How long do architectural shingles last?

Architectural shingles generally last an average of 12 to 20 years, but can sometimes last longer. Proper roof ventilation and favorable environmental conditions will help them last longer. Hail, foot traffic, extreme heat/poor ventilation, and severe weather reduce their life.

Are architectural shingles worth extra cost?

Architectural shingles are thicker and more durable than 3-tab shingles in general. Most have higher wind speed ratings, as they resist wind uplift by design. And most people find them more attractive, which may help home resale value.

Can architectural shingles be used for ridge cap?

They are not designed for use as ridge. Shingle manufacturers make special ridge cap shingles for hip and apex ridges. These are better suited to be nailed on the ridge, will look better, and hold up better. A good roofing contractor will follow manufacturer installation recommendations and use real ridge shingles.

What do architectural shingles look like?

Architectural shingles resemble wood shake roofs, but come in more colors and don't carry the risk and expense of wood. There are other styles also, with beveled edges or L shaped patterns that overlap.

How many bundles of architectural shingles in a square?

Three bundles of shingles will cover a "'square," which is 100 square feet.

How much do architectural shingles cost?

They can cost from 100 to $150 or so per square (100sf) for materials only, depending on time of year, style, quality, and demand. A heavy hurricane or hail storm year can increase demand and price.

Laminated Architectural Shingles - Cook Roofing Company

Laminate architectural shingle roof replacement is the bread and butter of our business. We have replaced hundreds of composition shingle roofs, and provide a lifetime workmanship warranty. We use quality shingles, synthetic felt underlayment, and new flashing to ensure your new roof provides years of service. Whether your roof is just old and worn out, or if you have storm damage and an insurance claim, we can take care of it.

Types of Architectural Shingles

Architectural refers to overlapped tabs that give depth, dimension, and texture to the roof (contrast this to the older three-tab style shingles that have a staggered, flat, brick pattern). It is currently the most common style of residential roofing, these roofs are everywhere. Architectural shingles come in sturdier thicknesses and construction than 3-tab shingles, and come with 30, 40, and even 50 year manufacturer’s warranties. Laminated shingles are composite layers of fiberglass mat for strength, with asphalt for waterproofing. Sand or synthetic granules are stuck to the top surface. These granules protect the asphalt from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light, and are colored to give the shingles their appearance.

Owens Corning Shingles Color Selectors

Malarkey Shingles

Malarkey shingles are another quality option. This is their laminated architectural shingle color selection, and gives an idea of the appearance of these shingles.

Here is their image gallery if you’d like to see more examples of composition shingles on roofs, and the styles and colors available.

Bargain Roofing

There are a lot of shortcuts that newer and inexperienced roofers take to save money so they can lowball your estimate. (See photo) If you only have a bargain value house, you could save a little money up front by using these bargain roofers. There’s a lot more to residential roofing than slapping some laminated architectural shingles on. You have to wonder, what are they leaving out or skipping? Maybe you’ll have no issues with hidden leaks, shingles coming loose and blowing off, or worse. Although, for most homeowners, their home is their biggest investment. It’s not worth that risk to save a couple of dollars on a cash roof installation.

Most homeowners don’t realize how insurance claims work. If you have replacement cost coverage (most homeowners do), then insurance owes to fully restore your property after covered damage. Your only cost out of pocket is your deductible (and we can help with financing that). Your insurance company hopes you will go with a cheap contractor, but who loses in that plan? That’s right, you, the homeowner, while you save your insurance company money. You don’t even get brownie points with them for going cheap. And you usually get inferior work, which you might not notice until that company is long gone, shingles are blowing away, and your ceiling is on your floor one morning after a storm.

Insurance-Compliant Estimates

If your insurance company’s estimate is too low and omits components, (they usually do), we can submit a full estimate of the needed repairs to them.

Your roof is arguably the most important part of your home, keeping out wind and rain. So, if you want peace of mind, and to protect your home investment, go with a company with a proven track record in quality residential roofing. Cook Roofing Co has a family tradition of quality roof replacement and repairs, as well as other general construction, since 1913. Chances are, we’ve replaced one of your neighbor’s roofs.

Contact Us

Cook Roofing Co provides an Apples to Apples price match guarantee – we will match pricing provided the material types, quantities, and installation items are the same.

When you need architectural shingle roof replacement in Springfield and Branson, MO, contact us. You can use the form, or call us, to have us come out and give you a no-obligation, free roof evaluation. We will inspect the condition of your roof, check for storm damage, verify all the needed components, and provide you with a competitive estimate. And if you’re looking for commercial roofing services, we have replaced commercial shingle roofs for many apartment and condominium complexes, hotels, and office buildings. See our commercial roofing section for more information.

Find out why thousands of Branson, Springfield, and surrounding area homeowners and businesses have trusted us for their roofing needs in the past 100+ years! To learn more about how we can be of assistance, call (417) 334-4238. We’ll be happy to schedule you with an appointment for quality roofing!