One of the most important decisions you can make when it comes to your home is what type of roofing shingles to put on. This decision will affect how much money you spend, how long they last, and the energy efficiency of your house.
In this blog posst we help you decide on Tamko vs. Owens Corning Roofing Shingles, Which is Better?
When deciding between Tamko and Owens Corning roof shingles, there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration.
For example, if you live in an area that has heavy snowfall then it would be best to purchase a high performing ice dam membrane because these types of roofs tend not to allow water buildup.
Tamko vs. Owens Corning Roofing Shingles
“We’re second-best, so we try harder” is the motto of Owens Corning and Tamko, two asphalt shingle producers.
GAF is a shingle producer and its products get high marks. The two most recognizable brands in roofing products are Owens Corning and Tamko.
The Owens Corning vs. Tamko comparison is about as even in the roofing industry, with Owens Corning getting a slight edge in shingles.
Owens Corning shingles are better than Tamko Heritage shingles because they last longer and have a higher wind resistance. A new installation method can overcome a 20 MPH difference in shingle wind-resistance.
Both brands of roofing shingle get good reviews from both contractors and home inspectors. Some roofing contractors and home inspectors have given both brands of shingles ratings in the “good” to “very good” range.
The quality of a shingle installation is the biggest determinant in how long it lasts. The durability of roofing installation is dependent on the quality. Quality is an important factor in shingle installation.
Tamko Roofing Shingles
Tamko Roofing Shingles manufactures different types of roofing shingles that can be used on homes with any style. Their product line has many available colors and styles to choose from, along with an option for a 20, 25 or 30-year warranty.
Tamko Roofing Shingles are made from recycled asphalt, fiberglass or organic materials. They are sold at Lowe’s stores nationwide.
Their shingles range in price from $24 to $158 per square (100 square feet) and include a warranty for at least 20 years.
Tamko Shingle claims that their product is recyclable, environmentally friendly and has superior durability over traditional asphalt shingles. They are UL Class A fire rated and are made in the USA.
Tamko Roofing Shingles has been around since 1933, but it has only been under the Tamko name since 1999. In 2005, they were bought by Johns Manville Corporation.
The Heritage® Series shingles are made out of two layers of fiberglass mat coated with asphalt. The Heritage® Series shingles are resistant to the wind and have a self-sealing strip of asphalt for slopes between 2 inches and 4 inches per foot.
TAMKO Heritage shakes are high-quality, cost-effective shingles that look like wood. These shingles are durable, come in many colors and have a fiberglass mat.
The Tamko Heritage shakes are also treated with an Enhanced Limited Lifetime Warranty that covers both the product and its substrate.
Tamko Shingles are made from 100% recycled materials, including asphalt. These shingles are resistant to tearing and splitting, come in many colors and styles, have a Class A fire rating and are available with a 20-year warranty.
Tamko Slate® shingles are composed of two layers of fiberglass mat coated with asphalt. Each shingle has a Class A fire rating and comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty against replacement or repair of the product.
Tamko Roofing Shingles manufactures seven different types of shingles: Heritage® Series, Tuf-R® shakes (made from recycled plastic), Slate® Series, Shakes, WoodStyle Series, TFX™ Series and Ameri-Shield®.
Tamko WoodStyle Shingles are made from 100% recycled wood materials and have a Class A fire rating. They also come with a Limited Lifetime Warranty for both the product and its substrate.
Tamko Tuf-R® shakes are made from 100% recycled materials including plastic, rubber and tire pieces. They are resistant to tearing and splitting, come in many colors and styles, have a Class A fire rating and are available with a 20-year warranty.
Benefits of Using Tamko Shingles
Tamko Roofing Shingles manufactures seven different types of shingles: Heritage® Series, Tuf-R® shakes (made from recycled plastic), Slate® Series, Shakes, WoodStyle Series, TFX™ Series and Ameri-Shield®.
Tamko Roofing Shingles has several benefits to using their product. Their products range in price and style to fit any homeowner’s needs or personal preference.
Their products are also available with a 20, 25 or 30-year warranty and have an environmentally friendly option for those who want to help the environment.
Owens Corning Roofing Shingles
Owens Corning Roofing Shingles are shingles produced, sold, distributed and installed by Owens Corning. The company was founded in 1935 under the name ‘Corning Glass Works’, before changing its name to ‘Owens-Illinois’ in 1957.
It again changed its name to reflect its primary business source in 1985, when it rebranded as ‘Owens Corning’.
