What size shingles are discontinued?
How to tell which you have
Measure the exposure, the visible height of one course from the bottom edge of one shingle to the bottom edge of the next. About 5 inches means standard size. About 5 5/8 inches means metric. Some architectural and designer lines use other exposures, so the product name, if you can find it on a leftover bundle or invoice, is the surest answer.
Why it matters
- Courses do not line up. A metric shingle patched into a 5 inch exposure roof either leaves the overlap short, exposing nails, or has to be trimmed and fitted, which weakens it.
- Colors and blends change. Even within a size, manufacturers retire colors and product lines regularly, and granule colors fade on your roof over the years.
- Three-tab availability. Many manufacturers have narrowed their 3-tab offerings in favor of architectural shingles, which makes 3-tab repairs harder to match.
What this means for repairs and claims
If storm damage hits part of an older roof and the shingle is no longer made in that size or color, a patch may stand out or not fit correctly. Whether insurance pays to replace more of the roof to get a uniform look depends on your policy, Georgia rules, and the facts of the loss, see partial roof replacement and matching.
Keep a few spare bundles from any new roof in a dry place. They are the best match you will ever find for future repairs.
Compare shingle types in architectural vs 3-tab shingles, and learn when age tips the balance in signs you need a new roof.