Who Makes The Best Weathered Wood Shingles? (2022 Guide)

The roofing industry is chock full of different materials. From asphalt shingles and metal roofing to cedar shakes and clay tiles, there’s no shortage of materials to choose from for your home or business.

Some materials even resemble more expensive materials that may be less ideal for homeowners for a myriad of reasons. There are composite shingles that resemble slate tiles and weathered wood shingles that resemble wood shakes.

If you’re intrigued by weather wood shingles, you’re in the right place. Let’s take a closer look at this material and at the manufacturers who make the best products.

What Are Weathered Wood Shingles?

Technically, weathered wood shingles are wooden shingles that are weathered through a process of sunlight and moisture exposure. However, most manufacturers actually provide weathered wood asphalt shingles, which are asphalt shingles that resemble the shape, dimensionality, and color of real wood shingles.

Weathered wood asphalt shingles are also commonly referred to as architectural, laminated, or dimensional shingles. (A material of many names!)

Asphalt is the most widely-used material in the roofing world— it’s easily manufactured, has high product demand, and is very affordable. Weathered wood asphalt shingles are made of fiberglass combined with asphalt, and their surface has sand-like granules that protect against the elements.

You may be wondering why homeowners would opt for an asphalt-look-a-like product rather than real wood shingles. ?

Well, wood shingles and shakes aren’t recommended for wildfire-prone regions. Plus, they require tremendous upkeep and maintenance to keep them from developing mold and rot. Their asphalt counterparts are much more affordable, low-maintenance, and fire resistant.

Pros and Cons of Weathered Wood Shingles

So what do weathered wood shingles offer that traditional 3-tab asphalt shingles don’t? It’s good to be aware of the pros and cons of weathered wood shingles before deciding if they’re right for you and your home.

✅ Pros of weathered wood asphalt shingles:

• Affordable: Dimensional asphalt shingles are more affordable than many other materials.
• Availability: The product is widely produced, so most contractors can easily order and secure them.
• Fire-resistant: They offer decent fire protection that is better than real wood shingles.
• Wind-resistant: Most architectural shingles can withstand winds up to 110 mph.
• Color options: These shingles come in many styles and color options, making it easy to customize your roof.
• Lightweight: Since this material is so light, the installation is simple, and no additional structural support is required.

❌ Cons of weathered wood asphalt shingles:

• Not made of real wood: Even though architectural shingles mimic the look of weathered wood, they lack the authenticity of real wood.
• Shorter lifespan: Asphalt shingles have one of the shortest lifespans of all the roofing materials. Even though dimensional shingles can last close to 30 years, other material options last longer. The trade-off is a higher price for more durable materials.
• Not-so eco-friendly: Unfortunately, very few recycling centers accept asphalt shingles. After roof replacements, asphalt shingles often go to waste.
• Susceptible to weather damage: Unlike materials such as clay tiles or slate, asphalt shingles are prone to weather-related damage from hail, high winds, and snow. This can call for more frequent repairs or replacements than other materials.

6 Top Manufacturers of Weathered Wood Shingles

Weathered wood (or architectural or dimensional or laminated or, well, you get the point…) asphalt shingles are a very popular material. They offer higher quality than traditional 3-tab asphalt shingles and other great benefits that authentic wood shingles fall short of— such as fire resistance, low maintenance, and low cost.

For all these reasons, most major shingle manufacturers offer a weathered wood option. Some of the best options are offered by:

• Owens Corning
• GAF
• TAMKO
• CertainTeed
• Atlas
• Malarkey

1) Owens Corning TruDefinition® Duration

The TruDefinition line at Owens Corning is an impressive architectural shingle option. Owens Corning has always been one of the most trusted names in the shingle world, and it’s no different with their TruDefinition Duration series.

The shingle colors really stand out with Owens Corning. Not only do you have deep brown options to resemble traditional weathered wood, but there are also incredibly eye-catching dimensional colors that will make your roof stand out from the others.

Take a closer look at some of our favorite unique color options like:

• Terra Cotta
• Sierra Gray
• Harbor Blue
• Chateau Green

Other impressive stats about this shingle line include:

• 10-year algae resistance
• 130 mph wind resistance
• Class A fire resistance

2) GAF Timberline HDZ®

Next up, we have another favorite manufacturer: GAF. Their weathered wood option is called Timberline HDZ. These architectural shingles mimic the dimensional look of wood shakes, and there’s no denying you’ll get a stunning color statement with this option.

The GAF Timberline shingles are definitely one of the best options on the market. Take a look at these impressive specs:

• 25-year algae protection
• Class A fire rating
• Eligible for a 15-year limited wind warranty with no maximum wind speed limit

3) TAMKO Heritage® Series

The TAMKO Heritage Series is intentionally modeled after the natural beauty of weathered wood. In order to mimic the rustic feel of wood shakes as accurately as possible, these shingles have a deep brown base that’s accented with clay and lighter browns. They also offer more dimensional colors in blues, grays, golds, and oranges.

Tamko offers four different shingle cuts, so you can decide which shape you prefer for your home. You can opt for a classic wood shake style, a unique vintage shape, or a more traditional shingle style.

4) CertainTeed Landmark®

Another great manufacturer that offers architectural shingles in the style of weathered wood is CertainTeed. Their Landmark collection is a high-quality, visually stunning, and reliable choice for homeowners looking for a premium roofing option.

Their dual-layered design impressively emulates real wood shakes. Landmark shingles also offer the heaviest weight in their class, offering peace of mind against inclement weather. All Landmark shingles come with CertainTeed’s lifetime-limited warranty and other impressive specs, such as:

• 10-year algae-resistance warranty
• Class A fire rating
• 15-year 110 mph wind-resistance warranty

5) Atlas Pinnacle® Pristine

The Atlas Pinnacle Pristine shingle line offers designer shingles that provide the beautiful appearance of weathered wood with the durability of architectural shingles. The many eye-catching color options create a luxurious look for your roof.

Atlas takes a big stand against algae damage with their Scotchgard Protector. Plus, these shingles offer:

• 130 mph wind limited warranty
• Lifetime limited product warranty against manufacturing defects

6) Malarkey Legacy™

Last but not least, we have an industry favorite: the Malarkey Legacy line. These high-performing architectural shingles resemble weathered wood in design, but they go above and beyond with their impressive details.

Legacy shingles were one of only four shingle lines in the country to score Good or Excellent in every single performance category on the latest Hail Impact Study by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.

These impressive shingles offer:

• Class 4 rated (highest possible) for hail impact
• Class A fire rating
• 130 mph wind warranty
• Each roof recycles the equivalent of 6 rubber tires and 4,000 plastic bags from the landfill
• Shingle granules fight air pollution

With a sustainable design, numerous dimensional color options, and impressive impact ratings, the Malarkey Legacy line is a true contender for the best weathered wood shingles on the market.

Back-Up Your Weathered Wood Shingles With a Top-Notch Installation

The only thing better than a manufacturer’s warranty on your roof is when it’s combined with a workmanship warranty from a trusted roofing contractor. Even the most durable weathered wood asphalt shingles mean nothing if they aren’t installed properly.

We know how difficult it can be to find an honest and reliable contractor. That’s why we created the Directorii. Every roofing contractor on Directorii is backed by a $20,000 guarantee— that’s how confident we are in their legitimacy!

Check out Directorii today to find an expert roofer near you who can install the weathered wood roof of your dreams.