Tamko Titan XT Shingle Review

The Tamko Titan XT has recently been released as a new addition to the line of Tamko roofing products.  Previously, the Tamko Heritage architectural shingle had been their primary product line. The Heritage line had poor reviews from contractors due to manufacturing issues and overall quality complaints. It has been described by many as a bottom of the line shingle compared to other brands.

I personally have only had one major issue with Tamko Heritage, and it involved a delivery from a roofing supplier.  A majority of the shingles stuck together within the bundles. I’m not sure if this issue was caused by a manufacturing flaw, or by improper storage by the supply house. That being said, my overall impression of the Tamko Heritage architectural line was that it was a basic, but decent and affordable shingle.  I have this shingle installed on my own home. My largest complaint was the very tiny (almost non-existent) nailing zone. 

The release of the Tamko Titan XT architectural shingle brought a number of improvements which I feel make it far superior to the previous Heritage line, and pull Tamko out of the “basic/cheap” shingle category. 

The biggest improvement is a clearly defined nailing zone that includes a polyester strip that helps strengthen the nail zone. While I wish the nailing zone would be on the common bond (the area where the bottom and top of the shingle are sealed together), this fabric strip is a great improvement. The strip provides extra strength the to shingle, but is not indestructible. Over-driven nails can still penetrate this strip easily. Other shingle brands have a more robust strip that nail heads have a harder time breaking through.  I have encountered manufacturing flaws on just two shingles where this strip was loose, and not adhered to the shingle in its intended location. 

Another great improvement is a stronger adhesive on the sealing strip. The Titan XT shingles seal much quicker after installation, unlike the previous Heritage line and other shingle brands.

These two improvements alone have allowed Tamko to offer a 15 year limited warranty for winds up to 160 mph (when installed according to Titan XT’s High Wind Application Instructions).

I have personally installed the Titan XT and am very happy with this shingle overall. I have also talked to a number of other crews who have installed it.  The installers have given the shingle positive reviews as far as the installation process is concerned.

Overall, I would recommend the Titan XT as a solid option for contractors to offer to their customers. I also personally recommend the Titan XT to homeowners as a quality shingle to consider when having a roof installed on their home.