Asphalt Shingle Roofing · Minneapolis & The Twin Cities
Asphalt Shingle Roofing In Minneapolis & The Twin Cities
Rated five stars by most homeowners, Google
Your shingles are your home's first line of defense against Minnesota weather, and "asphalt shingle" covers everything from builder-grade to beautiful. Here's the honest guide to what you're choosing between, and why installation matters more than the wrapper on the bundle.
- Architectural shingles are the Twin Cities standard, and what we recommend for most homes.
- Owens Corning, GAF, and CertainTeed are our primary lines, and we're a GAF Certified Contractor.
- Our crews install to manufacturer specification and Minnesota code, ice-and-water protection included, always.
30+ years of Twin Cities roofing · GAF Certified Contractor · Local crews, start to finish · MN Lic. # BC630708
Architectural Or 3-Tab?
For almost every owner-occupied home, architectural. It's the one upgrade we recommend nearly universally.
Minnesota's Workhorse, The Asphalt Shingle Specced For Minnesota
A quality asphalt shingle system handles all our weather: hail, wind, UV, and the freeze and thaw cycle, at the best value in roofing. The catch is the word system. The shingle everyone sees is one layer of it; the ice-and-water shield at the eaves, the underlayment, the starter courses, the ventilation, and the nailing pattern decide whether those shingles reach their potential or fail a decade early. That's why this page is about materials while the actual explanation of the project lives on our Roof Replacement page.
The Three Tiers, So You Know The Difference
3-Tab Shingles
The flat, single-layer economy option. Lightest, least expensive, and the first to go in wind and hail. We'll install them when the situation genuinely calls for it (short-horizon rentals, matching an existing roof, very small homes), but for most people, the next tier up repays its modest premium several times over.
Architectural (Dimensional) Shingles
The Twin Cities standard, and what we recommend for most homes: laminated (twice the thickness), heavier, wind-rated far beyond 3-tab, with real depth from the curb. Honest Minnesota lifespan: typically 20 to 30 years, weather depending, because hail can change everything.
Designer / Premium Shingles
Heavier still, up to 5 times thicker, with profiles that read as slate or shake from the street, and the strongest impact and wind ratings in asphalt. The sweet spot for homeowners who want a distinctive roof without leaving asphalt pricing. (Want a true lifetime-class roof? That conversation is Lifetime Roofs.)
Brands We Install
We spec Owens Corning, GAF, and CertainTeed as our primary lines because they all have deep color ranges, proven cold-weather performance, and warranty programs that actually pay off (we're a GAF Certified Contractor). TAMKO earns its place as a solid mid-market option when budget leads. We'll walk sample boards with you at the evaluation and tell you plainly what each choice means for you.
The Installation Is The Warranty
Every shingle above carries a long manufacturer warranty, and every one of those warranties assumes the shingle was installed to spec. Wrong nail placement, skipped starter courses, or starved ventilation quietly void coverage and shave years off the roof. Our crews install to manufacturer specification and Minnesota code (ice-and-water protection included, always), which is why our roofs still look installed-yesterday at year fifteen. When you're ready to talk about your roof specifically, the numbers, process, and signs-you-need-one live here: See Our Roof Replacement Process.
New brown architectural asphalt shingles on a rambler, Edina.
Synthetic underlayment going on under the shingles during a Minneapolis roof replacement.
Where Shingle Roofs Earn, Or Lose, Their Lifespan
The shingle field rarely fails first. A shingle system lives or dies at its details, and these are the spots we obsess over on every install and check first on every evaluation:
- Roof leaks & penetrations: vents, boots, and fasteners; small parts, big consequences.
- Dormers & wall flashing: where roof meets wall is where water gets clever.
- Valleys: the highways of the roof; they carry everything and forgive nothing.
- Gutters & edges: drip edge and drainage decide what happens to water after the shingles win.
- Ice dams: Minnesota's freeze and thaw specialty; beaten by eave protection and ventilation, not luck.
While We're On Your Roof
The shingles are half the job; the other half is how your property is treated. On every project: your yard cleaned up daily and swept for nails, landscaping protected, all woodwork, meaning trusses, decking, soffit, and fascia, are documented and repaired correctly rather than covered, and no surprise line items. With experience comes a calm, easy process, no matter what your situation is.
The Unusual Situations We Handle Calmly
Buying, Selling, Or Closing On A House That Needs A Roof?
Re-roofs contingent on a closing (performed and paid through the transaction) are a rhythm we know well: documented condition, firm numbers, and a schedule that works with the closing date.
Storm Damage, And The Roof Can't Wait For The Claim?
We protect the roof now, document the damage, and write our own itemized estimate for the permanent work.
That Is Where Our Lane Ends
We do not represent you, adjust your claim, or negotiate on your behalf. You own the claim. If your carrier denies it, we stop, we hand you everything we have documented at no charge, and what happens next is yours to decide.
Why Homeowners Choose Right Away Construction
- GAF Certified Contractor. Owens Corning, GAF, and CertainTeed are our primary lines, with TAMKO as a solid mid-market option when budget leads.
- The installation is the warranty. Our crews install to manufacturer specification and Minnesota code, ice-and-water protection included, always.
- Your property, protected. Your yard cleaned up daily and swept for nails, landscaping protected, and no surprise line items.
- Local crews, start to finish. 30+ years of Twin Cities roofing, licensed (MN # BC630708), insured and bondable.
- Experienced with insurance work, and clear about the limits. We know what adjusters look for. We document the damage and write our own itemized estimate, and we do not represent you, adjust your claim, or negotiate on your behalf.
The Standard, Not The Goal
At Right Away Construction, five-star service is the standard, not the goal.
Asphalt Shingle FAQ
Honestly: 3-tab, 15 to 20 years; architectural, 20 to 30; designer lines longer on paper, all minus whatever hail takes. The bigger variable is installation and ventilation, which is why identical shingles age so differently across one neighborhood.
For almost every owner-occupied home, yes. These have higher wind and impact performance and better looks for a modest premium. It's the one upgrade we recommend nearly universally.
In a hail metro, Class 4 impact-rated shingles are worth a real look; whether your insurer offers a premium credit for them is a question for your insurer. Ask at your evaluation; we'll give you the honest cost-benefit for your roof, not a blanket pitch.
The honest answer: the top three (Owens Corning, GAF, CertainTeed) are all excellent, and the correct choice is usually about color, profile, and the specific line's ratings for your exposure. Installation quality separates roofs far more than brand does.
Free Roof Evaluation
Compare Shingle Options With A Roofing Expert
We'll walk sample boards with you at the evaluation and tell you plainly what each choice means for you.
- Documented condition and firm numbers.
- No surprise line items.
- Your yard cleaned up daily and swept for nails.
Done the right way. Right away.
We answer the phone at 612-255-9605 during the day, and we call back the same day when we miss you.
Ready To Choose The Right Shingles For Your Home?
Sample boards, straight answers, and a roof system designed for Minnesota, not just what's in stock.