When it comes to selecting a new material for your home’s roof, there is a wide array of options on the market. From traditional asphalt shingles to tiles, metal, and more, it can be tough to pick the right material for your unique property.
For Marylanders looking to invest in a sturdy and reliable roofing solution, this brief guide will help guide homeowners through the decision to purchase luxury asphalt shingles, including the benefits, drawbacks, and top-rated brands currently on the market! Read on to learn more.
What are Luxury Shingles?
Luxury asphalt shingles are top-of-the-line shingle types offered by many roofing manufacturers. They stand in contrast to the usual asphalt shingles offered by these companies, as they are often much more durable, heavier, and resistant to severe weather, and they come in a wider variety of attractive styles.
However, these premium roofing shingles can be much more expensive than the typical lines of asphalt roofing shingles, which can make some pause before making their purchase.
- 50-year limited manufacturer warranty
- Resistance against 130-MPH winds
- Algae Resistance shingle
25-year limited manufacturer warranty - Resistance against 60-MPH winds
- Algae Resistance shingle
Luxury Shingle
- 50-year limited manufacturer warranty
- 130-MPH wind resistance
- Algae Resistance
Normal Shingle
- 25-year limited manufacturer warranty
- 60-MPH wind resistance
- Algae Resistance
Premium Roofing Shingles Designed to Last
These shingles are a premium option, and they are built for long-term performance in harsh conditions. When installed correctly and paired with proper ventilation, they can deliver reliable durability and strong weather protection over time. Many home and business owners choose them for the upgraded look, heavier construction, and enhanced warranty options.
What are the Benefits of a Luxury Asphalt Shingle Roof?
Purchasing and installing a luxury shingle roof can have excellent benefits for a homeowner, including the ones below!
Curb Appeal
If you’re looking to sell your home, improve your home’s equity, or just make it more appealing to your eye, installing these shingles can be a great move!
Most roofing materials companies offer luxury asphalt shingles in either a wider range of styles and colors than their traditional offerings, or they are often designed to look much more expensive and “chic” than a traditional shingle.
They are sometimes modeled after a slate roof, which can give your home’s curb appeal an upscale look without all of the effort and stress of installing heavy, natural slate.
In addition to looking better, luxury asphalt shingles may have a competitive edge in the real estate market due to their premium appearance and quality. These shingles can also come with a transferable warranty, which gives the buyer the warranty rights and can also sweeten the deal. Properties with these shingles will attract more attention from buyers seeking upscale and well-maintained homes, leading to quicker sales and potentially higher selling prices.
Durability
These are built to be much more durable than a typical asphalt shingle, lasting up to 50 years or more if properly maintained. The extra asphalt layers of the shingle and more robust materials mean that they’re much more able to withstand the kinds of conditions that can make shingle roofing crack or come loose. They are weather-resistant, fire-resistant, and can prevent high winds from lifting them away from your home.
These can also resist the stresses of day-to-day wear and tear much more effectively than a standard shingle. For this reason, they can be an excellent investment in spite of the higher up-front costs. Both the reduction in roofing damage and the improvements to your home’s energy efficiency can actually be a much more economical decision than other shingles over time!
These can also resist the stresses of day-to-day wear and tear much more effectively than a standard shingle. For this reason, they can be an excellent investment in spite of the higher up-front cost. Both the reduction in roofing damage and the improvements to your home’s energy efficiency can actually be a much more economical decision than other shingles over time!
Are There Drawbacks?
Of course, in spite of these amazing benefits, luxury shingles do actually come with a few downsides that are important to mention. These include the following.
Like any luxury roofing product, this shingle will always come with a higher price tag. These are typically a given brand’s premium offering; they’re more expensive to produce and more finicky to install, and they offer customers a number of important benefits, so they are bound to cost a little more. Some may object to these higher costs and instead opt for a shingle product that is more affordable in the short term in spite of the many upsides to luxury shingles.
These shingles can be expensive to replace, and as a result, most manufacturers will require that a number of roof-protecting conditions be met in order to guarantee a warranty for your home’s roof.
While this makes sense from the manufacturer’s perspective, it can be frustrating to hear you need to add additional roof features in order to guarantee or extend their shingle roof’s warranty! For example, select a specific underlayment or ventilation system.
This also means that only roofers with certain qualifications from the manufacturer are able to offer enhanced warranties when they install your roof. Depending on the shingle manufacturer, it may also mean you must purchase only roofing components from said manufacturer to guarantee a warranty.
Installation by a Certified Roofer is Needed for Most Warranties
These shingles can be expensive to replace, and as a result, most manufacturers will require that a number of roof-protecting conditions be met in order to guarantee a warranty for your home’s roof.
While this makes sense from the manufacturer’s perspective, it can be frustrating to hear you need to add additional roof features in order to guarantee or extend their roof’s warranty! For example, select a specific underlayment or ventilation system.
This also means that only roofers with certain qualifications from the manufacturer are able to offer enhanced warranties when they install your roof. Depending on the manufacturer, it may also mean you must purchase only roofing components from said manufacturer to guarantee a warranty.
Best Brands for Shingles
Homeowners opting for luxury shingles have an array of brands to choose from on the market. Below are just a few of the most popular manufacturers in the roofing industry!
Owens Corning Designer Shingles
Owens Corning offers some of the most refined and visually striking designer shingles in the industry. Their products focus on slate-style profiles, bold shadowing, and reliable long-term performance.
Owens Corning (Berkshire)
The Owens Corning flagship luxury roofing shingle is Berkshire. It uses a large format style that imitates natural slate with deep shadows and distinctive cuts. It includes StreakGuard algae protection and carries a limited lifetime warranty with 110 to 130 mph winds performance when installed to spec.
