Shingles are the roof on most Irving houses, from the 1960s ranches of south Irving to the steep two-stories up in Valley Ranch. Every shingle job we take on as your roofing contractor in Irving, TX is built as a complete system, because a good shingle over the wrong underlayment still fails early. Weighing other materials? Compare our metal roofing and tile roofing options.
3-tab vs. architectural shingles: what's the real difference?
A 3-tab shingle is one flat layer cut into three tabs. An architectural shingle (also sold as laminated or dimensional) laminates a second layer onto the base, which adds weight, a shadowed look and stronger wind performance. Manufacturers now build their main lines around architectural products, and 3-tab has become harder to find in matching colors for repairs.
| 3-tab | Architectural (laminated) | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Single flat layer | Two laminated layers |
| Look | Flat, uniform slots | Dimensional, shake-like shadow lines |
| Typical wind labels | Lower classes, often 60–90 mph | Commonly ASTM D3161 Class F and D7158 Class H |
| Weight per square | Lighter | Heavier, better grip on the sealant strip |
| Fit for Irving homes today | Mostly repairs on older roofs | Our standard for replacements |
Our blog post on architectural vs. 3-tab shingles in Texas covers the trade-offs in more detail.
How to read a shingle wrapper's wind rating
Two lab tests appear on shingle packaging:
- ASTM D3161 blows fan-driven wind across the shingles. Class A is tested at 60 mph, Class D at 90 mph and Class F at 110 mph.
- ASTM D7158 measures how well the sealed shingle resists uplift. Class D covers 90 mph, Class G 120 mph and Class H 150 mph.
For North Texas spring storms, we specify shingles carrying D3161 Class F and D7158 Class G or H. A label only holds if installation follows the manufacturer's instructions: nail count and placement, starter course at eaves and rakes, and a warm day for the sealant to bond. Impact-rated (Class 4) shingles are a separate hail rating we can price alongside.
When do Irving shingles need replacing instead of a repair?
Shingles rarely fail all at once. On Irving houses the south- and west-facing slopes usually go first, because they take the full afternoon sun through 95°F Julys, and the hail that comes with spring storms finishes what the heat started. With the median Irving home built in 1986 (Point2Homes), many houses carry an older shingle roof, some a 3-tab line nothing sold today matches.
What we check for at a free inspection:
- Edges curling or cupping; a curled shingle never lies flat again and gives wind a handle
- Cracked tabs, or bald patches where the granules are gone and asphalt shows
- Heavy granule wash in gutters on an older roof (a new roof sheds a few, which is normal)
- Round hail bruises that feel soft under a thumb
- Tabs lifted or torn away after spring wind, and leaks patched in several places
One or two of these on a younger roof is a repair job. Several across more than one slope usually points to replacement.
What a full shingle roof installation in Irving, TX includes
Each layer protects the next. The shingle sheds most water, but the underlayment, flashing and starter course handle what gets past it in wind-driven rain, and ridge venting keeps attic heat from cooking the asphalt from below. Every component is named on the estimate, and bad sheathing found at tear-off is photographed before we replace it.
- Tear-off to the decking and replacement of rotten, delaminated or spaced sheathing
- Drip edge at eaves and rakes, as the residential code requires, plus synthetic underlayment, doubled on slopes between 2:12 and 4:12
- Valley protection and new step, counter and kick-out flashing at walls and chimneys
- Factory starter strips so the first course seals, then architectural shingles nailed in the marked zone at the manufacturer's count
- New pipe boots and vents painted to blend, matched hip and ridge cap, and ventilation sized to the attic
- Permit, cleanup and a final walk-through with photos
Questions about asphalt shingle roofing? Talk to us.
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Our asphalt shingle roofing process in Irving, TX
- Measure, photograph and choose. We inspect roof and attic, count layers and note ventilation and decking; you pick the shingle line, color and wind or impact class.
- Approvals. If you have an HOA, we give you the product and color for the submission. The City of Irving re-roof permit follows.
- Protect the property. Tarps over beds, plywood shields for the AC unit and windows near the dumpster.
- Tear off and repair decking. We replace bad sheathing so shingles nail into solid wood.
- Dry in, then shingle and flash. Drip edge, underlayment and valley material go down before the crew leaves an exposed deck; then starter, field shingles, flashing, boots, ridge cap and ventilation.
- Clean and review. Magnet sweep, gutters and beds cleared, then we walk the job with you and the city inspector signs off.
Will a lighter shingle keep your Irving attic cooler?
Irving summers run about 95°F in July, and the city hit a record 112°F in 1980. Dark shingles soak up that heat and pass it into the attic, which ages the shingle's asphalt from below as well as above. Lighter colors and shingles made with reflective granules stay cooler on the surface.
Irving's Chapter 8B code amendments set a cool-roof value of SRI 29 for steep-slope roofs. Confirm with Irving Inspections whether it applies to your re-roof, and check your HOA's color limits. When both allow it, we show reflective options next to the standard palette.
What does a composition roof cost in Irving and Dallas?
The Smart Roofing Calculator's 2026 figures put architectural shingles at $426–$614 per installed square, which works out to $10,660–$15,340 on a 25-square roof. Those are their published numbers, not our prices. What moves your total:
- Roof size and how cut up it is (valleys, hips, dormers, skylights)
- Pitch and stories, which change safety setup and labor
- Number of existing layers and decking replacement
- Shingle line: standard architectural, designer or Class 4 impact-rated
- Ventilation and flashing that needs replacing
- The Irving re-roof permit, which the same calculator lists at $125–$325; another published schedule shows $100 for single-family homes, so confirm the fee with the city
On a two-story with several valleys and wall joints, labor and flashing often move the total more than the shingle line does. Starter strip, hip and ridge caps and drip edge show up as their own lines as well, so two bids can be compared item for item. Your figure comes from a free estimate on your actual roof, written out line by line.
Why RJ Premium Roofing for asphalt shingle roofing
- 33 Google reviews averaging 5.0 stars (November 2026), with reviewers mentioning fair prices and a clean site.
- Complete systems, not just shingles. Starter, underlayment, flashing and ridge are part of every estimate.
- Free inspection and estimate before you commit.
- English or Spanish. Hablamos español; your estimate for un techo de tejas asfálticas can be explained in either language.
- Storm records before tear-off. Hail or wind damage on the old shingles is photographed first; reviewers also report one-day roofs.
The shingle maker's warranty covers materials, on terms tied to the product line and correct installation; our labor carries a workmanship guarantee written into your contract.
Shingle replacement around Dallas and the Mid-Cities
Texas does not license roofing contractors at the state level; TDLR has no roofing license, and RCAT's program is voluntary. Cities handle contractor registration and permits instead. Irving adopted the 2024 IRC effective May 1, 2026 (Ordinance 2026-11253 per eCode360), so ask the city which edition governs your permit. That code family's shingle section (IRC R905.2) sets a 2:12 minimum pitch for asphalt shingles and calls for doubled underlayment from 2:12 up to 4:12; a flatter porch or patio tie-in needs a low-slope material instead. A full shingle replacement needs a City of Irving permit, though the city's residential roofing handout lets small fixes of up to 100 square feet go without one. Irving Inspections: (972) 721-2371.
Beyond Irving, we replace shingle roofs in Dallas, Euless, Bedford and Addison. Homeowners in Las Colinas and Valley Ranch should read our HOA roof approval guide before choosing a color, and owners of older houses can see how we approach residential roofing in Irving.
