Shingle Categories:

Almost all shingles available fall into one of our three price categories, so if you don’t see what you like on our estimate, please feel free to ask!  The categories are as follows:

Designer Shingles

Designer shingles are heavier and provide a different pattern than the normal shingle.  They provide no performance benefit and are significantly more expensive than regular shingles.  Because of this, we don’t offer then as default on our estimates, although we can offer pricing upon request!  Shingles that fall into this category are:

Comparing Eaves & Valley Underlay

Underlayment is required by code on the eaves and valleys of any roof installation in Alberta. Once installed there can little functional difference between the brands, but depending on the circumstance some are better than others.

• 30lb felt – This is the cheapest product and only just meets minimum code requirements for installation on the eaves and valleys.  Often times this product will degrade quickly if if overhangs too far into the eaves and can eventually wick water up under the shingles.
• Deckbases – These products are virtually all the same and the difference is negligible for sloped roofs 4/12 (18.5°) and up.  They are usually made with SBS rubber compounds for added resilience.
  • IKO Deckbase44
  • Resisto/Resisto Lasto-Bond
  • Malarkey Right Start UDL
  • Resistoflex
• Ice & Water Membranes – These products are made of silicone which under warm temperatures will heat up and seal any abrasions.  This “self-sealing” capacity is desirable on roof slopes of 3/12 (14°) or less.  Water cannot freely clear the roof, and can easily back up under the shingles if an ice dam forms.  Ice & water offers no performance benefit over deckbase products on roofs 4/12 & up.  Ice & Water membranes come in two sizes, 36″ and 44″.  It is important to remember than 36″ Ice & Water membrane does not meet code requirements for installation on eaves and must not be used for this purpose.  The product does not come far enough up the roof to satisfy the code requirements for eaves underlay in Alberta, and can be subject to leaks via ice damming.  Ice & Water products are as follows:
  • IKO Armourguard
  • IKO Protecto
  • Resisto Ice & Water
  • GAF Stormguard
  • GAF Weatherwatch
  • Grace Ice&Water

Comparing Field Underlay

The field is anywhere on the roof that is not eaves or valley.  Most manufacturers “strongly recommend” using underlay to cover the roof deck that is not protected by a Deckbase or Ice&Water, but they do not require it.  Most roofs 10 years or older are not protected at all by underlay in the field.  There are two types of unerlayment that are offered in the field:

• Felt Paper – Asphalt soaked paper has been the norm for a long time.  Resistant to deterioration, asphalt paper was the original product used for underlayment before anything else.  Once installed this products offers no more or less protection than synthetic underlayment.
• Synthetic Underlayment – Relatively new to the market, Synthetic underlayment is the dominant choice among roofers.  This is because of the superior resistance the product has to wind before and during shingle installation.  Felt paper could easily blow off, and a roof could not be left overnight reliably when covered only in felt paper.  Synthetic underlay is a game changer in this regard – when properly installed it will protect an un-shingled roof overnight or even for weeks.  It is lighter and covers more surface area per roll.  Once the shingle is installed it is functionally identical to felt paper, and so the the homeowner the difference is negligible. Synthetic underlays are as follows:
  • Rhinoroof
  • Resistor Synthetic
  • Flextex
  • BP Suredeck
  • BP Deckguard
  • IKO Stormtite
  • IKO Roofguard
  • Titanium
  • Pallisade

Flashings

Flashings are anywhere the shingles interact with a wall or a penetration.  Valley metal, vents, goosenecks, and plumbing mats/collars should ALWAYS be replaced with the shingles.  Step flashing and wall flashing is often stuck behind the siding, so replacement is less common.  Chimneys and skylights are recommended for re-flashing, however sometimes re-flashing is not necessary as the metal is in good enough shape.

Comparing Asphalt Shingles Between Brands

To compare the performance of asphalt shingles it helps to understand how shingles are made.  Shingles are comprised of 3 major components:

1. Flux – Crude oil is refined and everything useful is extracted – gasoline, plastics, fertilizer, etc.  Once everything useful is extracted there is a sludge left over that we now call ‘flux’.  The flux is the asphalt that comprises the body of the shingle.  There is little difference in the quality of the flux between brands, so most shingles are actually quite similar in performance.
2. Unwoven fibreglass mat – The fibreglass mat gives helps the flux keep shape while it cools.  It is unwoven so that the whole the strands on one side of the product do not pull on the other side when the shingles flexes during shipment and installation
3. Gravel – Small pieces of gravel are coated in ceramic to give colour and uniformity of shape and colour to the shingle.  Originally intended to give weight to asphalt shingles, it was found that gravel also protected the asphalt from deterioration due to UV rays, and now is an integral part of an asphalt shingle.  For Canadian made shingles ceramic gravel coating happens in Quebec, and for American made shingles this may happen at a 3M plant in California or elsewhere.

Because there is little difference in the flux, all base shingles are very similar in performance.

Comparing quotes for replacing the roof on your house can be difficult.  Each manufacturer provides different products with different names, and for the average homeowner without knowledge of the industry these names can have little meaning.  Comparing competing quotes is a simple task once the products are separated and a few key points are understood.  So, lets get to it: