Which shingle brand is best?

At the same tier the major brands perform comparably, and the choice between them matters far less than the choice of tier, the quality of the installation and whether the full system was used. A premium shingle nailed badly fails before a mid shingle nailed properly.

Does my insurance company prefer a brand?

No. The Texas Department of Insurance is explicit that materials must be lab tested for impact resistance under a recognized standard and rated Class 1 through 4, that each insurer sets its own credit per class, and that each insurer decides which test criteria it accepts and what paperwork it needs. TDI does not endorse or recommend any roofing material. The rating matters, the brand does not.

Which brands are you certified with?

Atlas, IKO and CertainTeed. Most manufacturers reserve their enhanced warranty tiers for contractors they have certified, so if a particular brand's top warranty matters to you, that is worth raising before you choose a contractor rather than after.

Is a Class 4 shingle worth the upcharge?

Usually in this area, because the premium credit recurs every year and this is an active hail corridor. Do the arithmetic with the actual credit your carrier quotes rather than a number from an advertisement, and go in understanding that impact class is not a hail warranty.

Shingle Brands Compared: GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed, Atlas, Malarkey

The honest version

At the same tier, the major shingle brands perform similarly. What actually decides how long your roof lasts is the tier you buy, whether the full manufacturer system went on with it, and the quality of the nailing. Brand arguments are mostly marketing. Install quality is not.

Three things worth knowing before you compare

Wind ratings are conditional. Nearly every headline wind number requires that manufacturer's starter strip, underlayment and ridge cap. Without the system, the rating does not apply.
Impact class is an insurance credit, not a hail warranty. Manufacturers generally do not warrant shingles against hail damage, whatever the class.
Enhanced warranties require a certified installer. The long non-prorated periods and labor coverage are generally reserved for contractors that manufacturer has certified. We are certified with Atlas, IKO and CertainTeed.

What the impact classes actually mean

UL 2218 drops a steel ball twice on the same spot and checks the back of the shingle for cracking. Per GAF's published table, Class 4 uses a 2-inch ball from 20 feet and Class 3 uses a 1.75-inch ball from 17 feet. Cosmetic denting is allowed; a crack through the shingle is not.

Shingle Brands

The honest version

Three things worth knowing before you compare

What the impact classes actually mean

Brand by brand

GAF

Owens Corning

CertainTeed

Atlas

Malarkey

Straight answers