The U.S. has a shingle problem, just in time for peak hurricane season
More than half the homes with asphalt shingle roofs have 3-tab shingles, which are increasingly tough to replace.
The roofing industry is phasing out one of the most popular shingle choices in the U.S. for decades, according to a recent study by itel.
Despite millions of American homes having three-tab asphalt shingles ahead of peak hurricane season, the data showed not only are fewer manufacturers making them, production is down 68% since 2019.
“Nearly four million insured homeowners in the U.S. submit a claim each year, with wind or hail damage, like from hurricanes, historically accounting for more than 40% of these claims,” itel President Chris Touchton told PropertyCasualty360.com.
“As three-tab shingle production and available supply decreases, homes with three-tab shingle roofs face immediate challenges if damage occurs,” he said. “Decreasing availability of three-tab shingle supply might make it harder to facilitate a roof repair when damage is localized to several shingles or a single slope. This creates varying economic challenges not just for homeowners but also insurance carriers, who will ultimately fund replacements.”
Rising production and installation costs, consumer preference of architectural shingles, durability and regulatory trends promoting better sustainability have led most manufacturers to wind down production of 3-tab shingles, according to itel.
More than half the homes with asphalt shingle roofs in hurricane states like Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina have three-tab asphalt shingles, with Florida at just 42% due to building codes and the popularity of tile roofs.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management says when hurricane wind gusts exceed 120mph (Category 3 storm and above), 30% to 50% of homes with shingle roofs experience enough damage to require re-roofing, regardless of roof age.
“Since three-tab shingles are less durable than other shingle roofs and were predominantly installed in the 1980s through the early 2000s, its risk for significant damage is considerably higher,” Touchton said.
“Less significant damage — often occurring far inland — isn’t enough to require full replacement, but it typically damages a few shingles, exacerbating the problem,” he added.
The itel report showed claims involving three-tab asphalt shingles make up a significant portion of total asphalt shingle claims across the U.S., specifically in hurricane-prone regions, with three-tab shingles comprising 54.8% of asphalt shingle claims in the Southeast and 45.7% in the South Central region.
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