3-Tab shingles, also known as strip shingles are the most economical type of roofing shingle. For this purpose they are typically used by building contractors of new lower priced homes and developments, and rental properties. 3-Tab shingles are also often used to re-roof homes that previously had a 3-tab shingle roof however many homeowners are now choosing to replace their 3-tab shingle roofs with dimensional shingles.
3-tab shingles have a single tab size and shape, are made up of a single flat layer and are therefore are lighter in weight than dimensional “architectural” shingles.
Due to being lighter and made up of less material, the lifespan of a 3-tab shingle roof is less than that of a dimensional shingle roof meaning that roofs made up of 3-tab shingles need to be replaced sooner than other roofing systems.
Although the demand for 3-tab shingle roofs is on the decline, they are still available on the market due to their low-cost and need for repairs on existing 3-tab shingle roofs.