When shopping for shingles, you may come across the popular brand Tamko. Who is Tamko, and should you use this company to supply your roof shingles? This in-depth review looks at Tamko shingles, including the different product lines.
About Tamko
Tamko started in a streetcar barn located in Joplin, Missouri, in 1944. Fast-forward to 2021, and Tamko is now a national producer of roof shingles with multiple factories through the US and thousands of employees.
Despite their extensive history, Tamko continues to innovate to ensure superior products while meeting the business's core values - Honesty, Integrity, and Compliance.
Tamko's name consists of the first letter of the five states the company did business in - Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
Tamko Product Line
Tamko offers products based on a good, better, best-tier system for 3-tab, architectural, and premium style asphalt shingles. They also offer a limited selection of metal roofs.
Every product from Tamko is Class A fire rated - the highest rating possible.
3-Tab Shingles: Elite Glass-Seal (Good)
For those shopping on a budget or who prefer the traditional look of shingles, Tamko offers multiple 3-tab products. Your roof will need a 2" incline or more for this style.
The Elite Glass-Seal product line consists of fiberglass shingles with a wind resistance of up to 60 mph and a 25-year limited warranty. Elite Glass-Seal 3-tab shingles have a fiberglass mat coated on top and bottom with weather-grade asphalt with ceramic granules on the surface.
Elite Glass-Seal shingles have 11 color choices. Brick colors like red or yellow work well with Empire Green Blendreen. Glacier White can reduce your energy cost because the reflective surface of white means it can reflect sun rays and help to keep the heat outside of your home. Other common colors are also good choices.
Pros
- 25-year warranty
- Traditional 3-tab design
- Budget-friendly
CONs
- Low wind resistance
- Limited color choices
Bottom Line: The Elite Glass-Seal product line is perfect for customers looking for a cheap way to add curb appeal to their homes with a traditional 3-tab roof.
Architectural Shingle
Architectural shingles - sometimes referred to as dimensional or laminated shingles - are the highest quality type of shingles available due to their enhanced construction.
Tamko's architectural shingles uses an asphalt coated fiberglass mat with unique colors, shadow tone, and granule mix on the surface that's laminated together for durability.
Heritage line comes in 2 color palettes to match any home's aesthetic. America's Natural Colors line offers 7 nature-inspired bold colors while the 17 Heritage Classic Colors are more subtle earth tones (gray, red, brown).
Brand | Heritage | Heritage Premium | Heritage IR |
|---|---|---|---|
Colors | 24 | 13 | 4 |
Wind Resistance | 90 mph | 110-130 mph | 130 mph |
Fire Rating | Class A | Class A | Class A |
Warranty | 30 years | 50 years | Limited Lifetime |
Heritage (Better)
Heritage rustic dimensional shingles have a 30-year warranty, and wind resistance of up to 90 mph, making them suitable for most locations and climates. You can choose from any of the color choices from the American or Heritage color palette for a total of 24 color choices.
America’s Natural Colors
America's Natural Colors are inspired by the browns, greys and other vibrant hues found in nature. The Heritage Color palette is mainly grey and brown with different shades of color. And then there's the Rustic Evergreen.
Pros
- 30-year warranty
- Large color palette options
- Rustic dimensional design
CONs
- Low wind resistance
- Minimum Warranty for Heritage Line
Bottom Line: The Heritage line is for anyone more interested in a signature colored roof than extended warranties or high wind resistance ratings.
Heritage Premium (Best)
The Heritage Premium line is a thicker laminated shingle with a natural shadow line due to the unique granule blends. These products have a higher resistance of 110 to 130 mph with a 50-year warranty.
Classic Heritage
However, the Premium line does not come in 3 American colors (Harvest Gold, Autumn Brown, or Painted Desert) or 6 of the Classic Heritage (Shadow Grey, Glacier White, Antique Slate, Rustic Hickory, Aged Wood, or Desert Sand). Although not shown in the image, there is an option for Rustic Black.
Pros
- Multiple color choices
- 110-130 mph wind resistance
- 50-year warranty
- Shadows for deeper dimensions
CONs
- Thicker material is heavier
- Not impact resistant
Bottom Line: Choose the Heritage Premium line if you want the ability to choose from a wide array of colors in climates that experience heavier weather conditions.
Heritage IR
The Heritage IR line of shingles consists of a laminated fiberglass mat, plus an extra polyester mat, to improve the roof's impact resistance (IR) up to Class 4 - the highest possible and wind resistance up to 130 mph. Many insurance companies offer discounts for roofs with this rating.
Heritage IR
This product comes with a limited lifetime warranty and a 10-year full start period. However, be aware that the warranty does not cover hail damage, despite the Class 4 rating, which does not guarantee hail resistance. The biggest downside is that these durable, weather-resistant roofs only come in 4 color choices.
