The best all-weather performance shingle on the market

By Emma Peterson. 

This shingle uses new technology to better protect against elements like 160 mph wind speeds.  

As technology pushes the industry further forward, manufacturers like TAMKO are bringing products that are more efficient, aesthetic and durable than ever before. In this Read Listen Watch® (RLW), Heidi J. Ellsworth spoke to Melissa Dunson of TAMKO about their all-weather performance shingle – The StormFighter FLEX. 

These shingles came out of the COVID era during which TAMKO saw how much their industry was struggling and rededicated themselves to meeting them where they were. When they came out of lockdown, they began speaking to contractors in the field, searching for what features were most beneficial and what they wanted that wasn’t on the market. From there, they began developing StormFighter FLEX. Melissa described the process, “We have tested it in the field, we've done contractor focus groups to understand and make sure that what we bring to the market reflects what our customer base is longing for.”  And the result of all that hard work and dedication is a shingle with a myriad of benefits, from the installation to the long-term life span of the product.  

Low temperature installation 

By listening to the contractors in the field, TAMKO realized that they needed to do installations further and further into the cold months. With traditional asphalt shingles, this caused a slew of issues from cracking and tearing to nail blow-throughs. So TAMKO developed the StormFighter FLEX to be different. Melissa explained, “Even when they're frozen, they're still so flexible. It’s been surprising contractors in the field when they see that the shingle could be frozen and still performing at that level.”  

Impact resistance  

The StormFighter FLEX takes impact resistance to another level, into impact recovery. Melissa explained, “IBHS testing involves shooting ice balls at the shingles. Part of their testing standards is they leave the shingles after they shoot them before they measure dents.” This shingle has proven that, not only does it stand up to damage in the initial test, but when it is checked after that time period, the dents shrink!  

Wind resistance  

Showing TAMKO’s dedication to safety and improvement, these shingles continue their standard of having a wind guard warranty for up to 160 mph. Melissa explained, “You don't have to have anything special; just install the shingles correctly in the expanding nail zone and use TAMKO Starter. Then you get the 160 mile per hour high wind warranty.”  

Thermal stability  

For other types of polymer-modified shingles, thermal shifts and cycles can cause a lot of issues and grievances. Melissa explained, “They're really hot and they're really cold and they're really hot, that they tend to get brittle over time and they can crack and don't perform as well against impact over time.” TAMKO took this into account and designed the StormFighter FLEX with a unique polymer formation that is much more thermally stable.  

Long term weathering 

All of these benefits create one broader result — these shingles can withstand the test of time and the elements. Melissa elaborated, “It's a performance shingle with the ability to help withstand rain, sun, ice, freezing temperatures, high winds and impact all at the same time.”  

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the Webinar to learn more about how TAMKO developed the StormFighter FLEX.