It’s that time again! We’re breaking down another shingle brand and putting it to the test to ensure that it’s the perfect product for your next roofing project.
Our Roofing Insights team puts together a comprehensive guide to specific roofing products and shingles every year. Today we’re taking a closer look at the Pabco Premier Shingles.
This shingle has been around for a while and has proven to be a popular option for homeowners. But what are the pros and cons of choosing Pabco Premier? We’re breaking it down today!
How We Test the Shingles
To get an accurate idea of how shingles will perform over long periods of time, we gather professional roofers from around the country and, with their help, put the shingles through several tests.
We do our best to cover every part of the shingles, from packaging to consistency in production. Our roofer-approved tests help deduce which brands are doing it right and which ones should be working to improve their products.
- Packaging
- Weight
- Nailing zone
- Pull test
- True coverage
- Consistency
- Reputation trend
- Granule loss
- Feedback friendly
Some of these factors might carry more weight than others, depending on the brand and its positioning in the market. A good shingle should score above average in most if not all of these categories.
The scores used throughout the video and this post are ranked 1 through 5, with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best possible. At the end of the post, we’ll give you the average after combining each category.
Packaging: Scored 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Packaging is extremely important for shingles because it’s the only thing that stands between the product and potential damage during shipping and transporting shingles to the roof peak.
Pabco’s packaging was able to protect the shingles from most damage, with only a few blemishes on the surface of the shingles. The packaging held up well even after being picked up and dropped repeatedly.
Weight: Scored 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Weight is important because it’s a sign of how well the shingles are made and how well they’ll hold up to harsh weather. It’s not every roofer’s opinion that a heavier shingle will hold up better or last longer, but it is ours.
Pabco makes a durable and heavy shingle that we’re impressed with. They scored an impressive 5/5.
Nailing Zone: Scored 2/5 ⭐️⭐️
The nailing zone helps ensure that the shingles are all attached properly by the roofing contractor taking on the project. A good nailing zone will make it easier for the roofer to do their job and improve the overall finish. A poor nailing zone will be hard to identify and can lead to nailing problems.
This area is one that Pabco could use some of the biggest improvements. Their nailing zone was hard to make out, confusing and could lead to the shingles being installed incorrectly.
Pull Test: Scored 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many roofers will disagree with us on whether or not the pull test can truly be used to determine how well a shingle will hold up over time, but we stand by it. This test is a good way of seeing how well a shingle will hold up against harsh winds and weather.
Pabco makes a strong shingle, as shown by this test and the weight test. While they didn’t have a perfect score, we were impressed with their ability to hold up during the pull test.
True Coverage: Scored 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shingle manufacturers will sometimes design their shingles to be a bit larger than what’s actually required for manufacturing. By doing this, the roofer or installer will finish the roof with fewer bundles.
True coverage can help ensure that your roofing jobs get done faster and save you money. Even saving on just 1-2 bundles per job will add up over the course of a year. Pabco’s product didn’t score the best but is still much better than some other shingles on the market.
Consistency: Scored 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Consistency is important because your team should know how many shingles will come in one bundle. When you pick up a package of shingles, you shouldn’t have to guess how many will be in that package.
Pabco’s consistency score was very high. They’ve done a great job tweaking their manufacturing process to ensure that they have an equal number of shingles in each bundle.
Reputation Trend: Scored 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
At Roofing Insights, we spend a lot of time talking to roofers. Between our annual Roofing Conference and the Roofing Business School, we know the industry well, and we’ve taken the time we need to understand roofers’ opinions on specific shingles.
Pabco doesn’t have a perfect reputation as a brand. Some roofers enjoy working with Pabco and have had a great experience installing them, but unfortunately, they don’t have the best reputation in the industry.
Granule Loss: Scored 1/5 ⭐️
Granules are the small rock and sand particles adhered to the shingles to help protect your roof from damage. Hail, debris, and walking on the roof would all cause more damage if it weren’t for the granules.
But, these granules sometimes come off before they can be successfully installed on a roof. When they’re loose on the surface of a roof, your team will likely experience a slippery surface and a lot of problems while installing them.
Pabco’s shingles did not perform well in this test. They lost the most granules out of every other brand in our test. This causes concern for roofers’ safety and the homeowner’s investment. We hope that Pabco can start to make a change in their manufacturing process.
Feedback Friendly: Scored 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After our test, we took the time to call the different roofing companies and offered feedback based on the test results. Of course, some of the companies weren’t very responsive to our feedback, and others really valued roofers’ opinions and improved the product based on feedback.
Pabco did a great job when fielding our feedback. They listened attentively and heard us out. We were impressed with their customer service, and we’re excited to see how their product improves because of their willingness to listen and learn from our review.
Final Score: 3.67/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our final score is made up of the average from all different test categories. Pabco’s final score was a bit lower than some other brands, but they’re still doing well overall.
The thing that excites us most about Pabco is that they’re willing to improve their product and receive feedback. Shingle companies must make improvements, and we expect Pabco to grow and get a lot better over the next couple of years.
Choosing the Right Shingles for Your Home
If you’re a homeowner, the shingles you get to choose from will likely be determined by who you choose to be the roofer for your home. For help finding the perfect roofer for your home, visit our Roofing Insight Directorii. And, if you’re a roofer, apply to be listed on the Directorii to get more and better leads.
Roofing Insights is proud to stand behind homeowners and help them get the roofing services they need and deserve. We believe that by providing quality information and resources, we can help make the roofing process a little bit easier for everyone.
For more material reviews, check out our blog.
I received a quote on a 1600 square foot roof 50’x32’ they said that 16 bundles will cover that!
I am confused I thought it would take 48 bundles to cover that area. And the quote is for $38.63 a bundle just does not make sense to me.
Definitely some confusion here. A 1600 square foot roof would require 16 squares. 3 bundles of architectural shingles make up a square. So 16 x 3 equals 48.