Are you worried your roof can’t be repaired with insurance coverage because your 3-tab shingles are no longer made? Afraid that a bad color match could ruin your curb appeal (and hurt your home’s resale value)?
At RoofSmart, we understand how difficult and frustrating it can be to figure out what your homeowner’s insurance covers on your roof. We help ensure that our customers receive the insurance coverage they deserve by providing clear and accurate cost proposals.
In this article, we’ll walk you through what happens when your 3-tab shingles are discontinued, how it affects your ability to repair your roof, and how insurance companies typically respond.
Are 3-tab shingles being discontinued?
The 3-tab shingle is old technology. It's been produced for the last 20 years just because it's what people were used to, so people would look for it and buy it.
But it's really been superseded by the laminated architectural shingle, which is now the most common shingle that homeowners buy.
A good way to show the difference between 3-tab shingles and architectural shingles is their wind rating. For example, you usually get a 60-mile-an-hour, five-year wind warranty on a 3-tab shingle, but an architectural shingle usually comes with a 130-mile-an-hour, 10- or 15-year wind warranty
Since 3-tab and architectural shingles are about the same price, it's pretty hard to justify getting the 3-tab. It’s a bit cheaper, but it’s a lot less wind-resistant. The architectural shingle has essentially replaced the 3-tab as the most affordable option with decent durability.
What’s more, with 3-tab shingles, there is only one ply of fiberglass reinforcement, whereas with the laminated architectural shingle, there are two layers laminated together. So in general, the thicker shingle option is going to weather better.
How can I repair my 3-tab roof if the shingles are discontinued?
The goal when repairing a roof that has discontinued shingles is to find another shingle of the same quality that matches your current roof. Obviously, if your shingle is discontinued, you won’t get an exact match.
But because all 3-tab shingles are becoming less and less available every day, that makes it difficult to find any 3-tab shingles to go on your roof (let alone one that’s a good enough color match).
You can patch your roof with the wrong color, but that will make it look bad. So, if you can’t find a good color and quality match, then you might need to replace the whole roof.
Here’s an example of a bad color match:
Will my homeowner’s insurance cover replacing my discontinued 3-tab shingles?
Getting coverage for insurance on a discontinued shingle depends on what your insurance company offers. Some insurance policies cover matching. Some of them don't.
So the insurance company's representative, whether it's an employee of the company or just their appointed agent, wants to take care of their customer, which is the insurance company.
And so they're going to try to find something that's of like kind and quality to your original roof. And sometimes that's debatable. But generally speaking, if it's going to match reasonably well, then it's okay.
But it does come down to the individual insurance company's internal policies. So we've seen USAA be a lot better, and we've seen State Farm and Allstate be a lot worse.
Here are some examples of factors your insurance company will consider when deciding on your coverage:
- Is the damage visible from the street? Some of them cover matching based on the angle you can see it from. Say, for example, if you look at the roof from the street and the damage is on the front, then everything needs to match. Your insurance company might cover roof damage on the front of your house because it makes the house look bad and lowers property value if it's got this weird patch in the middle of the roof. But it might not apply if you can’t see the damage because it’s in the back. Every insurance company is a little bit different. Some of them don't seem to care about diminishing the property value. And some of them do.
- Is it possible to color-match the shingle for a repair? Your mileage may vary, but whether it's a 3-tab shingle or any other roof shingle that's been discontinued, typically that leans in favor of full replacement. Keep in mind that the insurance company doesn't owe you for the exact same thing. They owe you for like kind and quality. So it's something that can be a little bit of an argument with the adjuster. For example, we at RoofSmart have had instances where they've decided to cover the whole thing because it's going to look wrong due to a bad color match. But it's discretionary. So it's a reason to be nice to the adjuster.
How do I make sure that I get the right compensation for discontinued 3-tab shingles from my insurance company?
Your roofing contractor can supply information about the roof and the shingles, but they can't argue coverage on your behalf. So, the only one who can advocate for you as the homeowner is you.
You have to put your foot down and say, “No, that's not good enough. That's going to look bad, and it's going to reduce the value of my house”, if you believe that to be true.
If you're, if you're paying out of pocket and not filing a claim, then you may make a different choice personally. But if the insurance company owes you for substantially the same condition that you had before the damage occurred, well, it seems like that should include a roof that matches when you look at it, right?
They can make the argument that it's of like kind and quality, and they don't care if it matches, but you can make the argument that a bad color watch will ruin the value of your home.
So this comes back to the same thing with 3-tab. If that style of shingle isn't made anymore, then if you put anything else in there, it's obviously not going to look right.
And if you were to try to sell the home with that patch on it, it's a huge red flag, and people aren't going to want your house, or they'll want a discount, because obviously, there's been a problem on the roof that required a repair.
3-Tab vs. architectural shingles: What’s the better long-term choice for your Seattle roof?
If your 3-tab shingles are discontinued (or you’re worried about repairs that don’t match), it might be time to think beyond patchwork solutions. Even if your roof isn’t leaking now, sticking with outdated materials can cost you more in the long run, especially if you're dealing with insurance claims or trying to sell your home.
So, what should you replace your 3-tab shingles with? And are architectural shingles really worth the upgrade in Seattle's wet, windy climate?
To help you decide, check out our next article: 3-Tab vs. Architectural Shingles: Which One Is Better For My Seattle Home?
It breaks down the pros and cons of each type and gives you clear guidance on the best choice for long-term protection and value.
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