We install both architectural and 3-tab shingles, but our strong professional recommendation is architectural for every Essex County home. Here is why our position is so definitive.
Storm Damage Data
Our emergency repair records show that 3-tab shingle blow-offs outnumber architectural shingle failures by roughly 5:1 during NJ storm events. The thin, single-layer construction of 3-tab shingles simply cannot resist the wind loads that Essex County experiences during nor'easters and severe thunderstorms.
After one notable 2023 nor'easter, we responded to 47 emergency calls in Essex County. Of those, 38 involved 3-tab shingle damage and only 9 involved architectural shingles, despite architectural shingles being installed on a larger percentage of local homes. The performance difference in real weather is dramatic.
Why We Still Offer 3-Tab
We maintain 3-tab in our product lineup for two situations: rental properties where the owner prioritizes minimum cost and the tenant bears the inconvenience of any storm damage, and temporary roofing on properties planned for demolition or major renovation within 5 years. Outside these narrow cases, we actively recommend against 3-tab.
When a homeowner insists on 3-tab to save money, we provide a written disclosure explaining the performance and warranty differences and have the client sign acknowledging our recommendation for architectural. We want to be clear that 3-tab is not our professional recommendation for any permanent Essex County home.
Our Specification Standard
Our standard specification for Essex County homes is GAF Timberline HDZ or CertainTeed Landmark Pro architectural shingles. Both carry lifetime limited warranties, 130 mph wind ratings, and Class A fire ratings. These products represent the best value in residential roofing and are our most-installed products by a wide margin.
We pair these shingles with GAF or CertainTeed complete system components (starter strip, hip and ridge, underlayment) to qualify for the maximum manufacturer warranty. Using a single manufacturer system eliminates warranty coverage gaps that occur when mixing brands.
Architectural shingles are the minimum standard our company recommends for Essex County homes. The small additional cost delivers dramatically better protection and value in NJ conditions.