ASPHALT (Composition) ROOFING SHINGLES
To get the Truth on
Roofing Products
You need a Resource that is both Independent and
Unbiased... We are That Resource.
Contrary to public opinion
There is a significant difference in quality
between "comparable" asphalt shingles.
Now you can learn the pros - and the cons - of
all your product options.
You can determine THE BEST VALUE before
you purchase.
Most Asphalt Re-Roofing in Seattle
Is Replacement of Shingles only 10 to 15 years
old
Contact Us Before You Buy Any Roofing
Unfortunately, asphalt warranties are just
"marketing tools"
Warranties DO NOT include either the quality or
durability of asphalt shingles
Unbiased information is needed to COMPARE THE
QUALITY between different asphalt shingles
We provide that Unbiased Information
Save 10% to 20% on Roofing - GUARANTEED
If you intend to purchase asphalt roofing
shingles (1) Take a few minutes to read the
"History of Asphalt" (below)
to understand what you are buying and how the
modern fiberglass shingles differ from the
traditional shingles and
(2) Be sure to contact Seattle Roof Brokers
before you purchase any roofing product because
we can protect you
from wasting money on an inferior shingle -
remember, warranties DO NOT indicate quality.
See Warranty Page
Moreover, we protect you from buying shingles
recently (or currently) involved in a
CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT
for premature failures - amazingly,
manufacturers and contractors are still selling
products known to be defective.
This is information you need to know before
selecting any asphalt shingle - information that
is common knowledge
within the roofing industry, but not normally
disclosed to buyers.
Finally, when buying asphalt shingles, there are
a couple of products on the market that are
clearly the best value.
These products have a different design - with a
unique component - from any other asphalt
shingle. They have
demonstrated superior performance over all the
competition. As Independent and Unbiased
Roofing Experts,
we will show you how to get the best shingle for
your money. Get a
FREE Estimate.
The History of Asphalt Roofing Shingles
The common perception, promoted by roof
manufacturers and roofing contractors, is the
modern (fiberglass)
asphalt roofing shingles on the market today are vastly
superior to the traditional (organic) asphalt
roofing design.
These new shingles MUST be better - because they
come with 50 year warranties! In fact, the
opposite is True.
Why are today's shingles inferior?
In an attempt to keep
prices lower than the other guys, shingle
manufacturers sacrificed quality.
The quality of asphalt
has declined... Roofers and consumers are
being deceived. (1)
From the late 1800's until the 1970's, roofing
shingles were manufactured by SATURATING
a thick organic mat
(cotton, waste paper and wood fiber) with
asphalt and then covering the shingle with a
protective stone coating.
These "organic" roofing shingles came with 15
year or 20 year warranties but would often
last 30 or 35 years.
In past years, warranties weren't much of a
concern because the organic felt shingles
usually lasted longer
than the 15 or 20 years for which they were
guaranteed
Some organic shingles on
roofs today have seen 30 years and are still
hanging on. (2)
The asphalt roofing industry made a dramatic
transformation during the 1970's with the
conversion from organic
to "fiberglass" mats in the manufacture of
shingles. Initially it appeared that
technological advancements would
facilitate product improvements. However,
with the 1974 oil embargo and economic
recessions in the 1980's,
asphalt manufacturers focused primarily on
lowering production costs. The result of
lowering material costs
was production of shingles of lower quality - as
demonstrated by the immediate onset of premature
failures.
The pressures placed on large, public companies
to maintain profitability
brought forward good old
American ingenuity, reduce fiberglass mats
(fibers were expensive)
and increase filler
content (asphalt was also expensive)... filler
was not used to stabilize asphalt
so much as it appeared it
was used to attempt to control profitability
and/or market share. (3)
It's a huge market, and it's also incentive for
a manufacturer to turn out the lowest priced
product possible... and
this market will not go away. Welcome
to the real world. (4)
Note: The information provided below does,
generally speaking, apply to all shingles
manufactured after 1980,
both fiberglass and and the newer organic.
However, since only fiberglass shingles are sold
today we will focus
on how the manufacture and sales of fiberglass
shingles impacts consumers of asphalt roofing.
Roof Brokers (roofing consultants) have been
used extensively in the commercial roofing
industry for decades
because, as independent and unbiased roofing
experts, brokers are able to secure the best
products, the best
workmanship and the best pricing.
