Different Types of CertainTeed Shingles

CertainTeed offers three main categories of asphalt shingles: 3-tab, architectural (dimensional), and premium/luxury. Each category differs in construction, appearance, durability, and price point, making some better suited for budget-conscious projects and others ideal for high-visibility homes in demanding climates. 

This guide breaks down every style and series so you can make a confident decision before replacing your roof.

What Are CertainTeed Shingles? A Quick Overview

CertainTeed is one of North America's most established roofing manufacturers. For over a century, the company has built a reputation for producing consistent, high-quality asphalt shingles across a wide range of price points and design profiles. Their products are sold through a network of certified contractors, and their shingle lineup is organized by both design category and performance tier.

One reason homeowners and contractors consistently choose CertainTeed is their contractor certification program. CertainTeed offers tiered certifications, with SELECT ShingleMaster sitting at the top, allowing certified installers to offer extended material and labor warranties that uncertified contractors simply cannot provide. Understanding that the warranty you receive depends heavily on who installs your roof is critical context when comparing options.

The Three Design Categories of CertainTeed Asphalt Shingles

CertainTeed organizes its asphalt roofing shingle products into three major categories:

1. 3-tab shingles

2. Architectural (dimensional) shingles

3. Premium/luxury shingles.

The different types of asphalt roofing shingle products available today vary across four key dimensions: the number of laminate layers, the depth of the shingle's visual profile, the wind and impact resistance ratings, and the available warranty duration. 

3-Tab Shingles: The Budget-Friendly Foundation

3-tab shingles are the most basic category of asphalt roofing shingles. They're built from a single layer of asphalt with three uniform cutouts along the bottom edge, giving each strip a flat, consistent appearance when installed. Because they lie flat against the roof deck, they have a lower profile than any other shingle type.

The single-layer construction means 3-tab shingles are lighter per square than architectural or luxury options, and that lighter weight typically translates to lower wind resistance ratings, often around 60 to 80 mph, depending on the specific product. CertainTeed's XT 25 and XT 30 are the primary examples in this category, offering 25 and 30-year warranty periods, respectively.

While 3-tab shingles are installed less frequently on new roofs today, they remain a legitimate choice for homeowners working within a strict budget or replacing an existing 3-tab system where matching the profile is a priority.

Architectural Shingles: Why They Dominate the Market

Architectural shingles, also called dimensional or laminate shingles, are double-layered asphalt shingles that create a textured, multi-dimensional appearance. That layered construction produces a shadow line effect that mimics the look of wood shake or cut slate, making a flat roof surface appear to have depth and dimension.

Their popularity is directly tied to how much they improve on 3-tab shingles in nearly every measurable way. Architectural shingles offer higher wind-resistance ratings (often 110 to 130 mph), longer warranty periods, and greater overall durability, all at a relatively modest price premium.

For most Maryland homeowners, architectural shingles represent the right balance between cost, performance, and curb appeal.

RELATED: Comparing 3 Tab Roof Shingles vs Architectural Shingles

Luxury Shingles: The Premium Tier

Luxury shingles are the heaviest and most visually detailed category CertainTeed produces. They're built with extra-thick laminate layers designed to closely replicate the look of natural slate or hand-split cedar shake, and that added construction weight contributes to both their dimensional appearance and their performance ratings.

The premium tier is where you find products like CertainTeed's Grand Manor and Presidential Shake, both engineered to replicate natural roofing materials with much lower installation complexity and cost. Many luxury shingles are available with Class 4 impact resistance ratings, which is especially important in hail-prone regions. Warranty coverage at this tier typically extends to 50 years on materials, with labor warranties available through certified contractors.

CertainTeed's Landmark Series: The Workhorse of Architectural Shingles

The Landmark series is CertainTeed's best-selling architectural shingle line, offering a clear, well-structured upgrade path across four distinct products.

1. Landmark

2. Landmark PRO

3. Landmark Premium

4. Landmark TL

Each one is built on double-layer laminate construction and CertainTeed's StreakFighter algae-resistance technology, but they differ in weight per square, shadow line depth, warranty coverage, and wind resistance ratings. These differences precisely separate shingle types and their characteristics across the series.

Across the four products, CertainTeed offers dozens of color options with strong consistency in how color blends are applied from shingle to shingle, which matters on large roof planes where variation would be visible from the street.

Landmark vs. Landmark PRO: What's the Actual Difference?

The base Landmark shingle weighs approximately 240-250 pounds per square and carries a limited lifetime material warranty for the original homeowner. It's an excellent choice for straightforward residential replacements where budget is a primary consideration.

Landmark PRO weighs approximately 300 pounds per square, adding meaningful mass that deepens shadow lines and creates a more pronounced dimensional profile. The wind resistance rating increases to 130 mph, and the PRO qualifies for CertainTeed's SureStart PLUS warranty enhancement, which extends the full non-prorated period beyond what the base Landmark offers through most contractor tiers.

In practical terms, upgrading from Landmark to Landmark PRO is similar to upgrading from standard to premium flooring. The material cost difference is real, but so is the visible improvement in the finished product's appearance. For homes in neighborhoods where curb appeal directly affects property value, that upgrade often pays for itself.

RELATED: CertainTeed Landmark vs Landmark PRO: Which is Better?

CertainTeed's Premium and Luxury Shingle Lines

CertainTeed's luxury shingles are built to answer one question: what if you want the look of natural slate or cedar shake without the weight load, installation complexity, or cost of the real thing? Grand Manor is CertainTeed's slate-profile luxury shingle. It replicates the overlapping cut of natural slate with thick, dimensional tiles that cast deep shadows across a roof surface. 