Owens Corning Roofing Shingles are the world’s largest roofing company, with over $4.5 billion in sales; it also holds the record for the longest running commercial roofing shingle.
Owens Corning has used many materials other than asbestos to produce their products. The first substitution material was vermiculite, and this was successful for over 40 years.
Unfortunately, Owens Corning Roofing Shingles were found to be releasing the carcinogenic mineral into the atmosphere; thus, they began to develop other materials for use in their products.
At present, one of these is a modified asphalt (developed using recycled rubber) that has been shown to have sound environmental credentials.
Owens Corning Roofing Shingles are manufactured in Toledo, Ohio; the only North American plant currently being used.
The majority of Owens Corning’s products are now also sourced from their new factory in Qujing City, China, which opened for business in 2006.
Today Owens Corning Roofing Shingles are manufactured primarily from recycled rubber and plastic, making them environmentally friendly.
The Owens Corning Fiberglass Group has developed a patented weather resistant product known as Thermafiber Concrete Board Insulation, which is made using recycled newspapers.
This insulation performs to half the strength of other materials at thermal break-downs, but boasts an impressive R-value of 6.3 per inch when dry, and 4.5 R per inch when wet.
This is largely due to its closed-cell structure that prevents water absorption at the cellular level; additionally, it reduces wall noise by 26% over standard insulation materials.
Owens Corning Roofing Shingles are also one of the few companies to have developed a product that is truly 100% recycled.
The company produces approximately 2 million pounds of reclaimed high density polyethylene (HDPE) annually, which is used in place of virgin resin to produce the shingles’ fiberglass backing.
This reduces consumption by about 7 million pounds annually, while using recycled resources.
Owens Corning Roofing Shingles are fitted using galvanized fasteners to ensure longevity and durability, with the company offering a 30-year product warranty on all of its products.
Owens Corning Roofing Shingles are available in many colours and textures, with the most common being their asphalt shingle range; these are available in three shades of brown, as well as grey.
Benefits of Owens Corning Roofing Shingles
Make sure you always hire an Owens Corning roofing shingle installer. They are the only ones trained to install this brand of roof.
- Owens Corning Roofing Shingles come in various colors and styles, offering homeowners a wide range of choices that can coordinate with any home or office building’s existing colors.
- Owens Corning Roofing Shingles are made from recycled materials, reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
- Owens Corning Roofing Shingles are durable and long lasting, with a 30-year warranty offered on all products. They are ideal for any climate due to their high performance against wind uplift, fire, ice damming and impact resistance.
- Owens Corning Roofing Shingles are environmentally friendly due to their recycled content. They are also fitted with galvanized fasteners for increased durability.
- The installation of Owens Corning Roofing Shingles is insured by the Owens Corning Certified Shingle Applicator program, which ensures that customers receive a high quality and professional effort.
- The company runs several training programs for its applicators, covering all aspects of their product range; additionally it provides certification and special offers for those who complete these programs.
Shingle Style Selection
With a much wider range of shingle styles and options, the clear winner is Owens Corning.
Tamko Shingle Styles
There are also different types of Tamko shingles, from basic to best.
- Elite Glass-Seal is a window sealant used to protect your windows from wind, moisture, and fire.
- The Heritage shingles have a dimensional rustic look with a 30 year warranty and Class A fire rating.
- Heritage Premium is thicker than the standard Heritage and has a fire rating of 110-130mph with 50 year warranty.
- Heritage Woodgate is a type of roofing that has good fire and wind protection.
- Heritage Vintage is an exterior siding material that has a wood shake appearance and provides Class A fire resistance.
There are other reasons to like Tamko shingles. The collection of shingles available to an OC is greater than for other collections.
Owens Corning Shingle Styles
Many homeowners enjoy the look and feel of a variety of shingles, with Owens Corning offering a wide range of styles to suit nearly any home.
The most popular styles are architectural and dimensional, which mimic the appearance of traditional roofing materials, including wood shakes and slate.
- OC’s 3-tab shingle has a 25 year warranty, 60 MPH wind uplift rating, and an algae warranty.
- Owens Corning sells the OC Duration Series of shingles that are comparable to Tamko Heritage and CertainTeed Landmark.
- The TruDefinition color platform for brightness and contrast and SureNail triple-layer fabric nailing strip improves durability.
- Duration Designer is a shingles company that offers 8 colors.
- Duration Storm shingles are available in 7 colors, and have a Class 4 Hail impact resistance rating.
- Duration Flex is the most advanced type of roofing shingle that lasts for 50 years. This SBS polymer-modified asphalt shingle is a better option for hail impact resistance and flexibility.
