole slope is age.
• Cracks and torn tabs. Brittle shingles crack across the tab, and wind takes the pieces.
• Shingles in the yard after ordinary wind. One storm can happen to anyone. Losing shingles every few months means the seal strips have given up across the roof.
• Bald or shiny patches, where the black asphalt shows through.
• Daylight or damp wood from the attic, especially around nails, vents and the chimney.

Dark streaks running down the roof are usually algae. It looks bad, but on its own it is cosmetic and is not a reason to replace a roof. Thick green moss is different: it holds water against the shingles and lifts them, so it is worth dealing with.

Repair the shingles, or put on a new roof?

If a storm took a few shingles, or one area has a problem, a shingle repair is the right call even on an older roof. We'd rather fix it than sell you a roof you don't need yet.

Once the signs above show up on every side of the house, patching gets you less each time. Our rule of thumb: once a repair would cost more than about 30% of a new roof, put the money toward a roof replacement instead.

Wind or hail damage? Start with storm damage repair. We photograph and document it and can meet your adjuster at the house.

What a good shingle installation looks like

Most shingle roofs that fail early fail because of how they were put on, not because of the shingle. On a new roof we:

• Tear off to the deck and replace any soft or rotted wood before anything goes on top
• Put stick-down ice and water barrier along the eaves and in the valleys, and underlayment over the rest
• Nail every shingle where the manufacturer says to. Nails too high are the classic cause of shingles blowing off
• Fit new metal flashing at chimneys, walls and pipes instead of reusing the old
• Get the attic venting right: air in at the soffits, out at the ridge, so the shingles are not baked from below

You can see finished architectural shingle roofs on our Warminster and Hatboro projects. Most re-roofs on an average house take a day or two, weather permitting.

What it usually costs

For repairs, a few blown-off shingles sit at the low end and flashing or valley work costs more. For a new roof, the size and steepness of the roof and how much decking needs replacing move the price most.

• Shingle Roof Repair: $350 – $2,000
• Shingle Roof Installation: $6,500 – $16,000
• Roof Replacement: $6,500 – $18,000

Questions we get asked

What is the difference between three-tab and architectural shingles?

Three-tab shingles are a single flat layer cut into three equal tabs, giving a flat brick-like pattern. Architectural shingles are two layers laminated together, thicker and heavier, with a textured look. Architectural shingles hold up better to wind and usually last longer, which is why we install them on new roofs.

How long does an asphalt shingle roof last around here?

It depends on the shingle, the attic ventilation and how much sun the roof gets. Three-tab roofs tend to wear out sooner than architectural ones, and south-facing slopes go first. Instead of going by age alone, look for granule loss, curling and cracking, or get a free inspection.

Can you match my existing shingles for a repair?

Usually close. Architectural shingles are easier to match than older three-tab colors, many of which are no longer made. New shingles also look a little darker than a weathered roof until they fade in.

Are the black streaks on my roof a problem?

Usually not. Dark streaks are typically algae and are cosmetic. Thick moss is a different matter, because it holds moisture and lifts shingles, so that is worth having looked at.

How much does a new shingle roof cost?

New shingle roofs we install typically run $6,500 to $16,000, depending mostly on roof size, steepness and how much rotted decking turns up. Shingle repairs typically run $350 to $2,000. You get a free written, line-item estimate first.

What shingle brands do you install?

We install architectural asphalt shingles from GAF, Owens Corning and CertainTeed. We will show you the product lines and colors and write the exact one into your estimate.

Related pages

• Roof Repair: Leaks, missing shingles, flashing and vents. We fix the problem and tell you honestly how much life the roof has left.
• Roof Replacement: Full tear-off and new roof when repairs stop making sense. Written, line-item estimate before anything starts.
• Roof Inspection: A free, top-to-bottom look at your roof with photos, so you know what you actually need before you spend anything.
• Storm Damage Repair: Wind, hail and fallen limbs. We document the damage with photos and work with your insurance adjuster.
• Metal Roofing: Standing seam and metal panel roofs for homeowners who want a roof that lasts decades.
• New Roof Installation: Roofs for additions, new builds and full system upgrades, from the deck up.
• Horsham: Home base. Our shop is here.
• Hatboro: Borough homes and older twins right next door to Horsham.
• Willow Grove: Post-war Capes, ranchers and splits on their second or third roof.
• Ambler: Older borough homes with steep roofs and plenty of flashing.
• Warminster: Our neighbor to the north; lots of 1950s-70s ranchers and splits.
• Maple Glen: Established neighborhoods minutes from our shop.
• Montgomery County: Where we do most of our work, from Horsham out across the county.
• Roof Replacement in Warminster, PA: Full roof replacement in Warminster.
• Roof Replacement in Hatboro, PA: Full roof replacement in Hatboro.
• Roof Replacement in Hatfield, PA: Full tear-off and new architectural shingle roof.