If you’re talking about the material you see on most roofs in North Carolina, and across the country, you’re probably talking about dimensional shingles. “But wait!” You’re probably saying. “I thought you’ve said that about other asphalt shingles before?”
Well, dear reader, that is also true. The terms “dimensional” and “architectural shingles” essentially mean the same thing. It’s a way for roofing manufacturers and contractors to define the next step up for the shingle line above three-tab shingles. So while we’ve talked before about what architectural shingles are, we thought it would be helpful to write a blog discussing dimensional shingles as well, since they are another common term used for these two-ply, textured asphalt shingles.
In this blog we’ll be discussing how dimensional shingles are constructed, how much they cost, how long they should last on your roof, and compare them to the other popular asphalt shingle types: three-tab, and luxury.
Dimensional shingles are largely constructed in the same manner that other asphalt shingles are. They start as a fiberglass mat, with coatings of asphalt slathered on either side. Then a layer of mixed protective granules is added to the top of the shingle, while a sealant is put underneath.
What makes dimensional shingles different from the other asphalt roofing materials, is their two-play design. That means that they have an added layer of that shingle on top to increase the shingle's total durability.
A bonus side effect is that manufacturers get to use that layer to add this shingle’s trademark characteristic, it’s dimension!
While that extra layer is still nice, its true purpose is that increase of durability over a three-tab shingle. While most three-tab shingle roofs last around 15 years, architectural shingle roofs can last between 25 and 30 years.
We’ll get more into comparing those two later, but that’s a big jump in durability, for not a huge jump in price.
Though they weren’t as popular back in the day, they have quickly grown in popularity, and nowadays, every major roofing manufacturer has some kind of dimensional shingle for sale. GAF offers the Timberline collection, with their flagship Timberline HDZ shingles. CertainTeed’s most popular shingle is the dimensional Landmark Pro, part of their Landmark series.
Like we talked about earlier, the main purpose of designing these shingles the way that they have been was for increasing their lifespan. With the standard being three-tab shingles lasting 15, or at best 20 years, the extra layered design of dimensional shingles has gone a long way in boosting that lifespan up. Most dimensional shingle roofs produced today last between 25 and 30 years.
Most of this comes from the shingle’s design being a solid strip, instead of the the three tab’s design leaving small gaps between the shingle, and relying on asphalt sealant to keep them stuck to the roof.
Because of this, the dimensional shingles are much more resistant to wind damage than three-tab shingles. The extra weight allows for the shingle to form a stronger seal with the shingles below it, making it more difficult for water and wind to get up underneath it. That additional resistance to damage is not only going to increase the lifespan of the roof, but also reduce the frequency in which it needs to be repaired. The individual tabs of the three-tab strip shingles are much more likely to be knocked off, or crack, than the entire dimensional shingle unit.
Asphalt shingles in general are the most easily affordable roofing option, which played a massive role in them becoming the most popular roofing material in North Carolina. However, even within that category, prices can vary greatly. Depending on what kind of asphalt shingle you are buying, you could end up spending anywhere between $90 and $180 per roofing square.
If you’re not familiar with that term, a “roofing square” is what contractors use to talk about measuring roofs, and essentially is just 100 square feet. If you’re interested in learning more about how roofs are measured, we’ve down a whole blog on that!
As we just talked about, that asphalt shingle price scale is large, so where do dimensional shingles fall on it? They tend to end up in the middle of that range, but definitely on the lower end. Three-tab shingles usually cost around $90 per square, while dimensional shingles are typically around $105 per square, and luxury shingles are the ones reaching in that upper $180 per square range.
Three-Tab Shingles Dimensional Shingles
The main thing that we see homeowners comparing when considering roofing options are the price, lifespan, and the looks!
For the price, three-tabs are always going to be cheaper than dimensional shingles. They usually only cost around $90 per roofing square, and are the most affordable roofing material out there, which is why they are very popular for large scale building projects. If you were to consider dimensional shingles, you’d be looking more at a price tag of around $105 per square.
The reason that dimensional shingles are more common these days, is that they make up for that increased price in longevity. Most dimensional shingle roofs in good conditions will last around 25 to 30 years, while a three-tab roof in those same conditions are probably going to max out at 15 to 20 years. This is entirely based on the thickness of the shingle, and the amount and quality of the materials, and granules, used when manufacturing it.
The dimensional shingle’s two-ply design not only gives it a leg up over asphalt in terms of durability, but also in the way it looks. Obviously, looks are subjective, but three-tab roofs have a very flat, blocky look that doesn’t do much to make itself visually appealing. While dimensional shingles certainly are very popular in suburban neighborhoods, and have similar designs to each other, the look they have does a much better job at matching and accenting the other textures that homes have.
Dimensional Shingles Luxury Shingles
The biggest difference for these two shingles is always going to be the price. Luxury shingles these days cost around $180 per square, which is a pretty significant jump up from the dimensional shingle’s $105 per square.
Though luxury shingles do have a longer advertised life than dimensional shingles, it isn’t as great as the price gap might lead you to believe. Typically, luxury shingles will get you around 30 years of protection, maybe a bit more in good conditions. As we’ve talked about previously, dimensional shingles tend to get a little bit less, with around 25-30 years of solid life. Luxury shingles are also a three-ply design, so their additional weight makes them even more resistant to wind damage, even to extremely high winds.
So where does that increase in price come from? Well, it’s all about the looks! Luxury shingles can be manufactured to simulate the look of wood shake, slate tile, and even ceramic shingles. So, if you want to stand out from your neighbors, you’ll plenty of options to choose from with the luxury shingles! Though they still have a clean, textured look, dimensional shingles don’t have the same options and variety that luxury shingles would offer.
Dimensional... architectural... whatever you want to call it, if you want to learn more about putting one of these roofing materials on your home, give us a call!
On Tops Roofing has been replacing and repairing asphalt shingle roofs in the Raleigh, NC area for over 30 years, so whatever your project will require, we are more than equipped to handle it!
If you’d like to get in touch with us, click the “Contact Us” button below, fill out the form on that page, and we’ll get you in touch with our representative for your area!
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