No-line roof shingles and no cut-out asphalt shingles: What are they?

What is a no-line roof shingle? -- Stevensville, Md.

Just as popular roofing styles can differ from one region of the country to the other, the same is often true of roofing terminology. No-line roof shingles is not a description used in the Mid-Atlantic part of the country, but you may be referring to no cut-out asphalt shingles that are offered by several manufacturers. It would be easy to see why they might be called no-line as they don't display the familiar cut-outs that you normally see when standard three-tab shingles are installed on a roof.

One of the reasons three-tab shingles have been popular with builders is that the three distinct tabs serve to break up the expanse of the roof, and in some ways they resemble the look of shakes or slate without the thickness. However, homeowners have different tastes when it comes to design and not every architectural style benefits from the appearance of three-tab shingles. That's why roofing manufacturers offer different styles of shingles such as "architectural" and no-line or no cut-out. A no-cut out shingle is exactly the same as a three-tab, but it lacks the three cut-outs that create the individual tabs. The result is a shingle that looks more like a small board than slate or shakes. The look can be used to complement a home with rustic styling, such as a cabin or vacation retreat.

No cut-out shingles are normally very budget-friendly and usually have a limited 25-year warranty. CertainTeed offers them in their Jet series and you may still be able find Iko's New Englander series at roofing distributors.