What Is Composition Roofing? A Homeowner's Guide

By Jim Sed, Owner & Founder, Tri-Link Contracting · U.S. Military Veteran  |  Published September 25, 2026 · Last updated September 25, 2026

What is composition roofing? It's the roof on roughly four out of five houses in America, and most homeowners have one without ever hearing the word.

The term shows up on estimates and insurance paperwork, usually without explanation, and it gets confused with a different product that sounds almost identical. This guide covers what the shingles are made of, the three grades you can buy, what each one costs and lasts, and the one spelling difference that changes the price of a roof by a factor of three.

What Is Composition Roofing Made Of?

A composition shingle is built in three layers, and each one does a different job. Understanding them explains almost everything about how these roofs fail and how long they last.

At the center is a non-woven fiberglass mat. It provides tensile strength and tear resistance and keeps the shingle dimensionally stable, so it doesn't stretch or shrink with the seasons.

That mat is saturated in asphalt, sometimes oxidized and sometimes polymer-modified. This is the actual waterproofing. Everything else on the shingle exists to protect this layer or hold it down.

On top sit ceramic-coated mineral granules. They block UV light, which is what degrades asphalt, and they provide the color and the fire resistance. Many are infused with copper or zinc to suppress Gloeocapsa magma, the blue-green algae responsible for the black streaks you see on shaded roofs. When you find granules in your gutters, you're looking at the sunscreen wearing off.

Older shingles used an organic felt mat made from paper or wood pulp. Those absorbed water and were phased out in favor of fiberglass. For a broader history, the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association and the asphalt shingle reference on Wikipedia both cover the transition.

Composition vs. Composite Shingles: One Letter, Triple the Price

Composition shingles are asphalt. Composite shingles are synthetic polymer. The names are nearly identical and the products are not, which is the single most common misunderstanding on this topic.

Composite shingles, also called synthetic shingles, are molded from recycled plastics, rubber and poly-resins to imitate natural slate or hand-split cedar shake. They last 40 to 50 years or more, resist rot and splitting entirely, and carry top-tier impact ratings. They also cost roughly $9 to $22 per square foot installed, against $3 to $10 for asphalt. Synthetic shingle costs are the reason most homeowners never seriously consider them.

If a quote says "composite" and the price looks like asphalt, ask which one you're actually getting. On a typical roof that distinction is worth tens of thousands of dollars.

The Three Grades of Composition Shingles

Composition shingles come in three grades: 3-tab, architectural, and luxury. They share the same basic construction and differ in thickness, weight and how much punishment they absorb.

3-tab shingles

Flat, single-layer, and the cheapest option. They're also on the way out: manufacturers are steadily phasing them off the shelf, and a 60 to 80 mph wind rating is thin protection on an exposed lot. The main reason to choose one today is a tight budget on a rental or a low-value structure.

Architectural shingles

Also called dimensional or laminate shingles, these bond two layers together for a thicker profile and a shadowed, textured look. They dominate the category with over 80% market share, and for good reason: the wind rating roughly doubles and the lifespan adds a decade for a modest price increase. Across one roof replacement cycle they usually cost less per year than 3-tab.

Luxury shingles

Heavyweight designer shingles built to mimic slate or shake at 400 to 450 pounds per square. They look substantially better up close and last 30 to 50 years. Confirm the roof structure can carry the weight before committing.

Fire, Wind and Hail Ratings

Most composition shingles carry a Class A fire rating, the highest available for residential roofing materials, tested under UL 790. The fiberglass mat and the mineral granule surface do that work, which is one clear advantage over untreated wood shake.

Impact resistance is a separate test. Under UL 2218, shingles are graded Class 1 through Class 4, with Class 4 the highest hail rating. Three-tab shingles typically land at Class 1 or 2. Architectural products reach Class 3 or 4, and luxury and synthetic lines are commonly Class 4. That rating often earns an insurance premium discount of 20% or more, so ask your carrier before you choose, because the discount can repay the upgrade.

Wind ratings depend on installation as much as product. The 110 to 130 mph figures assume the manufacturer's own starter strip and the specified nailing pattern. CertainTeed's Landmark line, for example, is rated at 110 mph and upgrades to 130 mph only when installed with matching starter and hip and ridge shingles. Owens Corning's Duration series uses a fabric nailing strip for the same reason, and GAF Timberline products carry a lifetime limited warranty against manufacturing defects. Mixing brands mid-roof can quietly void the roofing warranty and cost you the rating you paid for.

What Slope Does a Shingle Roof Need?

Composition shingles need a 4:12 slope for standard installation, meaning the roof rises 4 inches for every 12 inches of run. Between 2:12 and 4:12 they're permitted only over a continuous self-adhering ice and water membrane or a doubled underlayment. Below 2:12, they are not allowed at all.

This matters more than it sounds. On a low slope, water moves slowly enough to creep backward under the shingle laps by capillary action, and it finds the nail holes. A porch or rear addition that looks nearly flat needs a membrane system such as EPDM or TPO, not shingles. Shingles on a too-shallow roof will leak no matter how well they're nailed, and no warranty covers that.

Is a Composition Roof Right for Your House?

For most homes, yes, and the market reflects it: asphalt covers about 80% of single-family roofs in North America. It's the best combination of cost, availability and repairability on the market, and any competent crew can work on it.

Where I'd push back is on the grade rather than the material. In Western Pennsylvania, our freeze-thaw swings and hilltop wind exposure make 3-tab a false economy. Architectural shingles with a Class 4 impact rating are the sensible default here, and the insurance discount often narrows the price gap to near nothing.

Tri-Link Contracting is a veteran-owned roofing and exterior contractor based in Eighty-Four, PA, that installs composition roofs across Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. We're an Owens Corning Preferred installer, BBB A+ accredited, licensed under PA License #PA150574, and rated 5.0 on Google from more than 100 verified reviews, with over 1,000 roofs installed in 15+ years.

Once your roof is on, keeping it dry is mostly maintenance. Our guide on preventing roof leaks before they damage your home covers the seasonal checks that matter most here.

Jim SedVerified Expert

Owner & Founder · U.S. Military Veteran · Tri-Link Contracting

Jim founded Tri-Link Contracting after his military service and personally walks every completed project before he signs off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions homeowners ask about composition roofing.