Contact Us for expert
unbiased advice and save 10% to 20% GUARANTEED.
Premature Failure of Fiberglass Shingles
As manufacturers sought to produce roofing
shingles with less asphalt, traditional organic
shingles were replaced
with the modern "fiberglass" shingle - made of a
PAPER MAT with a LAYER (not
saturation) of asphalt and stone.
The new design contained much less asphalt - and
therefore was of lower quality - than traditional
organic shingles.
Asphalt content was FURTHER REDUCED in the new
design by adding FILLER MATERIALS to the
asphalt.
The composition shingle industry has had
difficulty with the performance of conventional
fiberglass
shingles almost since
their introduction in the late 1970's... Lack
of Asphalt Content: Failed shingles
that we have tested
contain approximately 30% asphalt by
weight. New shingles contain less than
25%.
This asphalt is mixed
with sand and fine mineral matter and then has
granules embedded in it. (5)
Most fiberglass shingles now come with 30 year,
40 year and 50 year warranties - but the modern
fiberglass shingle
contains less asphalt than traditional shingles
and has a history of premature failures,
typically within 10 to 15 years.
In fact, very few of the modern fiberglass
shingles last more than 15 years and, because of
the lower asphalt content
fiberglass
shingles that actually make it to 15 years have enough
granular loss that they tend to look pretty
nasty.
Fiberglass mats are much thinner, and are not
saturated with asphalt...
several roofing
contractor associations have heard complaints
from their members
that fiberglass
shingles are failing within ten years.
(6)
Recently, our company had a roof fail in less
than eight years...
When removing shingles in
leaky areas, it became apparent that the water
was going right through the shingles, and had
been for some time... (7)
Unlike today, when homeowners only receive a
"workmanship" (labor) guarantee from the roofing
contractor,
in the past, roofers guaranteed installations
for the time period designated on the
manufacturer warranty, normally
either 15 years or 20 years. Therefore,
when asphalt manufacturers lowered shingle
quality (and durability) most
roofing contractors were initially concerned
about the liability involved with premature failure of fiberglass
shingles.
We will see later
that roofers quickly learned (what manufacturers
already knew) that it's much more profitable
to
sell cheap shingles,
and re-roof twice as often. Planned
obsolescence is very profitable... for Sellers.
Contact Seattle Roof
Brokers to learn what roofers (and
manufacturers) DON'T WANT you
to know.
Fiberglass Failures become Common Knowledge
Roofing contractor associations across the
country became aware of the inferior quality of
fiberglass shingles when
members complained that the shingles did not
contain enough asphalt and were failing within
10 years of installation.
Contractor associations presented these concerns
to asphalt manufacturers and, within a very
short period of time,
the inferior quality of fiberglass shingles was
common knowledge within the asphalt roofing industry.
The concerns regarding asphalt shingles began as
a result of complaints received from
Western States Roofing
Contractors Association (WSRCA) member
contractors... (8)
The Midwest Roofing Contractors Association
(MRCA), another trade organization, has also
received
reports from their
members of early failure of fiberglass shingles
from Connecticut to California...
(9)
According to Don Berg, of the National
Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)
technical department,
the cracking is not
limited to one or two brands, or one or two
types of qualities of shingle. It has
occurred
in the commodity grade
and the architect grade shngles. Berg has
received reports from generally
around the country...
(10)
As a result of complaints from contractor
associations, asphalt manufacturers were finally
forced to acknowledge
that premature failures of fiberglass shingles
were not limited to any particular brand - or
single type - of shingle
and that defective asphalt shingles were being reported
by roofing contractors across the country.
The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association
(ARMA) is also aware of the problem, and
responding in part to
WSRCA test results, has recently formed a task
force to study it and find solutions...
the cracking problem
occurs in a number of different types of
shingles, from a number of different
manufacturers, in many
parts of the country. (11)
The premature failure of fiberglass shingles is
simply historical fact. Reports of
defective fiberglass shingles were
documented by contractor associations and
was acknowledged by manufacturer associations.
By the late 1990's
the premature failure of fiberglass shingles was
common knowledge within the roofing industry and
was becoming
more widely known by the public - resulting in
several CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS against
asphalt manufacturers.
