Asphalt shingle roofing covers more homes in Pittsburgh than every other roofing material combined. Drive any street in Ross Township, Bellevue or Squirrel Hill and most of the roofs you see are asphalt shingles, and for good reason. They handle our freeze and thaw winters, wet springs and humid summers, they suit everything from a 1920s brick four square to a new build in Cranberry, and a good crew can install them in a day or two.
This guide explains what an asphalt shingle roof is, how 3 tab, architectural and designer shingles differ, why asphalt performs well in Western Pennsylvania, what a proper installation includes, and how to tell when your current roof is done. We install asphalt shingle roofing across Pittsburgh and the North Hills every week of the year, so the examples and photos below come from our own jobs.
What Is an Asphalt Shingle Roof?
An asphalt shingle is a fiberglass mat coated on both sides with asphalt and topped with ceramic coated mineral granules. The fiberglass gives the shingle its strength and fire resistance, the asphalt makes it waterproof, and the granules protect the asphalt from ultraviolet light and give the roof its color. Older organic shingles used a felt paper mat instead of fiberglass; nearly everything sold today is fiberglass based.
The shingles are only the visible layer. A complete asphalt roofing system also includes ice and water barrier at the eaves and valleys, synthetic underlayment, starter strip, hip and ridge cap, metal drip edge, flashing at walls and chimneys, and balanced ventilation. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association describes the same layered system, and manufacturer warranties generally depend on all of those parts being installed together.
Types of Asphalt Shingles: 3 Tab, Architectural and Designer
Every asphalt shingle sold in the Pittsburgh market falls into one of three categories. The differences matter for how the roof looks, how long it lasts and what warranty the manufacturer will stand behind.
3 Tab Shingles (Strip Shingles)
Three tab shingles are a single flat layer of asphalt with two cutouts that divide each strip into three equal tabs. Each strip is about 12 inches tall and 36 inches wide, and when installed the tabs line up in neat rows, which gives the roof a flat, uniform, almost brick like pattern. Manufacturers also call them strip shingles.
Three tab shingles are the lightest and thinnest asphalt option, and they were the standard on Pittsburgh homes reroofed from the 1960s through the early 2000s. They typically carry a 60 mile per hour wind rating and a realistic service life of 15 to 20 years in our climate. The tabs are the weak point: wind can lift a single layer, and granules wear off the exposed tab surface faster than on a thicker shingle.
Architectural Shingles (Dimensional or Laminated)
Architectural shingles bond two or more layers of asphalt coated mat together, with the top layer cut in a random pattern so the finished roof has the shadow lines and depth of wood shake or slate. They weigh roughly 50 percent more than 3 tab shingles, which is why they resist wind, hail and curling better. Most architectural lines carry a 110 to 130 mile per hour wind rating when installed to the manufacturer's specification, a Class A fire rating, and a limited lifetime warranty on materials. In Pittsburgh conditions we expect 25 to 30 years from a properly installed and ventilated architectural roof, and premium lines can go longer.
This is the shingle we install on most homes. Our standard line is the Atlas Pinnacle Pristine, which includes Scotchgard Protector against the black algae streaks that show up on shaded slopes around here, and the Atlas StormMaster Shake for homeowners who want a heavier, impact resistant shingle. Atlas explains what makes an architectural shingle different on its own site.
Designer and Luxury Shingles
Designer shingles are the heaviest laminated shingles on the market, cut to mimic quarried slate or cedar shakes closely enough that most people cannot tell the difference from the sidewalk. They suit a historic home in Sewickley or Fox Chapel that had slate originally, and they carry the longest warranties and highest wind and impact ratings in the asphalt category.
3 Tab vs Architectural Shingles: Which Is Better for a Pittsburgh Roof?
The honest answer is that architectural shingles are the better product for a primary residence in Western Pennsylvania, and almost every roof we replace today gets them. The comparison below shows why.
| Feature | 3 Tab Shingles | Architectural Shingles |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Single layer, three cut tabs | Two or more laminated layers |
| Weight | Lightest asphalt shingle | About 50 percent heavier |
| Appearance | Flat, uniform rows | Dimensional, shadow lines, shake or slate look |
| Typical wind rating | 60 mph | 110 to 130 mph |
| Expected life in Pittsburgh | 15 to 20 years | 25 to 30 years or more |
| Manufacturer warranty | 20 to 30 year limited | Limited lifetime on materials |
| Best use today | Sheds, garages, matching a repair | Houses, rentals, any roof you plan to keep |
Three tab shingles still make sense on a detached garage or shed, or when a repair has to blend into an existing 3 tab roof. For a house, the material difference is small compared to the total job, because the labor, tear off, underlayment, flashing and ventilation are the same either way, and the extra ten or more years of life make architectural shingles the better value.
Why Asphalt Shingles Work Well in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh asks a lot of a roof: repeated freeze and thaw cycles, ice at the eaves, heavy spring rain, humid summers and thunderstorm gusts that peel loose shingles off a ridge. Asphalt shingles handle all of it as long as the system under them is right.
- Freeze and thaw: Asphalt stays flexible enough through cold snaps to move with the deck, and the granule surface sheds meltwater. Ice and water barrier under the first several feet of shingles at the eaves stops ice dam backup from reaching the wood.
- Heavy rain: Shingles overlap so that every seam is covered by the course above it. With proper underlayment and flashing, a shingle roof sheds water for decades.
