Choosing an Asphalt Shingle: Organic vs. Fiberglass

The most common residential roofing material applied in the U.S. today is fiberglass asphalt shingles. Since they were introduced in the late 1970s, fiberglass shingles have come to dominate the market, accounting for nearly 90% of all shingles installed today. In fact, the original “organic felt” shingles are now hard to find in many areas. Evaluating the quality of organic shingles has always been pretty straightforward: In general, the heavier the shingle, the longer it will last on the roof. Fiberglass shingles, on the other hand, have a different composition and cannot be easily evaluated based on weight. This has made it more complicated for builders to choose a shingle. And recent reports of some fiberglass shingles failing