The Contractor Disclaimer
When contractor associations understood the
potential liability of selling (and installing)
fiberglass shingles which
were expected to fail less than halfway
into the warranty period, these associations
advised member contractors
to provide homeowners with a standard
"disclaimer" to avoid liability for
the expected premature failure of shingles.
Also be careful how you guarantee your work.
WSRCA has distributed a
standard disclaimer to their members
to be given to customers
along with a copy of the manufacturer's warranty.
The disclaimer states
that the contractor guarantees his workmanship,
not the shingles.
The shingles are covered
only by the manufacturer's warranty.
(12)
Theoretically, by providing homeowners with the
standard disclaimer form, roofing contractors
would not be liable
for selling fiberglass shingles they knew (or
suspected) were defective. The contractor
disclaimer form facilitated
the sale of shingles with 30 year warranties -
even when the roofer expected the shingle
to fail within 10 years!
Roofing experts understand that "limited" fiberglass
warranties DO NOT cover product durability.
If you say something vague to the customer like
"this is a 20 year roof"
or "these shingles will
last 25 years", you may be held to that promise
even though the
shingle warranty doesn't really say that.
(13)
Very few, if any, roofing contractors still
provide homeowners with the standard
"disclaimer" for material failure.
Roofers found the disclaimer hurt sales as it
focused too much attention on expected (lack of)
product performance.
Instead, the industry has transitioned to the
more subtle (or is that more deceptive?)
practice of providing buyers
with a contractor "workmanship" guarantee for
labor and a manufacturer " limited warranty" for
materials.
Today, when you re-roof, normally you receive a
30 year, 40 year, 50 year of lifetime "limited"
manufacturer warranty
on the product/materials - and a 2 year, 5 year or
10 year contractor "workmanship" guarantee
covering labor (only).
Bottom Line: It will be to your benefit to
Contact an Independent
Expert before making any buying decisions.
Fiberglass "Limited" Warranties
While roofing contractor associations were
reporting premature failures of fiberglass
shingles across the country,
and associations were advising roofers to use
standard "disclaimers" to eliminate liability
for expected failures...
What were asphalt manufacturers doing?
Did asphalt manufacturers recall all the (known)
defective fiberglass shingles? ... No
Did asphalt manufacturers
warn consumers of the widespread failures of
fiberglass shingles? ... No
While roofers were complaining about fiberglass
shingles failing prematurely, asphalt
manufacturers actually
increased product warranties from the
traditional 15 years and 20 years - to the much
more marketable 30 year,
40 year and 50 year periods. Surely, a
reasonable person would wonder how manufacturers
could possibly provide
warranties that were DECADES LONGER than the
product's known (historical) life-span.
See: Warranty Page
Asphalt manufacturers were/are able to market
shingles with warranties much longer than the
expected life-span
because, generally speaking, failures related to
the "aging" of the shingles are not part
of the warranty coverage.
While most consumers naturally assume
shingle warranties indicate product durability,
the strategy of "limiting"
warranty coverage to "production" or
"manufacturing" defects allows manufacturers
(and roofers) to use warranties
as a marketing tool... some would say a very
DECEPTIVE marketing tool.
In fact, less than 1% of all CertainTeed
shingles are found to have manufacturing
defects.
But they all age... The
natural aging process begins as soon as the
shingles are installed... (14)
Asphalt warranties are "limited" in the sense
that they only cover "manufacturing defects"
and not the normal
process of aging (the durability) of the exposed
shingle. Asphalt manufacturers have
claimed that LESS THAN 1%
of fiberglass shingles have "manufacturing
defects" - However, 100% of Shingles Fail due
to normal exposure...
which
is NOT COVERED in the "limited"
(1%) warranty.
Warranties are just Marketing Tools
While most inexperienced buyers of roofing tend
to "assume" warranties indicate product quality
and/or durability,
most industry experts recognize that "limited"
warranties are just "marketing tools" designed
to sell more product.
Asphalt manufacturers and roofing contractors
generally understand that consumers use
warranties as a tool in
selecting shingles and the longest warranties
sell more product. In other words,
inflated warranties are profitable.
Technical people throughout the industry,
however, generally agree that warranties
are little more than a
marketing device, and can't be considered an
accurate predictor
of shingle life.