- Wind: Architectural shingles with a factory sealant strip bond to the course below them within a few warm days of installation, which is what gives them their 110 plus mile per hour rating.
- Summer heat and fire: Algae resistant granules keep the surface cleaner, balanced attic ventilation keeps it from cooking from below, and fiberglass shingles carry a Class A fire rating, which matters on the close set lots in older neighborhoods.
What a Proper Asphalt Shingle Installation in Pittsburgh Includes
Most asphalt shingle problems we are called to fix were installation problems, not product problems. A residential shingle roofing job done right follows the same sequence every time.
- Full tear off. The old shingles come off down to the wood deck. A second layer hides rotten decking, traps heat and voids most manufacturer warranties.
- Deck repair. Soft or rotted plywood and plank decking is replaced before anything goes back on.
- Ice and water barrier and underlayment. Self adhering membrane along all eaves, in valleys and around penetrations, with synthetic underlayment over the rest of the deck.
- Drip edge, starter and flashing. New metal drip edge, starter strip, step flashing at walls and chimneys and new pipe boots. Reusing old flashing is the most common shortcut we see.
- Shingles nailed to spec. Four to six nails per shingle in the manufacturer's nail zone, with the proper offset between courses.
- Ventilation and ridge cap. Ridge vent paired with open soffit intake, then matching hip and ridge cap shingles.
- Cleanup. Magnet sweeps for nails, gutters cleared, and a final walk through.
Because we are an AtlasPro+ Platinum Select contractor, a complete Atlas system we install, meaning Atlas shingles, underlayment and ventilation together, qualifies for the Atlas 50 year warranty. We also install Owens Corning on request. Whichever line you choose, ask for the warranty terms in writing and confirm every component of the system is in the quote. You can check any Pennsylvania roofer's registration through the PA Attorney General HIC lookup; ours is PA174918.
How to Tell If You Have 3 Tab or Architectural Shingles
Stand across the street and look at the pattern. Straight, even rows of identical rectangular tabs on a flat surface mean 3 tab shingles. A layered surface with irregular shadow lines and tabs of different widths means architectural shingles. Up close, an architectural shingle is visibly thicker at the butt edge and has no cutouts running through it.
Signs Your Asphalt Roof Needs Repair or Replacement
Asphalt shingles give warning before they fail. These are the signs we look for on every roof inspection:
- Shingles that are curling at the edges, cupping in the middle, cracked or missing
- Granules collecting in the gutters or at the bottom of downspouts, and bald, shiny patches on the shingles
- Dark streaks or moss on the shaded slopes
- Lifted or rusted flashing at the chimney, walls or vent pipes
- Daylight, water stains or damp insulation visible from the attic
- A sagging ridge or a soft spot when the roof is walked
- A 3 tab roof that is more than 15 years old, or an architectural roof past 25
A few missing shingles or a failed pipe boot can usually be handled by our repair division. Widespread granule loss, curling across whole slopes, or a second layer already on the roof means it is time for a roof replacement. We will tell you which you need, in writing, after we look.
What Drives the Cost of an Asphalt Shingle Roof
No two roofs are the same, but the factors are consistent: roof size in squares (one square is 100 square feet), pitch and height, how many layers come off, how much decking needs replacement, the number of chimneys, skylights, valleys and dormers, the shingle line you choose, and any ventilation or gutter work done at the same time. A free written estimate after an on site inspection is the only honest way to know, and we offer financing if you want to spread the cost out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are asphalt shingles a good choice for roofing in Pittsburgh?
Yes. For most Pittsburgh homes, architectural asphalt shingles are the best balance of weather resistance, appearance, warranty and value. They handle freeze and thaw, heavy rain and summer heat well when installed over ice and water barrier with proper flashing and ventilation. Metal and slate are excellent too, but asphalt fits the framing and the budget of the typical house here.
How long does an asphalt shingle roof last in Western Pennsylvania?
A 3 tab roof typically lasts 15 to 20 years here. An architectural shingle roof that was installed correctly and has a ventilated attic should give 25 to 30 years, and designer shingles can go longer. Poor ventilation, a second layer underneath, and shaded slopes that stay damp all shorten that life.
Do roofers still use 3 tab shingles?
Rarely on houses. Most manufacturers still make them, and we use them for sheds, garages and repairs that need to match an existing 3 tab roof. For a full replacement on a home, the small savings are not worth the shorter life and lower wind rating, so nearly every roof we install today is architectural.
Can you put architectural shingles over 3 tab shingles?
Code allows a second layer in many cases, but we do not recommend it. Layering over flat 3 tab shingles leaves the new architectural shingles sitting on an uneven base, hides any rotted decking, traps heat and generally voids the manufacturer's warranty. A full tear off costs more on the day but it is the only way to get the roof you are paying for.
Are architectural shingles really better than 3 tab?
For a house, yes. They are about 50 percent heavier, rated for roughly twice the wind speed, last ten or more years longer and carry a limited lifetime warranty instead of a 20 to 30 year one. They also look better. Three tab shingles only win on upfront material cost and on matching an existing 3 tab roof.
Get a Free Asphalt Shingle Roofing Estimate in Pittsburgh
Malick Brothers Exteriors is a family owned roofing company founded in 2022 by Ryan Malick and based at 500 Perry Highway in West View. We are BBB A+ accredited, registered as PA174918, and we install asphalt shingle roofs across Pittsburgh and the North Hills all year. If your roof is showing its age, contact us for a free inspection and written estimate.
