How to Choose the Right Roofing Shingles for Your NJ Home

A new roof is a 20-30 year decision. Choosing the right shingles affects how your home looks, how long your roof lasts, and how much you pay in energy costs. Here's a complete guide to making the right choice for your New Jersey home.

Types of Asphalt Shingles

3-Tab Shingles

The traditional flat shingle with three uniform tabs. They're the least expensive option but are largely being phased out. They have a shorter lifespan (15-20 years) and provide less wind resistance than architectural shingles.

Architectural (Dimensional) Shingles

The industry standard today. Multiple layers create a textured, three-dimensional look that resembles wood shake or slate. They last 25-30 years, have better wind resistance (up to 110-130 mph), and look significantly better than 3-tab. This is what Exterior LLC recommends for most NJ homes.

Premium / Designer Shingles

High-end shingles that mimic the look of natural slate, cedar shake, or clay tile at a fraction of the cost. They carry 30-50 year warranties and are an excellent choice for upscale NJ homes. Brands like GAF Camelot or Timberline HDZ fall into this category.

Understanding Shingle Ratings

Wind Resistance

New Jersey building codes require shingles rated for at least Class H (110 mph) winds in most areas. Coastal zones may require higher ratings. Always confirm what rating is required in your municipality.

Impact Resistance

Class 4 impact-resistant shingles can reduce your homeowner's insurance premium in NJ. If you've had hail damage, upgrading to Class 4 shingles may pay for itself over time.

Fire Rating

All asphalt shingles in NJ should carry a Class A fire rating — the highest available. This is standard for most quality shingles.

Choosing a Color

Color affects more than aesthetics:

Lighter colors reflect more heat — can reduce cooling costs in summer
Darker colors absorb heat — can help melt snow in winter
Earth tones (brown, tan, gray) are the most popular in NJ and tend to have the broadest appeal

Match your shingle to your brick, siding, and trim colors. GAF and other manufacturers offer free online visualization tools.

The Importance of Manufacturer Certification

GAF, the largest roofing manufacturer in North America, offers a GAF Master Elite Certification to only the top 3% of roofing contractors. Exterior LLC is GAF-certified, which means:

We can offer enhanced warranty options up to 50 years
We've been vetted for experience, training, and professionalism
Warranties are backed by GAF's financial strength

Our Recommendation

For most NJ homes, we recommend GAF Timberline HDZ architectural shingles — America's best-selling shingle. They offer outstanding performance, a wide color range, and a 30-year warranty with optional lifetime coverage through a GAF System Plus warranty.

Contact Exterior LLC for a free color consultation and estimate. We'll bring shingle samples to your home so you can see exactly how they'll look.