How to choose roofing shingles

Find a shingle for your home that fits your budget while providing you with beauty and durability.

Consider these factors to choose the best roof shingles for your home

Where you live

Find shingles with the characteristics most important for the climate and weather patterns in your area.

Your style

Roofing shingles are about more than protection, they’re part of the beauty of your home.

Your budget

At every price point, you can count on the high quality and durability of GAF shingles.

Top types of shingles: Asphalt

Asphalt shingles are the most popular shingles in the U.S. because they’re affordable and easy to install and maintain. They are made from a sturdy fiberglass base, coated with asphalt and tiny granules of ceramic-coated mineral. Learn about shingle types.

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3-Tab shingles

The simplest and least expensive type of asphalt shingle. Sometimes called “strip” shingles, they are single layered.

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Architectural shingles

Also known as “dimensional” or “laminate” shingles. They’re manufactured with multiple layers which are fused together, resulting in a rich, multidimensional look.

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Designer shingles

Often called “premium” or “luxury” shingles. They are typically multi-layered and provide the highest end multidimensional look.

Asphalt roof shingle types

All GAF shingle types offer excellent protection and value – it’s a matter of selecting the type that best suits your home.

† Lifetime refers to the length of warranty coverage provided and means as long as the original individual owner(s) of a single-family detached residence [or eligible second owner(s)] owns the property where the qualifying GAF products are installed. For other owners/structures, Lifetime coverage is not applicable. Lifetime coverage on shingles requires use of GAF Lifetime shingles only. See GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions. Visit gaf.com/LRS for qualifying GAF products.
Can be used to comply with 2019 Title 24 Part 6 Cool Roof Requirements of the California Code of Regulations
2 Special Installation: GAF LayerLock™-labeled Shingles will be covered up to the maximum wind speed above ONLY if installed using 4 nails per shingle and you have GAF Starter Strip Products installed at the eaves and rakes. Special Installation for all other GAF Shingles requires use of 6 nails per shingle and GAF Starter Strip Products installed at the eaves and rakes.
3 25-year StainGuard Plus™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty, 30-year StainGuard Plus™ PRO Algae Protection Limited Warranty and 10-year StainGuard Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration is available only on products sold in packages bearing the StainGuard Plus™, StainGuard Plus™ PRO or StainGuard logo. See GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.
15-year WindProven™ Limited Wind Warranty on GAF Shingles with LayerLock™ Technology requires the use of GAF Starter Strips, Roof Deck Protection, Ridge Cap Shingles, and Leak Barrier or Attic Ventilation. See GAF Roofing System Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions Visit gaf.com/LRS for qualifying GAF products.For installations not eligible for the WindProven Limited Wind Warranty, see GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.
5 See GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.

The best roof shingles for your weather and climate

We’ve built GAF shingles to help protect your home against the elements. No matter where you live, there is a GAF shingle for you.

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HIGH WINDS

Timberline® Shingles with LayerLock® Technology qualify for infinite wind speed protection when installed with the required combination of GAF Accessories.4

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HAIL

The flexibility of our Grand Sequoia® AS and Timberline AS® II shingles allow them to achieve UL’s highest impact resistance rating – UL 2218 Class 4 to give your shingles a fighting chance in hail prone areas.7

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SUN

Our highly reflective GAF Timberline® CS Shingles may help you save on cooling costs.6

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HIGH MOISTURE

Help prevent blue-green algae stains with StainGuard Plus® labeled Timberline HDZ® shingles featuring GAF time release algae fighting technology and a 25 year Stainguard Plus® algae protection Limited Warranty.3

3 25-year StainGuard Plus Algae Protection Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration is available only on products sold in packages bearing the StainGuard Plus™ logo. See GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions, and qualifying products.
4 15-year WindProven™ limited wind warranty on Timberline® Shingles with LayerLock Technology requires the use of GAF Starter Strips, Roof Deck Protection, Ridge Cap Shingles, and Leak Barrier or Attic Ventilation. See GAF Roofing System Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions Visit gaf.com/LRS for qualifying GAF products
6 Energy cost savings are not guaranteed and the amount of savings may vary based on climate zone, utility rates, radiative properties of roofing products, insulation levels, HVAC equipment efficiency and other factors.
7 Hail damage is not covered under GAF limited warranties.

GAF Advanced Protection Shingles

Our most popular Timberline® Shingles feature proprietary GAF Dura Grip adhesive that seals each shingle tightly and reduces the risk of shingle blow-off, with a warranty to withstand winds up to 130 mph. Timberline® Shingles have also earned the highest roof fire rating — UL Class A, Listed to ANSI/UL 790.

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America’s #1-selling roof shingle is better than ever

The look people love, with advanced protection against strong winds and blue-green algae stains. Timberline HDZ® is the perfect mix of beauty and durability at an affordable price.

Shingle color and design inspiration to suit your style

See how your new roof will look

Use one of our model homes or upload a picture of your own home to select and view shingle styles and colors to find the perfect roof for you with our Virtual Remodeler.

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Boost your home’s curb appeal

Representing up to 40% of your home’s visual exterior, roofs are an often underestimated part of its curb appeal. But replacing your roof opens up a whole world of decisions. You’ll want to consider the type of materials, as well as the design and color options. Let’s explore the aesthetic side of the equation.

Sunset shadows, all day long with Timberline® UHDZ Shingles

Dual Shadow Line technology precisely distributes color granules to create a secondary shadow line, which gives the Timberline® UHDZ shingle a thicker, ultra-dimensional wood-shake look than our Timberline HDZ® shingles.

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Frequently asked questions

A new roof is a major investment in your home that you want to be happy with for years to come. So, we want to make sure all your questions are answered.

Some combinations just “work,” like charcoal shingles on a white house. But it’s really about personal taste. This article about choosing the right house and roof color combination can help you decide.
It depends where you live. Highly reflective shingles reflect more sunlight and are best suited for hotter areas while less reflective shingles absorb more sunlight and may be beneficial in colder areas. Explore our highly reflective shingles that may help reduce your cooling costs.6
If you’re a homeowner researching new roofing options, you may be seeing a lot of information on architectural shingles as a popular choice for roof replacements. Learn about what architectural shingles are and why they are growing in popularity.

6 Energy cost savings are not guaranteed and the amount of savings may vary based on climate zone, utility rates, radiative properties of roofing products, insulation levels, HVAC equipment efficiency and other factors.

Choosing shingles for smaller structures

Sheds, garages, workshops, gazebos, pool houses, and other small structures may need shingles too, though the job differs from shingling houses in several ways.

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Tips for shingling sheds, gazebos, and outbuildings

Outbuilding roofs are usually simpler than residential roofs. There are typically no valleys, chimneys, plumbing stacks, ridge vents or static exhaust vents, so shingling requires less cutting and fitting. These roofs are typically lower to the ground and angled at a lower pitch which can make it easier to get shingles, tools, and personnel up and down.