Asphalt Shingle Roofing

Architectural (dimensional / laminate) is the modern default — two layers of asphalt bonded together for a thicker, heavier shingle with a dimensional shadow profile. 30-year material life, 110-150 mph wind warranties depending on nailing pattern and accessories. This is what we install on 90%+ of NJ roofs.

Three-tab shingles are the old single-layer design — flat, no shadow line, shorter service life (15-20 years). We don't install three-tab on new replacements unless an HOA or historic restoration specifically requires the flatter aesthetic, because architectural costs only modestly more and lasts much longer.

Designer / luxury laminates (GAF Camelot II, CertainTeed Presidential Shake, GAF Grand Sequoia) are thicker, dimensional, and mimic slate or shake. 50-year manufacturer warranties on most lines. Right for homes where curb appeal drives resale value.

Impact-resistant (IR / Class 4) shingles (Atlas StormMaster, IKO Cambridge IR, CertainTeed NorthGate) have a reinforced fiberglass mat that resists hail damage. Some NJ insurance carriers offer premium discounts for Class 4 roofs — worth asking your agent if you're upgrading.

Nailing pattern. GAF requires 6 nails per shingle on Timberline HDZ for the 130 mph wind warranty (4 nails is the bare minimum for the lower-tier warranty). Each nail must hit the nailing zone — too high and the shingle blows off, too low and the nail pierces the next shingle's keyway and creates a leak path. Master Elite contractors are audited on this.

Starter strip at eaves and rakes. The first course of shingles needs a manufacturer's starter strip (GAF Pro-Start, CertainTeed SwiftStart) — not field-cut shingles, which lack the adhesive bead at the right position. Missing or wrong starter is one of the most common reasons warranty claims get denied after a wind event.

Hip & ridge cap. The ridge has to use matching manufacturer hip/ridge shingles (GAF TimberTex, CertainTeed Cedar Crest), not field shingles cut into ridge caps. Field-cut ridge is cheaper but voids the warranty.

Ridge ventilation. GAF, CertainTeed, and Owens Corning all require balanced ventilation (intake at soffits + exhaust at ridge) for the full warranty. Skipping ridge vent or leaving the soffit intake blocked is the #1 install error we see when we inspect a competitor's recent work.

Ice & water shield + drip edge per NJ code. R905.1.2 requires ice & water shield at eaves extending 24" past the interior wall plane (we extend 36" in northwest zone-5 counties); R905.2.8.5 requires drip edge at eaves and rakes. Both are standard on our installs.

Inland Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Somerset, Essex, Union, Middlesex. Standard architectural laminate (Timberline HDZ, Landmark, Duration) is the right call for 90%+ of homes. 130 mph wind warranty handles the typical nor'easter exposure.

Shore counties (Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, Ocean). Salt air corrodes standard galvanized nails — we use stainless or hot-dipped galvanized fasteners and recommend Atlas StormMaster or IKO Cambridge IR for the higher wind rating. ASCE 7-22 design wind speed runs 130-145 mph depending on coastal proximity.

Northwest counties (Sussex, Warren, parts of Hunterdon and Morris). Snow load and ice dams drive material selection less than installation detail — we extend ice & water shield 36" past interior wall plane, install snow guards on metal-edge details, and recommend impact-resistant for hail-prone microclimates.

Historic districts (Princeton, Madison, Cape May, Lambertville). HPC review often restricts visible exterior changes. We coordinate sample submission and color approval — GAF Camelot II in slate or wood-shake tones often clears HPC where standard architectural would not.