Asphalt Shingle Roofing

Three-tab. Lightest weight, cheapest, 20 year warranty. Mostly phased out of the Houston market because the rated wind speeds (60 mph) are inadequate for hurricane country. We do not install three-tab on residential.

Architectural (laminated). Two shingle layers fused together for a dimensional look. 25 to 50 year warranties. 130 mph wind ratings available. The standard for 80 percent of Houston homes. GAF Timberline HDZ and CertainTeed Landmark are our defaults.

Designer. Heaviest shingles in the asphalt category. Mimic the look of slate, shake, or scalloped Victorian profiles. 30 to 50 year warranties. GAF Camelot II, CertainTeed Grand Manor, GAF Slateline are common picks.

Every asphalt replacement we do includes: full tear-off to deck, decking inspection and replacement of any soft sheets, synthetic underlayment across the entire deck (not 30 lb felt), self-adhered ice and water shield at all valleys and around all penetrations, new drip edge on every eave and rake, starter strip on every eave, six-nail high wind installation pattern, new pipe boots in lead or premium polymer, new step and counter flashing at all wall transitions, new ridge cap shingles (not field shingle cut), continuous ridge venting balanced with soffit intake, and a 10 year workmanship warranty.

GAF certifies fewer than 2 percent of US roofing contractors as Master Elite. The certification requires a clean Better Business Bureau record, verified workmanship audits, and continuing education. The practical benefit for you: only Master Elite contractors can register the GAF Golden Pledge warranty, which is 50 year non-prorated material coverage plus 25 year workmanship coverage backed by GAF directly. If we go out of business in year 12, GAF still honors the warranty on a Golden Pledge roof. Standard contractor warranties die with the contractor.

You can verify any GAF Master Elite contractor at gaf.com/en-us/roofing-contractors.

Texas insurers offer wind and hail premium discounts of 10 to 30 percent for Class 4 impact-rated roofing. The shingle costs roughly 8 to 15 percent more upfront than standard architectural. Break-even on the upcharge typically lands at year 3 to 5 of ownership. We install GAF Armor Shield II and CertainTeed NorthGate as our standard Class 4 options. Discount eligibility verified by your carrier on policy renewal after we provide the manufacturer certification.

Houston attics over 140 F in summer cook shingles from below and cut a 25 year shingle to a 13 year service life. Most older Houston homes are under-ventilated. Every replacement we do includes a ventilation balance check (1 sq ft of net free vent area per 150 sq ft of attic floor, split 50/50 between intake and exhaust). Where the existing system is short, we add or upsize ridge venting and soffit vents during the replacement at marginal cost.