Replies

1. 
   oldhand | Mar 12, 2015 05:37pm | #1

   Have you considered laminated [architectural] shingles? they are more expensive than 3 tabs and have a different look but are more substantial. Warranties typically are way longer than 3 tabs but I consider shingle warranties as just a rough idea of how good the product is rather than something you're ever likely to collect on. For example most shingle guarantees are void on days whose spelling ends in the letter "y".

2. 
   DanH | Mar 12, 2015 09:11pm | #2

   Just don't buy Certainteed.

1. 
   mark122 | Mar 13, 2015 08:02am | #3

   whats the story behind that?

   bad customer service with a claim?

1. 
   DanH | Mar 13, 2015 11:45am | #4

   Certainteed sold patently defective products for at least 15 years, then their "warranty" turned to sawdust when the claims stated rolling in.  A class action lawsuit squeezed a little out of them, but not what they really should have paid.

1. 
   icerunner | Mar 20, 2015 03:47pm | #6

   Thanks for the info. What would you suggest? Owens or Elk?

1. 
   seeyou | Mar 21, 2015 07:36am | #7

   All shingle manufacturer's have had some product failure,

   and  all of them have shirked as much responsibility as possible.

   The products are manufactured regionally and as such, the quality can vary regionally. Get some input from local sources. The local roofers know what to stay away from.

   On the 3 tab issue: Locally, very little variety is available in 3 tabs any more and they are more susecptible to wind damage. They take more layout time than laminates and most shinglers charge more to install them than laminates which negates the small material savings.

   There are some slate look laminates that are nice products.

2. 
   icerunner | Mar 29, 2015 07:12pm | #11

   Thank you.

3. 
   icerunner | Mar 20, 2015 03:39pm | #5

   Thanks, I think we're going

   Thanks,If we went with that type what is a good brand? Any suggestions?

1. 
   mark122 | Mar 21, 2015 08:24pm | #8

   we use certainteed all the time and have never had an issue. ask your roofer what he likes to use.

1. 
   AndyEngel | Mar 26, 2015 10:35am | #9

   I've also had good luck with Certainteed architectural shingles.

4. 
   icerunner | Mar 29, 2015 07:09pm | #10

   thanks for the reply. ask your roofer what he likes to use. "ask your roofer what he likes to use." that would be me just you're plain old diy-er 

   i'll check out certainteed brand. we may go with metal, but i think it will be too much - then, i'll have to ask a roofer.

1. 
   mark122 | Mar 30, 2015 06:31am | #12

   take care in installation

   if your doing this yourself, make sure you read up on the manufacturers (whichever brand you use) installation recommendations and warranty requirements.

   Certainteed, owens, gaf...all have ways of getting out of sticking to their warranty (like any other product) when not installed properly or as intended. If you ever have a warranty issue and the manufacturer comes out to inspect, all they would need to ffind is shingles with the imroper amount of nails, inproper nail placement...something along those lines to be able to wash their hands of your problem.

   thats why we pay certified roofers...to insure warranties.

1. 
   DanH | Mar 30, 2015 07:23am | #13

   When all the corners curl up on the shingles in 5-10 years, like they did on thousands of homes with Certainteed shingles back in the 80s, and when homes with newly installed shingles of that brand keep showing that same symptom for 10 years after the first, that is probably not an "installation error".

   It means that the company doesn't give a shit about the quality of their product.

1. 
   mark122 | Mar 30, 2015 08:16pm | #15

   no one said the 20 yr old beef you have with certainteed was "installation error". lots has changed in 20 years, they are still around so my guess would be there is more to that story then what the neighbors are saying.

2. 
   oldhand | Mar 30, 2015 08:43am | #14

   my rash advice

   I use Tamko because that's what my favored supplier stocks. Never a problem but I've never been responsible for huge volumes of

   roofs, though I've watched some of the same roofs for decades. I never saw anyone try to collect on a warranty or need to. It

    doesn't take a lawyer to guess that'd be an uphill battle.    Anyway if you're going to diy it just buy whatever laminated shingle you

   like and follow the instructions meticulously. A tearoff will almost certainly be specified and is almost always advisable anyway.In

   my opinion metal isn't often the best choice. [Disclaimer: in the last year or two my supplier gave me some amazing markdowns on

   their end lots of Tamko archies which I've used on  my shop and outbuildings. Very happy customer...]

   I do remember shingling a big new house back in the '70's with discounted bargain unbundled shingles. They felt a bit odd and

   sure enough were defective, going  bad in a couple years. Fortunately I was only the hourly shingle dude [another cost saving idea]

   and therefore blameless.