- Duration COOL is a new roofing material that has the same quality of TruDefinition, but also includes CRRC rating for California Title 24 and Los Angeles Green Building Code compliance. Cool solar-reflecting shingles are available in 10 colors, all of which are Energy Star certified.
- The Duration Premium COOL shingles are made in light colors and have the same features as standard Duration shingles. Duration Premium Cool shingles are rated by the CRRC for CA Title 24 and Los Angeles Green Building code.
- Duration Premium is an upgraded version of the Duration shingle that has thicker and heavier design for longevity. This heavy weight shingle is a good choice for Homeowner Association specifications.
- Duration Max shingles are thick and resemble wood, but they’re durable like asphalt.
- Oakridge shingles come in different colors, are wind resistant at 110 MPH and can be made more so with 6 nails
- Woodcrest is a type of roofing that shingles can be placed in unique ways and has fire resistance. Woodcrest is a shingle that has a textured, wood-shake appearance.
- Devonshire is a shingle style with great wind resistance and has an algae resistant warranty.
- The Berkshire Slate-look shingle is a slate look with oversized tabs that are ideal for larger homes or dramatic style.
- Woodmoor is a roofing material that offers wind-resistance, 10-year algae warranty and lifetime shingle warranty.
Quality and Reliability
The shingles are made of materials that create a long lasting product
- Owens Corning produces three different types of shingles, with the best being Devonshire.
- Tamko is a brand that makes different levels of quality in their products.
The shingles from Owens Corning and Tamko are designed to resist UV radiation. The shingles from Owens Corning and Tamko contain a fiberglass mat base saturated in asphalt. The shingles are made with layers that can be fused together.
The roof is covered with shingles that are only half visible. 3-tab roofs have two to three layers of coverage at any given point.
Some shingles are designed for architectural purposes, with 4-5 layers of coverage. The wind ratings for shingles depend on the type of product. The two brands have the same ratings in most ASTM materials and fire rating tests.
Bad shingles are often the result of production rather than the materials used. The processes for making shingles are slightly different every time they run.
When shingles are manufactured, all the layers need to fuse together properly. Owens Corning and Tamko are brands worth considering because they provide consistent quality.
The Triple-reinforced nailing fabric and widened nailing zone provide the OC TruDefinition Duration shingles with a 130 MPH guarantee. Tamko Heritage shingles come with a 110 MPH wind uplift warranty.
The installation of Tamko Heritage shingles requires a more costly enhancement for the product to attain a 130 MPH wind uplift warranty.
Cost of Tamko and Owens Corning Roofing Shingles
These brands compete aggressively, so their prices are comparable across all products. The prices for the product are measured in square feet.
- OC Supreme 3-tab shingles are $75-$85 and Tamko Elite Glass-Seal is $72-$77
- Flagship architectural shingles cost $90-$120 OC and Tamko Heritage architecture shingles cost $84-$100.
- Roofing shingles range from $115-$130 and the most popular brands are OC Duration Storm, Flex, and Cool (CA), as well as Tamko Heritage Premium.
- The prices of shingles for OC Devonshire, Woodmoor, and Woodcrest are $175-$280 while Tamko’s Heritage line is priced at $180-$215
Note: Tamko offers better value than other siding companies. Tamko is a more affordable roofing company.
If you are considering any materials for your roof, it is important to get written estimates so that you can compare the costs and benefits of different types.
Why is Shingles Warranty Important?
Until recently homeowners didn’t worry about their roof covering.
Now with the huge number of roofs damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, this past year combined with the appearance of shingles showing up in all colors, styles and shapes there has been a greater interest in shingles warranties.
Shingles are sold with warranties that promise the owner replacement of the roof covering or reimbursement for repairs if it fails prematurely or is damaged.
It’s not just homeowners affected by hurricanes who have to worry about their roofs being replaced because of storm damage.
According to data provided by Home Depot, 30% of the roofing materials they sell are for existing homes. Of those sales, 25% are to replace shingles damaged by hail and wind.
If you plan on buying a new home – or even if you’re just looking at shingles – it’s important that you know what your warranty covers and how long it lasts so you can budget for roof replacement when it’s needed.
Shingles are a long term investment, and one that should last 30 years or more if properly maintained. Before you buy shingles, know what your warranty covers and how long it lasts.
Types of Shingle Warranties
Most companies offer five-year limited warranties and 50-year pro-rated guarantees. The five year warranty covers defective materials and installation errors, but doesn’t cover normal wear and tear.