Pros
- High wind resistance
- Class 4 impact rating
- Limited lifetime warranty
- 10-year full-start period
CONs
- Limited color choices
- Warranty does not include hail damage
Bottom Line: The Heritage IR line is ideal if your house has a lot of trees, extreme weather, high temperatures, or minor hail storms due to its built-in Class 4 impact resistance.
Premium Shingle
Premium shingles are another style of laminated shingles with a dramatically different appearance from other shingle styles. Most Premium styles look more like older generation roofing, such as wood shake or slate.
Brand | Heritage Woodgate | Heritage Vintage |
|---|---|---|
Colors | 6 | 5 |
Wind Resistance | 110-130 mph | 110-130 mph |
Fire Rating | Class A | Class A |
Warranty | Limited lifetime | 50 years |
Heritage Woodgate (Better)
Heritage Woodgate asphalt shingles are wider, so they can resemble wood shakers with added depth. These shingles have a wind resistance rating of 110 to 130 mph and a limited lifetime warranty.
There are limited color choices of Cedar Wood; Cabin Wood Brown; Weathered Wood; Black Sage; Antique Wood; and Rustic Redwood.
Pros
- High wind resistance
- Wider design
- Limited lifetime warranty
CONs
- Limited colors
- More expensive
Bottom Line: The Heritage collection allows you to achieve the aesthetic of wood shingles without the hassle of the temperamental material.
Heritage Vintage (Best)
The Vintage series also resembles wood shakes with a random sawtooth style and angular lines. These laminated shingles come in 5 color choices - Chestnut, Redwood, Charcoal, Weathered Wood, or Fossil Grey.
Advantages of this line include a 50-year warranty and wind resistance of 110-130 mph. If you prefer sharper angles and a wood shake design, this style will suit your needs.
Pros
- High wind rating
- 50-year warranty
- Angular design
- More dimension
CONs
- Costs more
- Limited colors
Bottom Line: The Heritage Vintage is the best premium product Tamko offers, with a higher price tag to match. You’ll have to decide if the extra cost is worth the look you’re trying to achieve.
Metal Roof
Brand | Colors |
|---|---|
StoneCrest Slate | 6 |
StoneCrest Tile | 3 |
AstonWood | 8 |
Tamko has something for every market, including metal roofing. Metal roofs can last up to three times longer than asphalt shingles, making them a popular choice for climates with extreme weather.
The three product lines for Tamko MetalWorks Steel Shingles are AstonWood, StoneCrest Slate, and StoneCrest Tile. All three are G-90 steel-constructed, with Energy Star certifications, 50-year warranties, 25-year full start periods, and feature 4-way locking systems.
Pros
- 50-year warranty with 25-year start period
- Four-way locking system
- Long-lasting
- 110 mph wind resistance
- Energy Star certified
CONs
- Limited colors and styles
StoneCrest Slate
These metal shingles go through a double-stamp process that produces a random look that resembles a natural slate. You have 6 color options: Quaker Green; Forest Green; Sequoia Red; Canyon Copper Bronze; River Rock Brown; or Sierra Slate Grey.
StoneCrest Tile
This product provides a contemporary flair in a uniform, smooth tile, with three colors available - Sierra Slate Gray, Vermont Blue, or Quaker Green. This option is more budget-friendly and lighter to install than the other two metals.
AstonWood
AstonWood is the way to go if you’re hoping to achieve a wood shingle roof using metal panels. You can get this style in eight colors - Canyon Copper Bronze, Forest Green, Quaker Green, Vermont Blue, Timber Brown, River Rock Brown, Sequoia Red, or Sierra Slate Gray.
Tamko Shingles Price
In terms of pricing, Tamko is in range with the competition, allowing you a fair price for a superior product. Here's a quick rundown of prices for the different Tamco products, based on one square (100 square feet).
- Elite Glass-Seal - $72-$77
- Heritage - $84-$100
- Heritage Premium - $90-$120
- Heritage Woodgate & Vintage - $180-$215
Tamko Shingles Warranty
Tamco offers better warranties for its roofing compared to many competitors.
Brand | Warranty Life | Algae Warranty | Wind Warranty | Full-Start Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Elite Glass-Seal | 25 years | 10 years | 5 years (60 mph) | 5 years |
Heritage | 30 years | 10 years | 15 years (130 mph) | 15 years |
Heritage Woodgate | 30 years | 10 years | 15 years (130 mph) | 15 years |
Heritage Premium | 50 years | 10 years | 15 years (130 mph) | 20 years |
Heritage Vintage | 50 years | 10 years | 15 years (130 mph) | 20 years |
Conclusion
Tamko has earned its place at the top of the list for fan-favorite affordable asphalt (and metal) shingles. With a wide selection of shingle types in a good, better, best-tier system, it's easy to figure out which style works for you. The wind resistance, warranties, and easy installation aren't too bad either.