(15)
Since the durability of the shingle is not part
of the "limited" warranty coverage, there is no
way for consumers
to determine the quality or longevity of a
fiberglass shingle... Unless they have access to
an independent and
unbiased roofing expert. Here is the
language of a typical "limited" warranty from a
major asphalt manufacturer.
Specifically we warrant that our shingles are
free from manufacturing defects...
not liable under this
limited warranty due to any cause other than for
manufacturing defects...
(this) is not an
assurance the shingles will remain serviceable
for the length of the warranty period.
(16)
After asphalt manufacturers stopped covering the
durability of shingles in "limited" product
warranties, very quickly
warranty periods began to increase. Soon, traditional 15 year
and 20 year warranties
were replaced with inflated
30 year, 40 year,
50 year and (wait for it) LIFETIME
WARRANTIES.
Manufacturers who use long-term warranties as
marketing tools have found themselves compelled
to meet or exceed
warranties of competitive manufacturers.
In some cases, the length of the warranty
may have been established
without appropriate technical research or
documentation
of in-field performance.
(17)
While asphalt manufacturers inflated warranty
periods in order to gain a competitive sales
edge, on the other hand,
they have demonstrated their disregard for
product warranties with public admissions that
(their own) warranties
are "meaningless" and are simply "marketing
tools". In fact, manufacturers have been
so bold as to openly joke
of providing 150 year warranties - if it would
help roofing contractors sell more shingles.
However,
manufacturers admitted publically
that
(their own) warranties are "meaningless" and
have openly joked
of providing 150 Year Warranties - if it
helps
roofing contractors sell more
shingles.
But hey, what about the warranty?
Warranties (trust me here) are marketing tools...
So if someone wanted (not
saying they do, not saying they don't) to put out a
truly meaningless warranty,
it would have just as
much effect on the product quality as today's
warranties.
(I've got it, we'll sell
a million, the first 150 year warranty!)
(18)
Since there are significant differences between
"comparable" shingles and "limited" asphalt
warranties DO NOT
indicate either the quality or durability of
products, roofing buyers in Seattle need the
expertise of independent and
unbiased experts in order to understand how
products differ and why one shingle is better
(or worse) than another.
Contact Seattle Roof
Brokers to obtain better Products and
better workmanship - while also saving 10% to 20%
Realistic Lifespan of Asphalt Shingles
Today, being aware of the history of premature
failures with fiberglass shingles, honest
roofing experts inform buyers
that asphalt warranties are simply marketing
tools and don't indicate either the quality or
lifespan of the products.
In fact, a common perception among these
(honest) roofing experts is fiberglass shingles
fail within 10 to 15 years
and no asphalt product on the market today
will last anywhere near 30 years - much less 50
years or a "lifetime".
Buyer Beware: While asphalt shingles come with warranties
ranging from 20 to as long as 45 years
roofers and builders
remain skeptical of those warranties.
Since warranties are a marketing device,
they are not a
reliable predictor of lifespan. In the
past decade, there have been many complaints
of asphalt shingles
failure long before warranties expired.
(19)
Most homeowners are lulled into thinking that if
a 30-year roof shingle is installed on their
home
(as stated by the roof
manufacturer), then that roof will last the
suggested life expectancy.
Not so! Most
roofs fail in 10 to 15 years. Very
few roofs last past 15 years! (20)
The very idea that a piece of paper - with a
thin layer of asphalt - could possibly last 50
years is ludicrous on its face.
To really get a 50 year (functional) lifespan
requires roofing material such as steel or
aluminum or slate or concrete.
It is simply "wishful thinking"
to hope the
cheapest roofing material on the planet can be a
permanent solution.
We have found that most asphalt shingle
re-roofing in the Seattle area
is replacement of
fiberglass shingles that are only 10 years to
15 years old.
Very few fiberglass
shingles last past 15 years. And those
reaching that age
tend to look pretty nasty
and (aesthetically) appear to be past due for
replacement. (21)
Homeowners can be excused for even considering
an idea as ridiculous as a 50 year asphalt
shingle... they are
unsuspecting consumers, not roofing experts.
But what about the roofing contractors? What
about manufacturers?
How can they be excused for presenting such an
absurd idea, and for using such a deceptive marketing
strategy?
And what about the aesthetic lifespan of an
asphalt shingle? Does that matter to
consumers?
