How to Master Shingle Matching for Your Macomb & Oakland County Home

Metro Detroit is covered in asphalt shingles! It is the most common roofing product used across Macomb County and Oakland County homes. Whether you need an urgent repair or are planning a home addition, finding a perfect shingle match is critical—nobody wants a patchwork quilt of colors for their roof. But with hundreds of unique products installed across Metro Detroit, how do you guarantee a match?

We went looking for that answer, and thankfully, at Four Seasons Kanga Roof, we have a roofing expert to guide you on how to properly identify the shingles on your home or office.

Meet Our Roofing Expert: Dale Climer

Our Service Superintendent, Mr. Dale Climer, is the expert you need. Dale has nearly 20 years of experience in roofing and roofing repairs in Southeast Michigan. He has seen and handled just about every shingle that has been installed across the Metro Detroit area. We sat down with Dale to gather some insider tips and tricks you can use to get the right shingle match for your roof.

Dale’s 5 Key Steps to Identifying Your Shingles

Follow these five steps to accurately identify the manufacturer of your existing asphalt shingles:

1. Determine the Shingle Size: Shingle manufacturers create slightly different sized shingles, varying in width and height (known as “exposure length” in roofing terminology). Comparing these dimensions to a manufacturer’s guide will immediately help narrow down the brand.
2. Identify the Shingle Shape/Cut: Each manufacturer has a subtly different cut or shape to the visible laminate top of the shingle. Some have very straight, 90-degree angles, while others carry a wide flair. Identifying the size and shape together quickly narrows your search.
3. Inspect the Nail Strip: The pattern and features of the nail strip line can be a strong identifier. For instance, a blue line on the shingle immediately tells a trained expert it’s a CertainTeed shingle.
4. Analyze the Shadow Line: Similar to the shape and nail strip, the shadow line (the line created by the shingle’s thickness and cut) helps identify the manufacturer. In the accompanying video, Dale walks you through the key identifiers to look for in the shadow line.
5. Check the Back of a Spare Shingle: This is the easiest way for a positive ID, but it requires a leftover shingle from the original installation. Approximately half of shingle manufacturers print the brand name on the plastic film protecting the seal strip on the back of the shingle.

Following these five tips will lead you to the correct shingle manufacturer.

The Next Hurdle: Shingle Color Matching

Even after identifying the manufacturer, color matching presents its own challenge. It is vital to remember that no new shingle is going to be an exact match due to the weathering, fading, and UV exposure your roof has experienced over time. However, getting the correct original color will allow the new shingle to match over time.

Tips for Perfect Color Matching:

The best way to identify the color is:

• Take a High-Quality Close-up Photo: Take a photo approximately 6 inches away from the shingle, focused tightly on the actual mixture of colored granules.
• Use Supplier Sample Books: With that photo, you can compare it to shingle samples from the manufacturer. You can get these sample books from your local Metro Detroit suppliers, such as Gulf Eagle Supply or SRS/Wimsatt.
• The Insider Cheat Code: If you can secure a full, undamaged sample shingle, bring that sample into one of these supply warehouses. Their experienced team can often get you the right match on the spot.

Why Trust the Experts?

The alternative to this process is to remove all guessing work and hire a trusted, local expert to do it for you. Our team of experts at Four Seasons Kanga Roof trains on this regularly. We can often source and secure even rare or discontinued shingles for your Macomb County roofing or Oakland County roofing project.

As a homeowner in Sterling Heights, Rochester Hills, or elsewhere in Metro Detroit, you need reliable, professional service.

• “Four Seasons Kanga Roof is a great company! They are dependable, communicate well, and do a great job. They are very timely and professional. I highly recommend them to all my friends and family!” – 5-Star Google Review from a satisfied Metro Detroit Customer.

Plus, once the work is all done, it is all backed by our 100% Satisfaction Money Back Guarantee. You can learn more about our commitment to quality on our main page for Four Seasons Kanga Roof that lists out our guarantees to you!

So if you’re ready to get that roof repair or re-roofing project done, you can always call our team of experts who are ready to “Hop To It” for you at 586-566-0308, or you can book your inspection completely online at https://kanga-roof.com/schedule-inspection-now/.

We really hope this article has helped give you the proper action steps to get the correct shingle match for your next repair or project.

As always, I hope you have a Kanga-Rific day!

Sincerely,

Bill Burkhardt, Jr.