Architectural shingle is what goes on most houses around here, and for good reason. We install it over a proper tear-off, with the decking checked and new underlayment underneath.
Three-tab is the flat, uniform shingle you still see on older roofs. Architectural is thicker, layered, and gives the roof depth and shadow lines. It also carries longer manufacturer warranties and holds up better to the wind we get coming off the plateau.
The price difference between the two is smaller than most people expect once the labour is in the number, which is why we put architectural on nearly everything. Colour is the part that is genuinely yours to pick, and it changes the look of the whole house.

The difference between a 15-year shingle roof and a 30-year one is almost always the install.
Same crew, same standard, on both sides of the state line.
Owner-run since 1994, BBB A+ and 4.9 from 40 Google reviews. Free written quotes across Greater Chattanooga and North Georgia.