Even if a fiberglass
asphalt shingle had a real (functional) lifespan
of 15 years or 20 years,
is that sufficient when
the roofing looks so old and nasty that it's a
constant embarrassment
to both the owner and the
neighbors? (22)
Many homeowners considering the purchase of "50
year" or "lifetime" asphalt shingles are very
concerned about
maintaining property value. Many Homeowner
Associations have the same concern. Our
recommendation to each:
When a manufacturer or roofing contractor is
pushing the (insane) idea that asphalt shingles
last 30, 40 or 50 years,
simply ask to see some installations of that
product (or any fiberglass shingle) that are 20
years old.
It's very easy to "sell" inexperienced and
unsuspecting buyers the idea of a long-term
lifespan for asphalt shingles,
when the only examples shown are less than 10
years old. It is something altogether
different when the consumer
has the opportunity to actually see the
(aesthetic) condition of a 20 year fiberglass
installation! It is not pretty.
Fiberglass shingles have been on the market for
30 years. Even the "luxury" shingles like
the Presidential Shake
have been produced for over 20 years. If a
manufacturer or roofing contractor is unwilling
(or unable) to let you see
what you can expect your roof to look like in 20
years... then maybe you should look for a
different roofing material.
Contact Seattle Roof
Brokers to learn what roofers (and
manufacturers) DON'T WANT you to know.
Class Action Lawsuits
Although asphalt manufacturers originally
acknowledged the premature failure of fiberglass
shingles when roofing
contractor associations were reporting problems
across the country, in the past, individual
homeowners have had
very little success in receiving compensation
for the damages incurred by these premature
failures.
It's very difficult
for a homeowner to match the legal
costs involved in a dispute with a major asphalt
manufacturer.
In fact, it's less expensive for
homeowners to replace defective shingles,
absorbing damages from
premature failures
because legal fees in a suit
against the manufacturer can easily exceed the
cost of re-roofing. However, recently
several manufacturers have
been held accountable (for some of the defective
shingles) in class action
lawsuits.
In 1999, the
GAF Corporation settled a class-action lawsuit
for shingles manufactured between 1976 to 1997
and included these products: Timberline,
Timberline Ultra, Nor'easter, Royal Sovereign, Dubl-Coverage, Tite-On,
Sentinel, Slateline, Wood Line, Marquis and
Grand Sequoia. (23)
Bird
Incorporated settled a class-action lawsuit for
shingles manufactured between 1985 and 1993,
including
Architect 90, Architect Limited Edition,
Fireline, Jet 80, Mark 80, PRC Seal King, Wind
Seal 80, Woodline and
Woodscape. (24) Pabco settled
a class-action lawsuit in 2006 for the HO-25 and
HZ-25 shingles. (25)
As of July
2006, CertainTeed Corporation had over 20
class-action lawsuits for shingles manufactured
between
1987 and 2008. (26)
The shingles
involved in the CertainTeed class-action suits
include, but are not limited to, the Grand Manor Shangle,
Centennial Slate, Carriage House Shangle,
Presidential TL Ultimate, Presidential Shake,
Landmark TL Ultimate,
Independence Shangle, Landmark Series, Landmark
Premium, Landmark Special, Woodscape Series,
Hatteras,
Hallmark Shangle, New Horizon, Classic Horizon,
Patriot, XT-30, XT-25, Jet-25 and CT-20.
(27)
In our opinion, the trend toward class action
lawsuits is just starting and will have a major
impact
on manufacturers and
consumers for years to come. With no
shortage of asphalt shingle failures
we believe this will be a
"goldmine" for attorneys representing homeowners
and a "black hole" for
manufacturers using
inflated warranties to move product... In fact,
even BEFORE the CertainTeed
class action lawsuit is
settled, the same lawyers bringing that suit
have filed a class action lawsuit
against another asphalt
manufacturer - IKO Roofing. (28)
Unfortunately, homeowners will prove to be the
big loser because:
(1) The typical settlements only pay a
small fraction (approximately 10% to 30%) of the
actual cost
to replace defective
roofing and many homeowners will see
unreimbursed costs of thousands - even
tens of thousands - of
dollars.
(2) Manufacturers will simply pass-on the
cost of settlement to consumers in increased
product pricing.
(3) People attempting to sell their home
will have increased liability and expenses.
