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PACIFICA — In the past, roofing shingles were warrantied for a set number of years depending on their quality grade. For example, you could get a “30-year shingle” or a “40-year shingle.” More recently, the industry has shifted to a different standard, wherein all shingles come with “limited lifetime” warranties regardless of their quality grade. A limited lifetime warranty generally covers issues caused by defective shingles; however, since the payout is prorated depending on the shingles’ age at the time of the claim, homeowners rarely get reimbursed for the entirety of their investments, especially if the defect doesn’t happen for 10 or 15 years after installation.
It’s important to be aware that although all modern shingles come with limited lifetime warranties, they aren’t all of equivalent quality. The fact is, 30-, 40- and 50-year shingles still exist—they just go by different names now. Most manufacturers offer different quality tiers for each of their shingles. For example, the CertainTeed Landmark® series starts at the base tier and moves up through Landmark Pro, Landmark Premium, and Landmark TL. Each tier varies in weight, thickness and performance, but they all come with limited lifetime warranties.
One potential problem with all shingles having limited lifetime warranties is that it opens the door for unscrupulous roofers to take advantage of homeowners. Under the guise of installing a “lifetime shingle,” a deceptive roofer could charge for the highest tier product and then install the base tier product while the homeowner is none the wiser. When the roof’s lifespan ends up being much shorter than expected, that homeowner stands to lose a lot of money. That’s why it’s crucial to know exactly what you’re getting when having a new roof installed. Do your research and make sure your contract lists the exact product that’s being installed on your roof.