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Roof Warranties – Part III: Choosing the Right Roofing Shingle.

It’s kinda funny, the best made shingles don’t always have the best warranties. Sometimes it’s the bigger national roofing shingle manufactures that offer the best warranty programs, while their roofing shingles may be a little light. So what is a homeowner to do?

Here’s what we ask our customers – to the best of their knowledge, how long do they see living in their current home.  They should then pick a shingle that will last easily as long at that plus at least five years more. In other words, if they are planning to stay in their home for another 10-12 years, then they should choose a roofing shingle that will last that length plus at least 5 years more. Based on those facts, we recommend at least a 20 year shingle, but preferably a 25 year shingle – so if they stay longer, great – and if they decide to sell, then the new homeowner’s inspector and bank can confirm that the roof has lots of life left in it (at least 3-5 years).

But remember from the previous post, don’t choose a shingle because it says it has a lifetime warranty. Many lifetime warrantied roofing products only last 15-20 years.

So your roofing contractor will need to explain to you the roofing shingles realistic life expectancy on your roof and in your area. Steep roofs versus low pitched roofs / shaded roofs versus exposed roofs / debris affected roofs versus clean roofs / roofs that are ventilated well versus those that aren’t.  There are lots of factors to consider, but a qualified roofing professional should be able to guide you to the right choice based on the location and region that your home is positioned and the
expectations you have for the duration you plan to keep your home.

At least now your armed with realistic roofing life expectations. Compare those
with your roofing salesperson presentation and use that as one of the factors
in selecting a pro to work with.