Yeah, I hear you on the 3-tabs. I had them on my old place and they just couldn’t keep up with our crazy spring weather—one week it’s freezing, next week it’s almost summer. I switched to a recycled rubber shingle last time around. Not the cheapest, but honestly, it’s held up way better through all the wild temp swings. Plus, I feel a little better about the eco side of things. The upfront cost stings, but I haven’t had to mess with repairs since.
I’ve been eyeing those rubber shingles, actually. Right now I’m stuck with architectural asphalt—better than 3-tab, but still not perfect. Last year’s hailstorm had me up there patching like a squirrel on espresso. The eco angle is tempting though... might be worth the splurge next time.
Last year’s hailstorm had me up there patching like a squirrel on espresso.
- Rubber shingles handle hail a lot better than asphalt—less cracking, less patching.
- They’re heavier, though, so check your roof structure first.
- Upfront cost is higher, but you’ll save on repairs after storms.
- Eco angle’s nice, but honestly, the durability is what sells it for me.
- One thing: they can fade a bit over time, especially in full sun. Not a dealbreaker, just something to keep in mind.
- If you’re in a spot with wild temp swings, rubber flexes better than asphalt—less splitting after freeze/thaw cycles.
Rubber shingles do seem to take a beating way better than asphalt, especially with all the crazy hail we get here. I’ve seen a few jobs where the rubber looked scuffed but didn’t crack, while the old asphalt next door looked like Swiss cheese. The weight’s no joke, though—I had to double-check the rafters on my uncle’s place before even considering them. That fading thing is real too; his black roof turned more charcoal after a couple summers. Still, fewer emergency patches sounds pretty good after last spring’s storm circus.
Rubber’s definitely tougher than asphalt when it comes to hail, but yeah, that weight can sneak up on you. I’ve seen a few folks skip the rafter check and regret it later. The fading’s annoying, but at least you’re not patching holes every other season. Still, I’m not convinced it’s worth the extra cost for everyone—depends how wild your weather gets, I guess.