I have to replace my roof. Luckily, insurance is paying for most of it. My contractor wants to use Atlas shingles, says they have a better warranty. Any opinions? I was looking at GAF, but really don't know what's what. Any opinions here?
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I have to replace my roof. Luckily, insurance is paying for most of it. My contractor wants to use Atlas shingles, says they have a better warranty. Any opinions? I was looking at GAF, but really don't know what's what. Any opinions here?
I had the certainteed presidential TL pit on last year and like the relief between the shingles
Despite inspecting roofs for a living, I'm unfamiliar with different roof brands. Large enough hail will destroy anything. Presidential is a waste of material. Builder's grade is garbage. I've never even heard of a roof being replaced under warranty.
I know that isn't as helpful as you'd like. I assume you're looking at some sort of 30-year laminate/architectural?
Architectural generally have a better wind rating and the price per square is not that much above 3-tab. Your city may not even allow 3-tab.
Not an Atlas fan. Not a Tamko fan, nor a fan of the entry level of Owens Corning (Oakridge), although their mid level (Duration) seems nice.
Having been on many thousand roofs over the course of the last ten years, I went GAF's Timberline ArmorShield II.
It's a moderately priced 30 year laminate shingle that is Class IV rated. A very cheap upgrade over non-rated 30 year laminated (architectural), and it gives me a discount on my homeowner's policy.
PS: All the material warranties suck. Atlas has had a poorer reputation then most. A quick search of 'Atlas Shingle Class Action lawsuit' might be particularly illuminating. I'd be far more concerned with the roofer, how long they have been in business, and whether they are likely to be in business in the next 10 years, than worry about the material warranty.
Mr ego is spot on.
Also consider spending for high wind nail pattern and make sure the installers don't have their regulators turned up too high.
All good advice. I don't see how to realistically check for over penetrating nails without being on site. One of those things you don't find out about until it's too late.
Tell the contractor you'll be checking. Then check when the job is done before they get sealed down.
Consider rolled roofing, then coat with something like Black Jack Ultra silicone reflective coating. I have a shallow pitch roof and no AC. This stuff keeps the home cooler and sheds rain fast.
I am not a roofer, but I also do a lot of roof inspections for insurance and attorneys on commercial and residential roofs. Also not an Atlas fan and also would look at architecturals. Make sure the contractor pulls a permit. Write into the contract that the contractor notify you 24 hours in advance of their request for inspection and be there, ask the building inspector lots of questions. Especially ask about nail patterns, over-driven nails, edges, etc. and most inspectors will take an extra 5 or 10 minutes to make sure you have been treated right.
Malarky. I think it is called the Legacy series.
My mom put that on her roof a few years back, paid a bit more but the installer told her to call her insurance to see about a rate reduction due to the high impact resistance (think hail damage) and they reduced her home owners insurance.
I bought my house about 2.5 years ago, and saw that the previous owner installed malarky shingles about 6 months prior to us buying it per his home owners packet (warrenties, manuals etc). So I called the installer and had them send me out some paperwork showing the installation of the shingle and I sent it in to my insurance and they lowered my premiums too.
I just got lucky with that one.
I had Owens Corning architectural put on 12/13 (?) years ago, have to check the records. Could be even 15/16 years now.
It's held up exceptionally well IMHO. Perhaps I *should* have it inspected after the next (last?) hailstorm as I've collected a few pounds of stones from the gutters last time they needed a better cleanout. There were stones on the back patio so it might be worse than it looks from the ground?
Thoughts on Pro panel? Always been a fan of it my dad did all our building with it growing up and going on 10-15 years with no problems regularly see 60 mph gust in the spring and fall
Is metal an option? A little more up front but never worry about another roof.
Another Pro Panel fan.
Metal has a lot of areas to leak, especially if it's a pretty cut up roof. Just like a tile roof, the metal will last a lot longer than the fasteners or any underlayment so while the roof might be in tact years from now, it may leak like a sieve.
I don't want to sound too negative though, as there are down sides to every type of roof design and roof material.
While not on a roof, we used pro panel as a wind break, privacy wall for our awning. 1 tornado, few hail storms, lots of water /snow saturation from coming off the awning roof (smoked fiberglass panels). It has held up better than most fly by night neighborhood roofers installs.
We would not hesitate to use it in the future.
Thanks for all the input. I think I'll steer clear of Atlas. I'd actually like a metal roof, but don't have the cash for the extra cost above what I'm already paying.
I built my soon to be X garage pole building. 56" snow load and 120mph wind. 2x4 purlins on end is the only sub structure for the roof. Replaced the entire roof system on the house. Everything but the trusses came off. 3/4" osb and tar paper underlayment. 10yrs and 8yrs respectively and no leaks. Lots of stitcher screws on the seams and foam spacers on the ends. Both have seen 3'-4' of snow melt on them. Not backwash under the seams.
I have an acquaintance that has an early '70s built PB and a metal roof, on there house, from the same era. Again no leaking.
I'm not talking about the pinch fit metal roofs that are popular these days. These are screwed together and are weather tight.
I'm not saying that a metal roof will leak, because not all of them will. Any rubber on fasteners will wear out long before the roof though. In general, the more cut up a roof is, the more possibility of leaks, regardless of the material.