Architectural vs. Premium vs. Metal. A Side-by-Side

Architectural asphalt shingles

The standard NC roof. Around 80 percent of what we install.

• Lifespan: 22 to 28 years in NC sun (manufacturer says 30; subtract for heat)
• Cost per square (100 sq ft) installed: $350 to $450
• Best for: Most homes. Best lifetime cost. Insurance replaces them cleanly.
• Watch out for: Cheap "three-tab" shingles. Not the same thing. Refuse anything below GAF Timberline HDZ or equivalent.

Premium / designer asphalt shingles

Thicker, heavier, longer warranty. The "lifetime" tier.

• Lifespan: 28 to 35 years in NC sun
• Cost per square installed: $480 to $620
• Best for: Homes where you plan to stay 15+ years, or where the HOA requires the look.
• Watch out for: Marketing-only "premium" labels. Ask for the weight per square (good ones are 240+ lbs).

Standing-seam metal

The longest-lived roof you can buy. It's also a different category of project.

• Lifespan: 40 to 60 years
• Cost per square installed: $1,100 to $1,500
• Best for: Forever homes. Steep modern designs. Anywhere you want one roof for the rest of your life.
• Watch out for: Exposed-fastener "metal" (the kind with visible screws). That is a different product, with a 20-year life and a leak problem at every screw. Standing-seam is the one you want.

How to read your estimates

• Ask for the specific product. "GAF Timberline HDZ", not "architectural shingle".
• Ask for the warranty paperwork that will be filed in your name. There is a real difference between a 30-year warranty and a 50-year one, and it costs the roofer nothing extra to file the right one.
• If two estimates use the same material but differ by $4,000+, the cheap one is skipping components from the nine-component list. Find out which ones.