Shingle roofs, built from the deck up
Asphalt Shingle Roofing for New Jersey Homes
Asphalt shingle roofing in NJ is usually the lowest-cost way to replace a roof, and a good one depends on more than the shingle on top. Here is how architectural and 3-tab shingles differ, what the wind ratings mean, why attic airflow matters and what national guides say it costs.
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Shingle types
What is the difference between architectural and 3-tab shingles?
Architectural shingles are thicker and layered, and InterNACHI estimates they last about ten years longer. 3-tab shingles are flat, single-layer and cheaper per square.
Owens Corning describes architectural shingles, also called dimensional or laminated, as two layers of shingle pieces bonded together for a textured look. It adds that the extra thickness typically brings a longer manufacturer warranty than flat 3-tab shingles carry (Owens Corning shingle guide).
| Feature | 3-tab | Architectural |
|---|---|---|
| Build | One flat layer cut into three tabs | Laminated layers for depth |
| Estimated life (InterNACHI) | About 20 years | About 30 years |
| Other estimate (HomeGuide) | 15 to 20 years | 20 to 30 years |
| Material cost per square (HomeGuide) | $80 to $130 | $100 to $250 |
| Look | Flat, even rows | Shadowed, dimensional rows |
Sources: the InterNACHI life-expectancy chart and HomeGuide’s roof replacement guide (November 2025).
Wind
What do shingle wind ratings mean?
Two lab tests rate shingle wind resistance. ASTM D3161 tops out at Class F, and ASTM D7158 tops out at Class H. Both are lab results, not promises about a given storm.
The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association explains the difference. D3161 blows fan-driven wind across the shingles for two hours, while D7158 measures uplift force. D7158 results can be compared directly with code design wind speeds.
One maker, GAF, states that its shingles pass D3161 Class F at 110 mph and D7158 Class H at 150 mph under controlled lab conditions (GAF). Wind warranties carry their own conditions, so read them before you rely on a number.
Wind in New Jersey
There is no single statewide design wind speed in New Jersey. Under DCA Bulletin 19-1, wind values are looked up for each property’s exact location. Nor’easters come most often between October and April, according to the state climatologist’s office at Rutgers, and its climate overview says nearly every winter brings at least one significant coastal storm.
Impact ratings
Impact-resistant shingles rated UL 2218 Class 4 are also sold. Class 4 means a sample survived a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet in the lab (GAF Class 4 explainer). It is a test result, not hail protection you can count on.
Life span
How long do asphalt shingles last in New Jersey?
Typically about 20 years for 3-tab and about 30 for architectural, according to InterNACHI’s chart. HomeGuide gives a shorter 15 to 20 and 20 to 30 years.
How long yours lasts turns on the install, the attic airflow and how quickly small problems get fixed. A lifted tab or a cracked pipe boot left alone lets water reach the deck. Our roof repair page covers those fixes.
A long manufacturer warranty is not a forecast of life. Read what it covers, what it excludes and whether coverage shrinks over time. Our warranty page explains how our workmanship warranty and the maker’s coverage fit together.
Attic airflow
How much attic ventilation does a shingle roof need?
The model residential code asks for at least 1 square foot of net free vent area for every 150 square feet of attic. That drops to 1 per 300 when 40 to 50 percent of the vent area sits within 3 feet of the ridge and the rest sits low, near the eaves.
For example, a 1,500 square foot attic needs 10 square feet of net free area at the 1/150 ratio, or 5 square feet at 1/300 with balanced high and low vents. The code also wants at least a 1-inch air space between insulation and the roof sheathing at soffit vents (2024 IRC section R806). New Jersey adopted the 2024 model codes, with state amendments, effective August 17, 2026.
Vents help most behind good air sealing and insulation. The DOE’s Building America Solution Center pairs those with soffit intake in every rafter bay and a continuous ridge vent, and uses baffles to keep insulation out of the soffits. Building Science Corporation says ventilation works best as an add-on to good insulation.
Soffits that are blocked or rotted cannot supply that intake. Our soffit and fascia service opens them back up, and our ice dam guide covers the attic side.
Edges and underlayment
Is ice and water shield required on a New Jersey shingle roof?
By code, only in Sussex County. DCA Bulletin 07-3 ties the ice barrier rule to a January average of 25 degrees F or lower and names Sussex as the area that qualifies.
We install a self-adhered eave membrane on every shingle roof we build, in all ten counties we serve, as our standard. Ice dams can push water up under shingles wherever snow lingers, and the membrane is the backstop at the edge.
The rest of the deck gets an underlayment the shingle maker approves, then new drip edge and new flashing at walls, chimneys and vents. The written estimate lists each of these.
Layers
Can new shingles go over the old ones in New Jersey?
Only when the roof has a single sound layer. The state’s Rehabilitation Subcode requires removing the old covering in every other case.
