The Best Roofing Shingles, Compared by People Who Nail Them Down
Four brands cover most of what gets installed in the Triangle. Here is what each one publishes on wind, warranty and impact, where the specs genuinely differ, and the thing that matters more than any of it.
The brands
Four shingles, and what each actually publishes
Ordered by how often we see them on Triangle roofs. We are GAF Certified and CertainTeed credentialed, so two of these four are brands we install, and we have said where the other two beat them.
1. GAF, Timberline HDZ
Signature technology. LayerLock, which widens the nailing area so the shingle is harder to install wrong. Warranty. A 15 year WindProven limited wind warranty, and 25 year StainGuard Plus algae protection.
The most installed shingle in North America, and the brand behind the Master Elite contractor program that several roofers in the Triangle hold. The wide nail zone matters more than it sounds: most wind failures start with nails placed slightly off, and Timberline HDZ makes that harder to do.
The catch. GAF's longest system warranties can only be registered by a Master Elite contractor. We are GAF Certified, one tier below that, so if the maximum GAF warranty is your priority you want a Master Elite installer.
2. CertainTeed, Landmark
Signature technology. A two-piece laminated build with a dual layer of asphalt. Warranty. Lifetime limited, with 10 year SureStart cover, 25 year StreakFighter algae protection, 110 mph wind as standard and 160 mph available with an upgraded install, plus UL 2218 Class 3 impact resistance.
The clearest published spec sheet of any brand here, which is a real advantage when you are comparing quotes. The 110 to 160 mph wind figure depends entirely on how it is fastened, so get the installation spec in writing, not just the product name.
The catch. Class 3 impact rather than Class 4. In a hail belt that one step matters, and some insurers price it in.
3. Owens Corning, Duration series
Signature technology. SureNail, a fabric strip in the nailing zone. Warranty. 25 years on the Supreme line, with copper-lined granules for algae resistance.
The SureNail strip does the same job as GAF's wide nail zone by a different route, giving the fastener something tougher to bite into. Owens Corning color ranges are generally the easiest to match to brick, which matters more than people expect.
The catch. Their own published spec detail is thinner than CertainTeed's, so more of the comparison rests on your contractor's word.
4. IKO, Crowne Slate
Signature technology. A heavy laminated build shaped to read as quarried slate. Warranty. Class 4 impact resistance, the top rating available.
The one brand on this list whose flagship carries Class 4 impact as its headline. Wake County logged 69 hail events between 2020 and 2025, and a Class 4 shingle is the single most useful spec you can buy against that. Several insurers discount for it.
The catch. Luxury tier pricing, and fewer local crews have installed it, so get references specifically for this product rather than for the company.
The honest part
Installation beats brand, and it is not close
Every shingle above is a good shingle. They are made by large companies with reputations to protect, and the differences between them are smaller than the marketing implies.
What is not small is the difference between a roof nailed correctly and a roof nailed slightly wrong. Nails driven too high miss the reinforced strip and the shingle lifts in the first real wind. Nails driven too deep cut through the mat. Both are invisible from the ground the day the crew leaves, and both void the manufacturer warranty you paid for.
That is why GAF's LayerLock and Owens Corning's SureNail exist. They are not performance features so much as forgiveness features, widening the target so an average installer produces a better result. Read that as a statement about how often roofs are nailed wrong.
So the order of operations is: pick a contractor, confirm their manufacturer certification, then pick a shingle from what that certification lets them warrant. Doing it the other way round is how people end up with a premium shingle and a warranty nobody can register. Our guide to shingle types covers the 3-tab against architectural question, which you should settle first.
Not covered
Three brands we have deliberately left out
Because we could not verify their published specifications the day we wrote this, and guessing is worse than omitting.
Malarkey, Atlas and TAMKO all make shingles you will see quoted in North Carolina, and Malarkey in particular is well regarded for polymer modified asphalt. We have not described their specifications here because we could not read them off a first-party source while writing, and this page is built on quoted figures rather than recollection. If a contractor quotes you one of the three, ask them for the wind rating, the impact class and the warranty length in writing. Those three numbers make any shingle comparable to the four above.
Keep reading
Related comparisons and guides
What sits underneath the brand question, and who is certified to install these in your city.
Eight materials by installed cost and how long each lasts.
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Shingle brand questions
What is the best shingle brand?
There is no single answer, and anyone who gives you one is selling something. CertainTeed Landmark publishes the clearest specification, IKO Crowne Slate carries Class 4 impact for hail country, and GAF Timberline HDZ is the most installed shingle in North America. Pick the contractor first, then the shingle they can warrant.
Is GAF better than Owens Corning?
They solve the same problem two ways. GAF widens the nailing zone with LayerLock, Owens Corning reinforces it with a fabric strip called SureNail. Both exist because misplaced nails are the most common cause of wind failure. Choose on the contractor's certification, not the logo.
What wind rating do I need in North Carolina?
CertainTeed Landmark is rated to 110 mph as standard and 160 mph with an upgraded fastening pattern. For most inland Triangle homes the standard rating is sufficient. The upgrade is a conversation worth having nearer the coast, and the rating depends on the install, not just the product.
Are Class 4 impact shingles worth the money?
In Wake County, often yes. There were 69 recorded hail events between 2020 and 2025, and many insurers discount premiums for a Class 4 roof. Ask your insurer for the specific discount before deciding, because it varies a lot.
Does the shingle brand affect my warranty?
Less than your contractor's certification does. Manufacturers reserve their longest system warranties for contractors in their top certification tier, so the same shingle can carry very different cover depending on who installs it.
Which shingles does Lamar Homes install?
We are GAF Certified and CertainTeed credentialed, so those are the two lines we can register manufacturer warranties on. If you want a brand outside that, we will tell you plainly rather than talk you out of it.
We will inspect the roof for free and quote the brand, the product line and the warranty in writing, so you can compare it properly against anyone else.
Give us a call or fill out our form today to schedule your free inspection!
Whether you need a roof replacement, roof repair, or annual inspection, we’ve got you covered.
