Walk down any street on Long Island and you will see both. The flat, uniform roof with its neat rows of rectangles is three-tab. The roof with depth and shadow lines that reads a little like wood shake is architectural, also called dimensional or laminated. They are both asphalt shingles, and the difference between them is more than looks.
What they are
A three-tab shingle is a single flat strip with two slots cut into it, so each strip reads as three tabs on the roof. It is the shingle most roofs were made of for fifty years.
An architectural shingle is two layers laminated together, the top one cut into a random pattern of tabs. The doubled thickness and the varied shapes give the roof its texture and its shadow.
Thickness and weight
Architectural shingles weigh roughly half again as much as three-tab per square. More material means more asphalt, more granules and more years. The extra weight is well within what any normal roof deck carries.
Wind
This is the difference that matters most on a coast. Three-tab shingles are typically rated to about 60 miles per hour. Architectural shingles are typically rated to 110 or 130, and some to 150. Their weight, their doubled layer and their larger seal strips keep them down when the wind comes off the bay, which is why we see far fewer architectural roofs losing tabs after a nor'easter.
Lifespan and warranty
Manufacturers warrant three-tab shingles for around 20 to 25 years and architectural shingles for 30 years to lifetime, with the actual life on Long Island running a few years under those figures for the reasons in our article on roof lifespan. Our own three-year workmanship warranty is the same on either.
Look
Three-tab is flat and even, which suits a simple, modern or historically plain house. Architectural shingles have depth, hide small irregularities in the deck, and are available in designer lines that imitate slate or cedar. On most houses they add something; on a small ranch they can look busy. We bring samples to the estimate so you can see them against the siding.
Cost
Three-tab costs less per square to buy. The labor to install is about the same, so the difference in the total is smaller than people expect, and the architectural roof lasts longer and stands up to the wind better. Over the life of the roof it is usually the less expensive choice, which is why it is what most homeowners now pick.
When three-tab still makes sense
A detached garage or shed. A house that will be sold or taken down in a few years. Matching a repair on an existing three-tab roof. A very tight budget where the alternative is waiting with a roof that leaks. These are real reasons, and we will tell you when one applies to you.
Whichever you choose, the shingle is one part of the system. The underlayment, the ice and water barrier at the eaves, the flashing and the ventilation decide how long either one lasts. Every roof we install comes with the manufacturer's warranty and our own three years on the workmanship.
