What’s better, fiberglass or organic shingles?

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Q: What's better, fiberglass or organic shingles? Two of the three companies quoting on my job strongly recommend fiberglass. From a price stand point, there's little difference, though warranties look better on the fiberglass. Can you help me make my decision?

A: Based on my research and personal experience, I’ve chosen fiberglass for one of my own buildings and I’ll be using this type of shingle again on another. Both look quite similar when you tear open a bundle, but the main difference is the underlying mat used as a substrate for the tar and gravel coatings. Organic shingles are built on a heavy paper-like base, while fiberglass shingles have non-woven glass fibers at their core. This results in better resistance to heat, both on roofs that might not have sufficient ventilation, and in the event of a fire. Fiberglass shingles are surprisingly fire resistant, while most organic shingles burn like crazy once they get going.

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