Woodmoor Shingles
Woodmoor shingles aim to mimic the appearance of thick cedar shakes. They feature a high-profile design with heavy laminations and bold shading. These shingles offer strong durability and enhanced home appeal.
Woodcrest Shingles
Woodcrest offers the look of handcrafted wooden shakes at a slightly lighter weight. It still provides the layered construction and shadowing expected from a luxury shingle line and carries Owens Corning’s strong winds and algae warranties.
GAF Designer Shingles
GAF offers a wide selection of premium shingles. Their designer lines replicate the look of slate, hand-cut shakes, or sculpted wood while offering strong protection against high winds and algae.
GAF Camelot II
Camelot II shingles provide an elegant slate-style appearance with rich color depth and premium dimensional cuts. They carry a limited lifetime warranty with a high winds rating when installed with GAF accessories.
GAF Slateline
Slateline shingles offer a bold slate aesthetic with deep shadow lines and angular cuts. It is GAF’s most recognizable designer shingle and delivers a luxury roof look at a midrange luxury price.
GAF Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon shingles are among the thickest and most rugged asphalt shingles available. They create a dramatic wood shake appearance and offer excellent impact resistance and durability.
Grand Sequoia Shingles
Grand Sequoia shingles deliver an oversized shake look that gives the roof a substantial feel. They provide strong resistance against high winds and a textured finish appealing to homeowners seeking a natural look.
GAF Woodland
Woodland shingles blend European aesthetics with bold dimensional cuts. They offer your home roof a refined, handcrafted appearance with strong durability.
CertainTeed Luxury Shingle
CertainTeed produces some of the heaviest and most durable asphalt shingles in the luxury category. Their premium lines are known for slate authenticity, strong warranties, and long-term weather performance.
Grand Manor Shingle
Grand Manor shingles imitate natural slate with deep shadows, random tabs, and a multi-layered construction. They provide excellent dimensionality and come with a 130 mph wind warranty when installed correctly.
Carriage House Shingles
Carriage House shingles are designed to replicate scalloped slate. They are thick, heavy, and visually striking. Their cut and profile make them a standout choice for historic homes.
Belmont Shingle
Belmont shingles feature a refined slate appearance and are available in impact-resistant versions. Their heavy construction puts them in a class of the longest-lasting luxury asphalt products on the market.
Highland Slate Shingles
Highland Slate shingles offer the look of quarried slate with chiseled edges and subtle color variation. They perform well in demanding climates.
Presidential Shake Shingles
These shingles replicate hand-split wood shakes with impressive texture and depth. Presidential Shake TL is among the thickest asphalt shingles CertainTeed manufactures, making it one of the most durable shake alternatives available.
Other Asphalt Shingle Options Worth Knowing
Many property owners also compare premium product lines from brands like Atlas and IKO before choosing the best fit for their home. The right choice depends on the look you want, the weather protection you need, and the budget you want to stay within.
Atlas Shingles
Atlas offers several asphalt shingle lines known for bold color blends, algae resistance, and strong wind protection. Their Pinnacle Pristine line is a popular dimensional shingle and includes Scotchgard Protector from 3M to help fight black streaks caused by algae. They also offer StormMaster shingles, which are designed for stronger impact resistance and better performance in severe weather areas.
IKO Shingles
IKO manufactures a wide range of asphalt shingles, including traditional 3-tab shingles, architectural, and designer-style options. Their Cambridge line is a popular shingle with a dimensional look and a strong balance of value, protection, and appeal. Their premium products, such as Crowne Slate and Armourshake, are designed to give property owners a more upscale appearance without switching to natural slate or wood shakes.
Architectural Shingles
Architectural shingles are the most common upgrades from basic 3-tab shingles. They are also called dimensional shingles because they use multiple layers to create a thicker, more textured roof appearance. These shingles usually offer better wind resistance, longer coverage options, and stronger curb appeal than regular 3-tab asphalt shingles.
Laminated Shingles
These shingles are asphalt shingles made with multiple bonded layers. This added thickness gives the roof more depth, better durability, and a more substantial finished look. Most architectural and luxury asphalt options are laminated, but not every shingle falls into the luxury category. Some are designed for practical everyday roofing, while others are built to imitate slate, cedar shake, or other premium materials.
RoofPRO is a Top-Rated Maryland Roofing Contractor for Your Home or Business
RoofPRO is proud to be a local contractor that countless Maryland businesses and homeowners have trusted with replacement, installation, repair, and maintaining their roofing systems. With several years of experience in the field, you can trust that we’ll deliver excellent quality service no matter what type of roofing job you’re looking for!
Vast Experience with Residential and Commercial Roofs
Our team of contractors is made up of roofing professionals with ample experience serving both residential and commercial clients’ roofing projects. We can help with installation, repair, replacement, or maintain a wide range of different roofing systems! Check out our past project gallery to learn more.
Working with Top Brands and Products
At RoofPRO, we’re committed to choosing the best brands with the best reputations to install on your home or business. We know better than anyone that your roof is the first line of defense you have against the elements, and you deserve to feel confident and protected for years to come!
Contact Us Today for a Free Inspection and Estimate
Looking for a roof repair, replacement, or installation? Reach out to our professional team today for a free inspection and estimate on your next roofing project.
Author Bio
Tim Taylor – Owner & Founder of RoofPRO
Tim Taylor began his roofing career in 2003 and founded RoofPRO in 2004 with a mission to fix the poor workmanship that often causes roof leaks. With over 20 years of hands-on experience, he’s earned elite credentials like CertainTeed’s ShingleMaster Wizard certification, HAAG inspection certifications, and OSHA safety training. His expertise in leak repair, flashing repair, and post-storm restoration has made RoofPRO one of Maryland’s most trusted roofing companies. Tim continues to lead with the same principle that built his reputation—roof it right the first time.
