Three (3)- Tab Shingles – Pricing and Information
Cost Range: Installed $160-$400 / square
Material: $75-$100 / square
The classic three tab shingles have been around for a long time. A 3 Tab shingle is usually the most economical choice for homeowners or property managers to roof a home. A great deal of homeowners in today’s market are replacing their aging three tab shingles now. It’s easy to tell 3 tab shingles by their FLAT look. If you grew up roofing this was the most popular style of roofing shingles in America for decades. Although in today’s market they are getting less and less popular. Dimension shingles are fast taking the place of old 3 tab shingles for many reasons.
3 Tab Shingles Advantages:
Three- Tab shingles have many advantages, however the primary reason they seem to be chosen is PRICE and price alone. They are certainly the value leader in the residential market. Thankfully they are still prevalent in most home centers and commercial roofing distributors. You can probably find just about any color family you need to fit your homes aesthetics. The most common 3-Tab shingles come in 25 and 30yr varieties, however you can find these in shed shingles rated to last down to 15 years or so.
3 Tab Shingles Disadvantages:
One of the primary disadvantages of three-tab shingles stems from the design. They lay so flat on the roof that any inconsistencies in the roof deck will show right through to your finished roof. For a long time they were the primary shingles installed on roofs in the United States but have more recently come out of favor in lieu of the introduction of dimensional’s. Longevity; the other Achilles heal of 3-Tabs, although they are rated for 25-30 years on average they only last 15-18 years. They do not have very high uplift ratings for wind and I can’t remember the last time an architect specked them out for a commercial product. Most all manufactures have reduced their product offerings in three tabs to 25 year or 30 year varieties and they do have somewhat less color options, however this shouldn’t be a problem for most. To find available 3-Tab shingles check out the Asphalt Shingle Comparison Chart. Although you can find the rare manufacturer that will put an algae resistance warranty on these type of shingles there are certainly better choices out there.
Pricing: So what do 3 Tab shingles Cost? They are certainly the least expensive shingle option on the market. Raw material cost go down to around $75 per 100 square ft and all the way up to $110 or so. If you want them pick them up soon most manufacturers are in a phase out cycle. Expect installed cost to be between $180-$300 a square(100 sq ft) depending on regional pricing, installation requirements and quality.