Grand Manor carries a Class A fire rating and is available with a Class 4 impact resistance designation, which is particularly relevant for Maryland homeowners in counties with above-average hail frequency. Class 4 impact resistance is the highest rating available under the UL 2218 standard, and carrying it can qualify homeowners for insurance premium reductions in some states. The shingle weighs approximately 475-520 pounds per square, making it one of the heaviest asphalt shingles on the market.

Presidential Shake is designed for homes where the visual warmth of cedar shake is part of the architectural identity. Craftsman bungalows, cottage-style homes, and wood-frame colonials all tend to look exceptional under a Presidential Shake roof. The product replicates a hand-split shake with irregular shadow patterns and varied surface texture, available in a range of earthy tones that complement natural wood and stone exteriors.

How CertainTeed Shingles Compare to Other Brands

CertainTeed competes directly with other major manufacturers, and an honest comparison is more useful than simply claiming they're the best option available. Understanding the differences between shingle types across brands helps you make a confident final decision.

Category	CertainTeed	GAF	IKO
Flagship Architectural Line	Landmark Series (Landmark, PRO, Premium, TL) — 4-tier upgrade path	Timberline Series (HD, HDZ, UHDZ) — 3-tier upgrade path	Cambridge Series — limited tiering
Wind Resistance	Up to 130 mph (Landmark PRO and above)	Up to 130 mph (HDZ and above)	Up to 130 mph (Cambridge)
Algae Resistance	StreakFighter® — copper-based granule technology	StainGuard Plus® — comparable copper technology	ArmourZone® — present on select lines, less consistent across range
Material Warranty	Lifetime limited (SELECT ShingleMaster unlocks full term)	Lifetime limited (requires Certified contractor)	Lifetime limited — proration kicks in earlier than competitors
Labor Warranty	Up to 25 years — SELECT ShingleMaster required	Up to 10 years — Golden Pledge through a certified contractor	No manufacturer-backed labor warranty; relies on the contractor only
Warranty Transferability	Transferable once within the first 10 years	Transferable once — reduced term upon transfer	Transferable — warranty term reduced significantly at transfer

* Warranty terms reflect manufacturer-credentialed installation. Uncredentialed installs receive reduced coverage across all three brands.

What to Consider When Choosing the Right CertainTeed Shingle Type

Choosing a shingle type should start with your specific situation, not a product brochure. Understanding the differences among roofing shingle types and how those differences align with your home's needs makes this decision much more straightforward. Here are the five factors that matter most when asking which type of roofing shingle is right for my home.

Your Budget and Long-Term Value

The upfront cost of a shingle is only part of the equation; what you pay at installation needs to be weighed against how long that material will perform and what it will cost to maintain. A 3-tab shingle may be cheaper, but an architectural shingle like the Landmark PRO offers a heavier build, a longer warranty, and a lower likelihood of premature failure, which means replacement costs come back sooner. Thinking in terms of cost per year of performance, rather than cost per square, almost always shifts the calculus toward a higher-tier product.

Your Home's Architectural Style

Not every shingle profile suits every home; a flat 3-tab reads very differently on a steep-pitched colonial than a Grand Manor does on that same roofline, and the wrong choice can actively work against curb appeal rather than enhance it. Steeper pitches and traditional architectural styles benefit most from dimensional and designer profiles, where shadow lines and layered texture are visible from the street. Homes with lower pitches or cleaner modern lines may call for a more uniform profile that supports the aesthetic rather than competing with it.

Maryland's Climate Demands

Maryland's four-season climate puts roofing systems through a wide range of stressors, summer heat and humidity, winter freeze-thaw cycles, and spring and fall wind events, and not every shingle handles them equally well. Heavier laminated options like the Landmark Premium and Landmark TL offer more mass and granule depth, translating to better resistance against thermal cycling and storm debris. Algae resistance is also a practical necessity in the Mid-Atlantic's humid summers, making CertainTeed's StreakFighter® technology worth prioritizing on any Maryland installation.

Weight and Structural Capacity

Heavier shingles deliver real performance advantages, but they place a greater load on the roof deck and the framing beneath it, so your home's structure should be evaluated before committing to a premium or designer product. Natural slate and designer shingles like Presidential are among the heaviest options available, and older homes may require reinforcement before installation can proceed safely. A qualified contractor will assess deck condition and framing as part of the pre-installation process; skipping that step is a red flag.

Warranty Tier Eligibility

CertainTeed's strongest coverage, the 50-year material warranty and 25-year labor warranty, is not available through every contractor, and the shingle tier you choose interacts directly with the warranty tier you can access. SELECT ShingleMaster certification is required to unlock the highest warranty levels, meaning the contractor you hire matters as much as the product itself. Choosing a premium shingle installed by an uncredentialed contractor leaves significant protection on the table.

Curb Appeal and Resale Value

A roof is one of the first things a buyer or appraiser sees, and the visual difference between a flat 3-tab and a well-chosen architectural or designer shingle is immediately apparent from the street. Dimensional profiles like the Landmark PRO and Grand Manor add genuine depth to a roofline in a way a standard shingle simply cannot. In competitive markets like Howard County and Montgomery County, the quality and appearance of the roof can be a meaningful factor in both the sale price and the time on the market.

Final Words

CertainTeed's shingle lineup covers every level of the residential roofing market, from budget-friendly 3-tab options to fully detailed luxury products that replicate the look of natural slate and cedar shake. Understanding the differences between the three main categories and the sub-tiers within them puts you in a much stronger position to choose a product that fits your home, your climate, and your long-term goals. 

Ready to find the right CertainTeed shingle type for your Maryland home? Contact Restoration Roofing Co. for a free consultation. As a CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster roofing contractor in Maryland, we can install every shingle type covered in this guide and back it with the strongest warranty CertainTeed offers.