Walk into a supplier and you'll find dozens of shingles that look nearly identical in a sample board. Underneath the colour, they differ in weight, construction, the asphalt they use and how they've been tested. Those differences decide how the roof handles wind, hail and time.
This guide explains the main categories of asphalt shingle, the terms you'll see on packaging and quotes, and how to read a manufacturer's technical data sheet so you're comparing the same thing across quotes.
What an asphalt shingle is made of
Most asphalt shingles sold today are built the same basic way. There's a fibreglass mat at the core for strength, coated in asphalt to make it waterproof, with mineral granules pressed into the top to block UV and give it colour. A strip of factory-applied sealant bonds each course to the one below once the sun warms it.
The Canadian product standard for these shingles is CSA A123.5, and spec sheets often list the US standard ASTM D3462 next to it. IKO's product pages, for example, list both. What changes between products is how much asphalt and mat they use, whether it's a single layer or laminated, what's added to the asphalt, and how the granules are treated.
3-tab, architectural and designer
There are three broad categories. IKO's lines are used as examples below because their Canadian warranty publishes the terms side by side. Other manufacturers have similar tiers under different names.
- 3-tab is the simpler, flatter option, and it usually carries shorter warranty terms, as the IKO examples above show.
- Architectural shingles bond a second layer to the first, which adds thickness and gives the roof its dimensional look.
- Designer shingles are about appearance first. Some are also impact-rated, but that depends on the product, not the category.
| Type | How it's built | Look | Example warranty terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-tab | One flat layer with two slots cut in it, making three tabs | Flat, uniform rows | IKO Marathon Plus AR: 25-year limited, 60-month Iron Clad period, 112 km/h standard wind warranty |
| Architectural (laminated) | Two layers bonded together, with a cut-out top layer | Dimensional, shadowed, varied | IKO Cambridge: limited lifetime, 180-month Iron Clad period, 177 km/h standard or 210 km/h high-wind |
| Designer | Laminated construction, often with a larger exposure | Imitates slate or cedar shake | IKO Crowne Slate: limited lifetime, 180-month Iron Clad period, 10-inch exposure |
SBS-modified asphalt
InterNACHI notes that shingles are more brittle and less able to absorb an impact when they're cold. SBS-modified shingles have styrene-butadiene-styrene, a synthetic rubber polymer, mixed into the asphalt to make it more flexible. IKO describes its Nordic shingle's polymer-modified asphalt as giving it more flexibility and tear resistance, and IKO lists Nordic as UL 2218 Class 4.
IBHS notes there are two common routes to an impact rating: some manufacturers add a mesh or scrim to the back of the shingle, and others use polymer modifiers in the asphalt. In its 2014 lab series, the polymer-modified impact-resistant shingles performed better than the traditional impact-resistant ones at every impact class. Not every SBS shingle is Class 4, and not every Class 4 shingle uses SBS. Our impact ratings guide explains what the rating does and doesn't prove.
Algae resistance
Those dark streaks running down some roofs are usually algae, not dirt or mould. ARMA names *Gloeocapsa magma* as probably the most common species. It's mainly a cosmetic problem. ARMA warns that pressure washers and brushes damage shingles, and that cleaning with a mix of household bleach and water only lightens the streaks for a while.
Algae-resistant shingles, often marked AR, use treated granules to hold it back. IKO's architectural lines carry a 120-month algae resistance warranty, and Marathon Plus AR carries 60 months. ARMA notes algae is most common in warm, humid climates.
Wind ratings, and what they really mean
Two lab tests show up on shingle spec sheets. Neither one is a promise about a real storm, and the standards themselves say so.
- ASTM D3161 blows air across a test deck for two hours. Class A passes at 60 mph, Class D at 90 mph and Class F at 110 mph. The standard notes its results don't directly correlate to wind speeds in service.
- ASTM D7158 measures the force needed to break the sealant bond and compares it to calculated uplift. Classes D, G and H correspond to 115, 150 and 190 mph design wind speeds, within set limits on building height and exposure.
- Wind warranties are separate from ratings. IKO's only apply if the shingles were nailed to the wrapper instructions, and for fall, winter or cool-weather installs, hand-sealed at the time of installation. Its warranty notes shingles installed in fall or winter may not seal until spring, and high-wind coverage on several lines requires extra nails.
How to read a shingle spec sheet
Every manufacturer publishes a technical data sheet (TDS) for each product. Ask for it by name, or search the product name plus "technical data sheet". Here's what to look for, in order.
- Product standards. In Canada, look for CSA A123.5. If a sheet doesn't list it, it's worth asking why.
- Fire rating. Look for ASTM E108 or UL 790 Class A. Roof coverings are rated Class A, B or C, with Class A the most fire-resistant.
- Wind ratings. ASTM D3161 Class F and ASTM D7158 Class H are the top classifications.
- Impact rating. UL 2218 or FM 4473 with a class number, if the product has one. No listing means no rating.
- Dimensions and exposure. The exposed height of each course affects the look and how many bundles a roof needs.
- Warranty terms. The warranty length, how long the non-prorated period runs, standard and high-wind limits, and algae coverage. Then read the exclusions in the full warranty document.
What's the difference between 3-tab and architectural shingles?
A 3-tab shingle is a single flat layer cut into three tabs. An architectural shingle is two layers laminated together, which makes it thicker, gives the roof a dimensional look, and usually comes with stronger wind and warranty terms.
Are architectural shingles worth it?
Compare the terms before deciding. IKO's 3-tab Marathon Plus AR carries a 25-year limited warranty and a 112 km/h standard wind warranty in Canada, while its architectural lines carry limited lifetime warranties and 177 or 210 km/h wind coverage. Then weigh that against the price difference on your quote.
What does "limited lifetime" mean on a shingle warranty?
It covers manufacturing defects for as long as the original owner owns the house, with full material coverage for an initial period and prorated coverage after that. It doesn't cover hail or other weather, and it isn't a prediction of how long the roof will last.
What's better, ASTM D3161 Class F or ASTM D7158 Class H?
They're different tests, so neither replaces the other. Class F is the top class of the fan test, and Class H is the top class of the uplift test. Many architectural shingles list both: IKO's Cambridge, Dynasty and Nordic do, for example.
Do I need SBS-modified shingles in Calgary?
They aren't required, but their flexibility and the IBHS test results make them worth considering in hail country. Look at the impact rating on the spec sheet rather than assuming SBS means Class 4.
Where the facts on this page come from. If a source has changed since we last checked, tell us and we'll fix the page.
- Limited Warranty Information for Asphalt Shingles (Canada) · IKO Industries
- Marathon Plus AR Traditional 3-Tab Shingles · IKO
- Cambridge Architectural Shingles · IKO
- Dynasty Performance Shingles · IKO
- Crowne Slate Designer Shingles · IKO
- Nordic Performance Shingles · IKO
- Relative Impact Resistance of Asphalt Shingles: Summary of UL 2218 Impact Tests (2014) · Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)
- Inspecting Asphalt Shingle Roofs: Student Book · International Association of Certified Home Inspectors
- RICOWI Roof Guide: Cedar Shingles and Shakes (fire classes A, B and C) · Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)
- Algae Discoloration of Roofs · Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA)
- The wind resistance of shingles · Professional Roofing (NRCA)