Interesting take, but I’d actually be a bit cautious about using the cheaper 3-tabs even on sheds or garages these days. I’ve seen a few outbuildings where the lighter shingles started curling or losing granules after just a couple seasons—especially if there’s not much shade or ventilation. Even if it’s not your main house, premature failure can still mean extra work down the line. Sometimes spending a little more upfront saves you from having to redo it sooner than you’d expect... just my two cents from what I’ve seen during inspections.
Sometimes spending a little more upfront saves you from having to redo it sooner than you’d expect...
I get where you're coming from, but honestly, for my backyard shed I just couldn't justify the price jump to architectural shingles. My 3-tabs have held up fine for 6 years now—guess it depends on the local weather and how much you care about looks or lifespan. If it's a workshop or something you use all the time, maybe it's worth it, but for basic storage? I’ll take my chances and patch later if I need to.
guess it depends on the local weather and how much you care about looks or lifespan
That's a fair point. Around here, wind events are the real problem—I've seen plenty of 3-tabs come off after a bad storm, even on sheds. Six years isn't too shabby, but have you noticed if the bundles themselves feel lighter or thinner compared to when you first bought them? I'm seeing more granule loss right out of the package lately, which makes me wonder about overall durability.
I thought I was just imagining things, but yeah, the last batch I picked up felt weirdly flimsy. Maybe it’s just me being paranoid as a first-timer, but when I was hauling them up the ladder, they seemed lighter than what I remember from helping my dad years ago. And the granules—don’t get me started. I had a little pile of them in the truck bed before I even got home. Is that normal? Feels like they’re skimping on the good stuff these days.
I’m in a spot where we get those “hold onto your hat” wind gusts every spring, so now I’m second-guessing if these new shingles will even make it through one season. My neighbor swears by architectural shingles for better durability, but my wallet is still recovering from buying the house... Anyone else feel like shingle quality is going downhill, or am I just getting old and cranky?
I’ve been wondering the same thing, honestly. Just finished patching a few spots on my garage, and the bundles I picked up felt lighter than the ones I used a few years back. The granule mess in my trunk was worse too—almost like they’re shedding before you even get them nailed down. I’m not sure if it’s just cost-cutting or what, but it does make me nervous with how windy it gets here. I’d love to go with those architectural shingles, but yeah, the price jump is real. Anyone else notice the tabs seem thinner now, or am I just remembering wrong?