Shingles
The asphalt shingle is the most commonly installed roofing material in North America. The two most common types of shingles are the 3-tab shingle and the architectural shingle.
A 3-tab shingle is a type of asphalt shingle that is designed to have a flat, uniform appearance. It is called a 3-tab shingle because each shingle is made up of three tabs that are separated by vertical cutouts or notches. The cutouts create the illusion of individual shingles when they are installed, even though each 3-tab shingle is a single unit.
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An architectural shingle, also known as a dimensional or laminate shingle, is a type of asphalt shingle that is designed to have a more three-dimensional look compared to traditional, flat asphalt shingles. This is achieved by using multiple layers of asphalt that are bonded together, often with a heavier base mat, and a range of different shapes and sizes of granules to create a textured, layered appearance.
The 3-tab shingle came first and dominated the market from the 1950’s to the early 21st century. In the last 10 to 15 years the architectural shingle has largely taken over a majority of the roofing industry. Due to its multi-layer construction and thicker base sheet, the architectural shingle is more durable with an extended life span. The 3-tab shingle is now mostly used as a starter shingle at the roofs edge and as a finisher on the hips and ridges.
There are few major brands that dominate the shingle market with BP being the most common in the Madawaska Valley. For the most part if you hire a roofer in the area they will install the BP Mystique 42, which is a 42 inch laminated shingle made from fibreglass, asphalt compound and rock granules. The second most common brand that a roofer may install is IKO. There are a few other brands, but generally they must be special ordered or shipped in from an urban area.