I’ve noticed the same thing with the new shingles—they just don’t feel as solid as what I remember from growing up. My folks’ old house had those thick, rough shingles that seemed to weigh a ton. The ones I put on maybe six years ago look fine from the street, but up close? Way flimsier. I get what you’re saying about manufacturers cutting corners. Could be cost, or maybe some of it is about making them easier to install or ship. I’m not sure all that “green” marketing really means they last longer, either.
About the attic getting hotter, I’ve actually had that thought too. Our upstairs used to stay cool enough with just a fan, but now it heats up way faster in the summer. I wonder if the thinner shingles just don’t block as much sun, or maybe they don’t hold up as well against the heat. Could also be the color—I went with a lighter gray this time, thinking it’d reflect more, but honestly, I can’t tell if it’s helping or not.
One thing I will say, though—the new shingles were a lot easier for me to handle during the install. Not sure if that’s a good thing in the long run, but my back appreciated it at the time. Still, I kind of miss that sense of “solid” you’d get from the older ones. Maybe it’s nostalgia, maybe it’s real. Hard to say.
You’re not imagining things, though. Seems like a lot of us are seeing the same changes. At least we’re not alone in scratching our heads over it.
That’s a really common observation, especially if you’ve worked with both the old and new shingles. I remember doing a storm damage assessment on a 1950s ranch a couple summers ago—those original three-tabs were so thick it took real effort just to pry one up for inspection. Fast forward to a newer install in the same neighborhood, and the shingles felt almost paper-thin by comparison. The weight difference is pretty wild, but yeah, it does make for an easier day on the ladder.
Manufacturers have definitely shifted materials and design over the years. Some of that “eco” push is legit (less asphalt, recycled content), but honestly, reduced material often means less thermal mass. That can let more heat into the attic, especially during a hot spell. Color helps a bit—lighter shades do reflect more UV—but if the shingle itself is thinner, you’re still going to notice more heat transfer.
The installation side’s gotten simpler, but I’ve seen more issues with wind damage since these changes. The older heavyweights would stay put even in a nasty thunderstorm; lately, I’m getting calls about missing tabs after just moderate winds. It’s a trade-off: easier handling versus long-term durability. Hard to say which matters more until you get hit by a big storm...
That’s the thing—my old place had those chunky shingles from the 70s, and they barely budged during storms. When we re-roofed with the newer stuff, I was surprised how light they felt. Made the install a breeze, but after a windy spring, I found a couple tabs in the yard. Not sure if it’s worth the trade-off for easier handling. The attic definitely gets warmer now, too... maybe I should’ve gone with a lighter color or added more insulation.
Funny thing, I had almost the exact same experience, but I went a different route. When my old three-tab shingles finally gave up (they were probably from the late 70s too, thick as heck), I started looking into the lighter, modern asphalt ones. The roofer even showed me how much easier they'd be to haul up and nail down. But I just kept thinking about the crazy wind we get out here—those gusts that rattle the windows and send lawn chairs flying.
Instead, I ended up going with a recycled rubber shingle. Yeah, I know, sounds weird, but they’re heavier than the new asphalt stuff and supposedly more flexible in storms. Installers grumbled a bit about the weight, but I haven’t seen a single piece come off, even after that big windstorm last fall. The attic doesn’t bake as much either, which I think is partly because the rubber’s a lighter gray, and partly because I threw a couple extra inches of cellulose up there when I had the chance.
I get why folks go for the lighter shingles—less backbreaking work, cheaper install, all that. But sometimes that “easy” comes back to bite you when the weather gets wild. The color thing is real, too. My neighbor did black shingles and his upstairs is like a sauna in July. He’s always running his AC. If you’re worried about the attic heat, maybe look into some kind of reflective coating or just beef up the insulation—it made a bigger difference than I expected.
Not saying the new stuff’s all bad, just... I guess I’d rather wrestle with heavy materials once than chase shingle bits around every spring.
Rubber shingles, huh? Haven’t worked with those yet, but I’ve heard they hold up pretty well in rough weather. I’m in a spot where the wind just rips through, and honestly, the lighter asphalt tabs are always the first to go. The color thing’s no joke either—dark shingles just cook the attic. I’ve been pushing my folks to add more insulation for ages... makes a bigger difference than most people think.
