Architectural shingles beat 3-tab shingles on warranty, wind rating and looks, and cost about a fifth more. GAF backs its 3-tab line for 25 years with wind cover to 60 mph. Its Timberline architectural line carries a lifetime limited warranty and 130 mph wind cover with special installation.
The table
Architectural vs 3-tab shingles at a glance
What you are comparing
3-tab shingles
Architectural shingles
How they are made
One flat layer of asphalt-coated fiberglass, cut into three equal tabs
Two or more layers laminated together, which gives the depth
Example products
GAF Royal Sovereign, CertainTeed XT 25, Owens Corning Supreme
GAF Timberline HDZ, CertainTeed Landmark, Owens Corning Duration
Limited warranty
25 years (Royal Sovereign, XT 25)
Lifetime limited (Timberline, Landmark, Duration)
Wind warranty limit
60 mph (Royal Sovereign, XT 25)
110 to 130 mph as standard on Timberline and Landmark, up to 160 mph or no limit with the right accessories
Our roof cost calculator prices architectural shingles at 1.22 times the 3-tab price for the same roof. Put simply, the upgrade adds about 22 percent.
For a 2,000 square foot home at average pitch with the old roof torn off, the calculator gives $10,500 to $14,000 in 3-tab and $13,000 to $17,000 in architectural.
The calculator treats that home as about 23 squares of roof, a square being 100 square feet. That works out to roughly $460 to $610 a square for 3-tab and $560 to $740 for architectural.
These are planning ranges, not quotes. Pitch, rotten decking, flashing and access move the real number. Try your own size in the roof cost calculator.
Lifespan and warranty
Lifespan and warranty: what the makers commit to
No manufacturer we checked publishes a service life in years. What they do publish is the warranty, and that is where the two grades split.
GAF
Royal Sovereign 3-tab gets a 25-year limited warranty with a 5-year Smart Choice protection period. Timberline architectural shingles get a lifetime limited warranty with 10 years, or 50 on enhanced warranties.
CertainTeed
XT 25 strip shingles carry a 25-year limited transferable warranty and 5 years of SureStart protection. Landmark carries a lifetime limited transferable warranty and 10 years of SureStart.
Owens Corning
The Duration architectural shingle carries a limited lifetime warranty. We could not read a warranty term on the Supreme three-tab page, so we have left it out.
Both grades can pass the same lab wind tests. The difference is how much wind the maker will put in writing.
Same lab class
GAF lists Royal Sovereign as ASTM D3161 Class F and says it passes the 110 and 150 mph tests in the lab. Owens Corning lists Duration as D3161 Class F too.
3-tab warranty: 60 mph
Royal Sovereign is warranted to withstand wind up to 60 mph. CertainTeed gives XT 25 a 5-year, 60 mph wind-resistance warranty.
Architectural: 110 to 130 mph
GAF covers Timberline to 130 mph with special installation and 110 mph without it. CertainTeed gives Landmark a 15-year, 110 mph warranty, upgradable to 160 mph.
Higher with the right parts
Owens Corning covers Duration to 160 mph with its components and starter shingles at eaves and rakes. GAF LayerLock shingles with four GAF accessories get WindProven cover with no top speed.
GAF describes 3-tab as flat and even. Architectural shingles were introduced in the 1970s and 80s to give the look of slate or cedar shake without the weight, cost and upkeep.
CertainTeed calls dimensional shingles the most common roofing choice for American homes. On a street of architectural roofs, a 3-tab roof stands out.
We found no manufacturer data putting a number on resale value, so we will not invent one. What we see in Cary is more practical: many HOAs specify the shingle profile and color, so check before you price anything.
To see how GAF colors look on a finished roof, browse our roof colors page.
Which option fits you?
Which option fits you?
Architectural for almost everyone. 3-tab still earns its place on a rental, a house you are selling soon, or a repair matching an existing 3-tab roof. Work through these steps before you sign.
Check what your HOA allows
Many Cary neighborhoods specify shingle profile and color. If the association requires a dimensional shingle, the decision is made for you.
Decide how long you are staying
Selling in a couple of years, or roofing a rental? 3-tab can be the sensible spend. Staying longer, the warranty and wind terms on architectural shingles are worth paying for.
Compare warranty and wind terms on each quote
Ask which shingle line is quoted, the limited warranty term, and the maximum wind speed covered. Check whether special installation, such as six nails and starter strips, is included.
Ask your insurer about upgrades
A claim is normally settled on the roof you had. If you are upgrading from 3-tab after storm damage, ask how your policy handles the difference before you choose.
Get a written estimate
A free inspection gives you a price for both options on your actual roof, not a national average.
Are architectural shingles more expensive than 3-tab?
Yes. On the Lamar Homes roof cost calculator, architectural shingles price about 22 percent above 3-tab for the same roof. For a 2,000 square foot home at average pitch with tear-off, that is $13,000 to $17,000 against $10,500 to $14,000.
What does a 3-tab roof shingle look like?
A 3-tab shingle is a single flat layer of asphalt-coated fiberglass cut into three equal tabs. On the roof it gives a flat, even, repeating pattern, with none of the shadow lines you see on architectural shingles.
Are three-tab shingles any good?
They are a sound budget roof. GAF's Royal Sovereign 3-tab carries a 25-year limited warranty and is rated ASTM D3161 Class F for wind. The trade-off is a lower wind warranty cap, 60 mph, and a shorter warranty than architectural lines.
Are three-tab shingles obsolete?
Not yet. GAF still lists Royal Sovereign, CertainTeed says it offers XT 25 among its strip shingles, and Owens Corning still has a product page for Supreme three-tab. The choice is narrow, though: GAF's 3-tab range is one product line.
Which is better, 3-tab shingles or architectural?
For most homes, architectural. The big manufacturers give them longer warranties and much higher wind warranty limits, and they look more dimensional. 3-tab still makes sense on a rental, a house you are selling soon, or a repair matching an existing 3-tab roof.
How much wind can 3-tab shingles take?
GAF says Royal Sovereign passes ASTM's 110 mph and 150 mph wind tests in the lab, but the warranty covers wind only up to 60 mph. CertainTeed's XT 25 also carries a 60 mph wind-resistance warranty, for 5 years.
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