I hear too often “I’ll just get Lifetime shingles”. Did you know your roof should have a regular inspection (once every year or two) and tune up as needed to maximize the health and life of your roof, Lifetime shingles included!

What is a lifetime shingle and what is covered? Well let’s start with what a shingle itself is. A shingle is a multi-layer of asphalt and fiber topped with granules. The shingle gives protection to the house and the granules give protection to the shingle by bouncing off the UV rays. As a shingle ages it loses granules exposing the shingle to more UV speeding up the, yup, aging process.

Shingles used to be rated by weight but then manufacturers started using less oil and adding in fillers. This made shingles lighter and less durable and then marketing came along and changed the rating to years, 20, 30 even 50 year shingles. Today most if not all shingles are lifetime shingles and only last about 15 years, whose 15 years is a lifetime you ask? Honestly I don’t have a clue, but I can tell you I’ve outlived that twice already, almost 3 times, moving along…

So now the big secret: what is actually covered in the lifetime warranty. From one manufacture to the other they vary, but all manufactures are pretty much 10 years for Granule loss, algae growth and staining and 15 years for blow offs.

Basically, after the 15 years if the roof fails it doesn’t come down to a manufactures defect. Most defects are found within the first 10 years mostly in the first 5. So, after the 10 year period, granule coverage is over and the roof keeps aging.  If in year 16 you have dried shingles, lots of lost granules and now blow offs you are not covered under the lifetime warranty unless you can prove it’s a manufacture defect, good luck!

Lifetime warranty is for the life that you have those shingles for as long as you own the house, the coverage for lifetime is on manufacture defects aging is not a defect.

Now, you can upgrade the warranty but that will cost you extra. Most manufactures require the use of special products, a minimum of 3 of their brand materials and a specific install such as 4 nails per shingle not 3 not 5 AND contractors that are certified installers. All of that comes with a price tag and the upgraded warranty can have some added costs as well.  Don’t forget most basic lifetime warranties prorate material and sometimes labor for a period of time depending on the type of claim or do not cover labor at all. If you are after the typical 15 years and you make a claim if, not likely, but if you win you may get a few grand off the bill of a new roof but be prepared to just fork out the cash for a new roof.

Buyer beware when it comes to roofing and shingles. That is one of the reasons I make sure to have a conversation with every client about all their options and to attempt to explain some of the commonly misunderstood terms like ‘lifetime shingles’. Comment below or reach out to me through a private message. I love roofs!