At the end of the five years you may have to pay for any needed repairs or replacement yourself.
The 50 year guarantee is a pro-rated promise that states that if your roof needs replacing after the first 40 years, the company will pay 1/40th of the cost. After year 50 you’re on your own for replacement
The Life of Shingles
Studies show that if you live in an area where winds are between 75 and 100 miles per hour, shingles will probably last 15 to 20 years. If you live in an area where the winds are milder, they could last 25 to 30 years.
If you live in an area with high winds, shingles will have a shorter life span because of the wear and tear on the roof. If you live in an area that has little or no wind, your shingles won’t wear out as quickly.
The biggest factor in the life of shingles is how many times they are replaced. If you replace your roof once every 20 years, it will last 40 to 50 years. If you replace them every 10 years, they will only last 20 to 30 years.
According to an industry source on roofing materials, “You don’t need to replace your roof because it’s worn out, but because you need a new look. Just keep that in mind when you’re buying.”
If You Have a Warranty
If you have a warranty, be sure to read the fine print and understand exactly what is covered. Don’t expect coverage for normal wear and tear, which includes damage from trees, weathering and aging.
When you read the warranty, be sure to ask yourself these questions:
- What is covered? Is everything that could go wrong included? If not, what do I have to pay for myself?
- How often does it need to be replaced or repaired before they will cover those costs? If it only lasts 15 years, will I have to pay for the last five myself?
- Is there a deductible or is the entire cost of replacing it my responsibility? If you’re responsible for any costs at all, make sure what you’re getting is worth the money you’ll have to spend.
- What about my existing shingles? Will they replace them if I change my mind and decide not to replace them?
- If they will cover the existing shingles, how many years do I have? What happens when it runs out?
- How long is the warranty good for? It’s better to go with a company that stands behind their product for at least 30 years. A 50- year warranty is even better.
If You Don’t Have a Warranty
- If you buy your shingles from an independent contractor, read the warranty before you sign any paperwork. If it’s not written down, don’t expect to have much recourse if there is a problem later.
- Once the roof is installed, check for damage or defects and have them fixed immediately. If you don’t, you can void your warranty.
- If the company that installed the roof has gone out of business, contact their insurance company and file a claim. The insurer will most likely ask you to pay for repairs first and then submit proof of payment before they reimburse you.
- If you install the roof yourself, be sure to watch for any problems that might arise. If you notice a leak, don’t wait until spring to fix it. Fixing leaks in winter can be difficult and dangerous.
- It’s best to fix them as soon as possible so the damage doesn’t get worse.
OC Warranties
OC offers a variety of warranties for different purposes:
- The non-prorated period for shingles to be installed over any roofing underlayment is 5 or 10 years, depending on the type of shingle.
- This warranty requires the installation of Owens Corning shingles, Hip & Ridge shingles, and two other products in order to be valid. The non-prorated period on a contract is 5 or 10 years depending on the shingle.
- The System Protection, Preferred Protection and Platinum Protection are exclusive to Owens Corning certified contractors. These warranties offer a longer period without the warranty being prorated.
You must install 2 of the 4 products listed in the Total Protection warranty for System Protection. For the Preferred Protection and Platinum Protection warranties, you must install 3 of our products with other qualifying factors
Tamko Warranties
Tamko’s warranties are straightforward:
- The warranty for this product is 5 years during which it has 100% coverage, and then over the next 20 years it will be reduced by 5%.
- The warranty lasts for 360 months and is 100% during the first 15 years. The warranty is reduced by 6.67% per year over the next 15 years. The wind warranty is 130mph for 15 years and the algae cleaning warranty is 10 years.
- The warranty for a product lasts 600 months and is 100% after 20 years
- After 5 years, the warranty is reduced by 3.33% per year over the next 20.
- Heritage shingles have a wind warranty of 130 MPH for 15 years and an algae cleaning warranty of 10 years.
Tamko warranties can be transferred once within two years or five years. The warranty states that if the original owner wants to transfer their limited warranty, they must provide TAMKO with written notice within 30 days after the transfer.
Warranties tell you how much the company believes in their products. Both companies offer a range of products with similar warranties.
Many people have complaints with the manufacturer not backing their warranty. Homeowners find that OC and Tamko shingles don’t back up their warranties.
The installation process of roofing is important because it determines the quality. To avoid problems with your shingles, it is important to find an experienced installer. Roofing contractors that want your business are all screened and insured.
Therefore, you should get an installation warranty from your roofing contractor so that if their mistakes cause defects, they will be responsible for fixing it.
