Fayetteville, AR
A tougher shingle costs serious money, and the wrappers all sound alike. You'll know what the upgrade buys before you pick.
Which grade goes on
The profile is the part you see from the street. Wind and impact classifications describe different performance tests, and neither tells you the roof’s whole service life. Our roofers can help you compare suitable products on those separate terms.
A house’s construction date does not tell you which shingles are on it now. Start with the roof’s pitch, the existing material and what you want the replacement to do. The asphalt roofing page explains the assembly beneath the visible shingle.
A flat three-tab profile, a dimensional laminate and an impact-rated product answer different questions. Impact rating can overlap the architectural category, so compare the actual product name and its current specifications.
A flat profile with evenly spaced tabs. It may suit a simple appearance or a limited budget where an available product meets the roof’s requirements.
A laminated profile with a dimensional shadow line. Products vary in thickness, wind terms and impact rating; the category alone does not settle those details.
An impact-tested product, often with a laminated profile. The classification gives you a defined test result to compare rather than an assurance that hail cannot damage the roof.
The upgrade should answer a need you care about: profile, tested performance or a particular product’s coverage. If you are considering another material family, compare metal roofing separately.
| Grade | What the money buys | What it doesn't buy |
|---|---|---|
| Three-tab | A flat, regular appearance with a product and price suited to the project. | An automatic wind or impact rating shared by every three-tab product. |
| Architectural laminate | A dimensional profile and the named product’s tested performance. | Impact resistance simply because the shingle looks thick. |
| Impact-rated Class 4 | A documented impact-test classification. Ask your insurer whether the particular product qualifies for a discount. | Hail-proof roofing, a guaranteed claim payment or a fixed longer life. |
Wear worth checking
Granule loss, lifting tabs, curling and cracks are useful reasons to have the roof checked. Some are visible from a safe place in the yard; closer inspection belongs to a roofer equipped for roof access.
Grit piling up in the gutter run and the downspout below the steepest slope, with a dull, bare patch upslope where it came from.
Tabs that lift and flutter after a windy week, because the seal strip let go and the shingle never bonded back down.
Cupped corners or curled edges. Note where they appear, without assuming sun exposure is the only possible cause.
Fine cracks across a shingle that a roofer may find during close inspection. Report visible changes from the ground and leave the closer assessment to the roofer.
Hail and wind leave different marks from ordinary age, and those tells live on the storm and hail damage page.
Architectural or 3-tab
Grade, lifespan, impact rating and color are what separate one shingle roof from the next, and they're what people ask about most.
Three-tab shingles have a flat, regular profile. Architectural shingles are laminated for a dimensional appearance. Compare the actual product’s wind terms, impact classification and installation requirements rather than assuming every architectural product has the same performance.
There is no one replacement age that fits every roof. Exposure, installation, ventilation, repairs and product condition all matter. A warranty’s headline term is not a service-life forecast. An inspection can tell you more than counting years from the house’s construction.
They are worth comparing where hail resistance is a priority, but the product and price difference matter. Class 4 is a test classification, not a promise against storm damage. Confirm any insurance discount with your insurer before including it in the savings.
Color and the product’s reflectance can affect surface heat, while insulation and the roof assembly affect what reaches the rooms below. Compare appearance samples alongside product information; do not expect a stated energy saving from color alone.
Fayetteville Select Roofing
Tell us which look and budget you have in mind. Our roofers can inspect the existing roof and help you compare suitable shingle options.
Request a free inspection to start with the roof you have.
(479) 396-3185