N.J.A.C. 5:23-6.4(e)7 calls for a tear-off when the roof already has two or more layers, when it is wood shake, slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile, or when it is water-soaked or too deteriorated to act as a base (NJ DCA rule text).
Even where a second layer is legal, stripping the old roof pays off in three ways. The deck gets inspected and repaired, the eave membrane bonds to bare wood, and the next roof will not face a forced two-layer removal. Your written estimate states whether the old roof comes off.
Removal adds cost: HomeGuide lists $100 to $300 per square to tear off an old roof. Permits are simple on most houses: re-shingling a detached one- or two-family home counts as ordinary maintenance under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7. Attached homes generally need one.
Cost
What does an asphalt shingle roof cost?
HomeGuide’s national guide (November 2025) puts a new asphalt shingle roof at $3 to $6 per square foot, or $300 to $600 per square. Most projects land between $5,700 and $16,000, with a national average near $10,800.
- Old roof removal: $100 to $300 per square.
- Labor: $150 to $300 per square.
- Shingles: $80 to $130 per square for 3-tab, $100 to $250 for architectural.
- HomeGuide’s worked example, a single-story 2,000 sq ft house with roughly 2,235 sq ft of roof at 6:12, comes to $6,700 to $13,400.
These are national figures, not New Jersey quotes. Your exact price comes from a free measurement, and it moves with pitch, layers, valleys, chimneys, skylights and any deck repair.
New Jersey charges no sales tax on a complete new roof when you sign Form ST-8 for the contractor, because it is a capital improvement. Repair work is taxed (NJ Division of Taxation, S&U-3).
Worth a look
When is a metal roof worth comparing?
When you plan to stay long enough to replace shingles at least once. HomeGuide’s ranges put standing seam at roughly two to three times the up-front cost of asphalt, against an estimated 40 to 80 years of life for metal roofing (InterNACHI).
- You expect to own the house well past the life of one shingle roof.
- You live in the state’s northern climate region, which Rutgers says averages 40 to 50 inches of snow a year, and want a roof that sheds it.
- Solar is coming, and you want mounts that clamp to the seams; see solar-ready roofs.
- Your roof has one sound layer and you would like to skip the tear-off; see metal over shingles.
Look at standing seam or metal shingles, or read the metal roof cost guide. We can price shingles and metal on the same visit, so you compare real numbers for your own house.
Warranty
Who stands behind a shingle roof?
Two parties do. Our written workmanship warranty covers how the roof was installed, and the shingle manufacturer covers the shingles themselves.
Our workmanship warranty is a lifetime warranty: it covers our installation work for as long as you, the homeowner who signs the contract, own the home. It does not transfer to a later owner. Materials and paint finishes carry their manufacturers' own warranties, and the full written warranty comes with every estimate so you can read it before you sign.
The warranty written into your signed contract is the controlling document. Our warranty page explains how to make a claim and what usually voids coverage. For every roofing option we offer, start at our roof replacement page.
Get a free estimate
Tell us about the house and the work. We visit, measure and give you a written price before any work starts.
Prefer to talk now? Call (732) 231-5327.
Questions
Asphalt shingle questions for New Jersey homes
Are architectural shingles worth the extra cost?
Often. InterNACHI estimates about 30 years for architectural shingles and about 20 for 3-tab, while HomeGuide lists material at $100 to $250 per square against $80 to $130 for 3-tab.
What wind rating should I look for in a shingle?
ASTM D3161 Class F or ASTM D7158 Class H, the top class in each test. They are lab ratings; New Jersey sets design wind speeds address by address under DCA Bulletin 19-1.
Is ice and water shield required in New Jersey?
By code, only in Sussex County, per DCA Bulletin 07-3. We install a self-adhered eave membrane on every shingle roof we build, in all ten counties.
How much attic ventilation do I need?
Under the model code, 1 square foot of net free vent area per 150 square feet of attic, or 1 per 300 with balanced high and low vents. A 1,500 square foot attic needs 10 or 5 square feet.
Can new shingles go over my existing roof?
Only over one sound layer. Two or more layers, wood shake, slate, tile or a deteriorated roof means a full tear-off under N.J.A.C. 5:23-6.4(e)7. Your estimate states whether the old roof comes off.
How much does a new asphalt roof cost?
HomeGuide’s national range is $3 to $6 per square foot installed, with most projects between $5,700 and $16,000. Your exact price comes from a free measurement.
Do I need a permit for a new shingle roof?
No, if the house is detached and has one or two units; New Jersey files re-roofing there under ordinary maintenance. Attached homes such as townhouses usually need one, and a local historic commission can require its own approval.
Free estimate
Get a written price for a new shingle roof
We count the layers, measure every slope and check the attic vents before we put a number on paper.
Rather talk it through? Call (732) 231-5327. Our service areas page lists the ten counties we work in.