As the ongoing
class action lawsuits
become more public, home buyers will be
negotiating huge discounts, or replacement,
from people selling homes
with (known) defective roofing. Think of
it this way - would you pay full price
to buy a home with
defective roofing?
It should be
noted that, in the Seattle area, many local
roofers are still selling products that were (or
currently are)
involved in class action lawsuits without
disclosing this information to consumers.
There are potential consequences
of having defective roofing and, in our opinion,
roofers and manufacturers are obligated to
disclose this information.
Contact Seattle Roof
Brokers for full disclosure of information
on any/all roofing products.
But My Roofer Said...
To be sure, when confronted with the Truth about
fiberglass shingle failures, many roofing
contractors, and probably
ALL asphalt manufacturers, will respond with great
assurances that the "new" fiberglass shingles
are MUCH BETTER
than
the "old" fiberglass roofing... What do you
expect them to say - They make a living selling
the stuff!
Many people do not want to hear that cheap
shingles are just cheap... and will not last
long.
And this wishful thinking
is promoted by everyone financially dependent on
sales of
cheap roofing.
But truth is never
determined by public misconceptions or deceptive
marketing strategies.
And a THIN LAYER of
asphalt does not last like metal,
concrete or slate roofing. (29)
Those attempting to protect income from the
sales of fiberglass shingles must ignore the
facts and disregard history.
They have no option but to insist the "new"
shingles are much better than those produced
over the last 30 years.
Typically they will claim that any problems with
the original fiberglass shingles have been
resolved a long time ago.
The problem for this position is there's no
evidence to support the claim - since shingles
are still failing prematurely.
Most homeowners are lulled into thinking that if
a 30-year roof shingle is installed on their
home
(as stated by the roof
manufacturer), then that roof will last the
suggested life expectancy.
Not so! Most
roofs fail in 10 to 15 years. Very
few roofs last past 15 years!
(30)
We have found that most asphalt shingle re-roofing in the Seattle
area
is the replacement of
fiberglass shingles that are only 10 years to 15
years old.
Very few fiberglass
roofs last past 15 years. And those
reaching that age
tend to look nasty and
(aesthetically) appear to be past due for
replacement. (31)
Roofing contractors and asphalt manufacturers
attempting to convince the uninformed public
that asphalt shingles
have SUDDENLY IMPROVED have to overcome a couple
of problems. First, they need to justify
why anyone would
take their latest claims seriously - because a
promise of "new and improved" products has been
the industry mantra
for over 20 years. But asphalt shingles
continue to fail prematurely, as demonstrated in
numerous articles. (32)
Failed in 15 years - CertainTeed: Chances better
with Lawsuit than Warranty
Failed in 13 years -
CertainTeed: Stuck Between the Shingles and a
Hard Place
Failed in 12 years -
CertainTeed: Lawsuits Filed Against CertainTeed
Corporation
Failed in 11 years -
CertainTeed Should Be Held Responsible
Failed in 10 years -
CertainTeed Have you Checked Your Roof Lately?
Failed in 10 years -
CertainTeed Needs Customer Service 101
Failed in 10 years -
CertainTeed Shingles Defective, That is Certain
Failed in 8
years - CertainTeed Shingles Failing Leaving
Homeowners Out in the Rain
Failed in 7
years - CertainTeed Claim: A Double Edged Sword
Roofing contractors and asphalt manufacturers
claiming shingles are "new and improved" face
a
very real dilemma...
exactly WHEN DID ASPHALT SHINGLES STOP
FAILING PREMATURELY?
Have Asphalt Shingles Improved?
Throughout the 1990's, while roofing contractor
associations around the country were reporting
widespread failures
manufacturers claimed the previous problems were
solved in the "new" shingles... and they
increased warranties!
They insisted the "new" (1990's) products were
much better - however, roofers are now replacing
fiberglass shingles
manufactured in the late 1990's and some of the
roofs currently being replaced are shingles that
were manufactured
as recently as 2001 and 2002... only 7 or 8
years old! (33)
Manufacturer
Complaint Date
Failure Age
CertainTeed
11/04/05
10 years
CertainTeed
11/17/05
10 years
CertainTeed
06/01/06
10 years
CertainTeed
06/05/06
10 years
CertainTeed
11/04/06
10 years
CertainTeed
05/04/07
10 years
CertainTeed
06/13/07
10 years
CertainTeed
12/05/08
10 years
CertainTeed
06/19/08
10 years
CertainTeed
07/14/08
10 years
CertainTeed
10/07/08
10 years
CertainTeed
10/20/08
10 years
CertainTeed
12/29/05
9 years
CertainTeed
12/04/06
9 years
CertainTeed
12/01/07
9 years
CertainTeed
01/19/08
9 years
CertainTeed
08/06/08
9 years
CertainTeed
09/19/06
8 years
CertainTeed
01/04/07
8 years
CertainTeed
02/12/07
8 years
CertainTeed
08/08/07
8 years
CertainTeed
08/16/08
8 years
CertainTeed
08/25/07
7 years
CertainTeed
07/15/08
7 years
CertainTeed
07/26/08
7 years
CertainTeed
11/01/05
6 years
CertainTeed
06/06/07
6 years
CertainTeed
07/13/08
6 years
CertainTeed
08/16/08
6 years
CertainTeed
04/03/09
6 years
Note: Seattle Roof Brokers does not mean
to imply that asphalt shingles from CertainTeed
Corporation
are any better (or worse)
than other asphalt manufacturers. This
information above is intended to show
the "new and improved"
asphalt shingles manufactured in the late 1990's
and early 2000's may be "new"
but are not really
"improved". In fact, one roofing
contractor reports submitting over 600 warranty
claims
to CertainTeed within
the last 4 years. (34)
Now that all the previous "new" stuff is failing
- asphalt manufacturers and roofers now want to
insist the "newer" stuff
(or the "newest" stuff?) will suddenly be vastly
superior to all the other "new & improved"
shingles. Even if someone
wanted to believe this ongoing claim, there's
simply no evidence of this long awaited
improvement in asphalt roofing.
If the 2009 shingles really are better than
those produced just a few years ago (which are
failing now) it will take
several years before there is any reason to
believe the shingles last even 20 years... Until
then, BUYER BEWARE!
Fool me once, shame on you - Fool me twice,
shame on me
As of today, in order to support the fantastic
claim that fiberglass shingles can last as long
as steel or slate roofing,
contractors (and manufacturers) can only point
to the vast crowd of roofers that have no
problem sleeping at night
after selling some poor soul a "50 year" or
"Lifetime" shingle. For the Truth on
roofing, Contact an
Unbiased Expert
What about Multi-Layered Fiberglass Shingles?
There are also those wishful thinkers that
insist the "multi-layered" roofing products
being produced will really last
because they are so very thick (at the bottom
edge). Unfortunately, their roofing
contractor never showed them the
back side of the roofing shingle - so they could
see how much of the shingle consists of only one
thin layer...
a roofing shingle is only as strong as the
weakest link.
Again, we highly recommend to anyone considering
the purchase of asphalt shingles warranted for
50 years or
a "lifetime", before you purchase, be sure to
visit a few installations that are 15 years or
20 years old... because,
if the asphalt shingle looks old and nasty after
that time - if it's an embarrassment for owners
and neighbors - that
information may be important in the product
selection process.
More info on multi-layered products coming
soon
Until then - do not be deceived by claims of
"lifetime" asphalt
Schedule a FREE
Consultation
For the manufacturer's perspective
Please use the Company Links below for General
Information
on all the different Asphalt Products available
in the Seattle Washington area
All roofing manufacturers claim their product is
"The Best"
Obviously, that cannot be the Truth
There are significant differences in quality
between "comparable" asphalt shingles
Consult an Independent and Unbiased Roofing
Expert
Before selecting ANY asphalt shingle
Better Safe Than Sorry
To hear the Truth on Roofing Products
Contact Us for a FREE
Consultation
Roofing Shingles
Unbiased Product Analysis
The Reverse Auction Bidding Process
Volume Discounts Negotiated on "Bundled"
Projects
Independent Project Management &
Post-Installation Inspections
FREE SERVICE
Providing Better Solutions
Contact Us for a FREE Roofing Estimate
Disclaimer:
The information above is presented for educational
purposes only. The commentary and all
contents reflect
the professional opinion and experience of the author
alone and are subject to error or change without
notice.
The presence of a link to a website does not indicate
approval or endorsement of that website or any
products,
services or opinions that may be offered by them.
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