SELECTING ROOFING PRODUCTS
Select the product BEFORE Choosing a Contractor

Please see Definitions

All roofers claim to have the best product
and all roofers claim to provide the best installation.
Obviously, That Can Not be True
 

   Most manufacturers (and roofers) "specialize" in only one type of roofing material and, therefore, must try to "sell"
   that material to everyone - Even when a different material or product would be more appropriate for the consumer.
   The correct process of re-roofing, the process used in commercial re-roofing, is to Select the Product BEFORE
   choosing a roofing contractor.

   Everything flows from product selection.  First, select the most appropriate product for your needs - and then choose
   a contractor experienced in the product you have already selected.  Do not rely on Sellers (manufacturer or roofer)
   for information on products because they ALL provide limited information and biased opinions.
 

THE FIRST STEP IN PRODUCT SELECTION

There are ONLY Two Categories of Roofing Materials
TEMPORARY  -or-  PERMANENT

The 1st STEP in Product Selection is determination of the most appropriate MATERIAL
Use the Material Comparison Chart (HERE) to compare the Average Durability of Materials.
Be careful to select a Material that will pass a Re-Sale Inspection - When you intend to sell.

It is simply not enough for consumers to only know the "functional life" of a roofing product.
It is more important to understand the RE-SALE WINDOW - the age BEFORE shingles start
to show signs of imminent failure - And can not pass the Five Year Certification Inspection.

See: Passing a Five Year Certification Inspection

It is important consumers understand that all roofs wear unevenly and determination of "failed" (or "failing") roofing
is always based on the worst, or weakest, portions of roofing - Never the strongest.  It simply does not matter
if the north-side is still in relatively good condition when shingles on the south-side have already failed.

Paying $10,000 to re-roof with asphalt shingles today - May just be your initial Down Payment
When it requires replacement costs of $20,000 (with inflation) to re-roof after 10 years.

It may be little consolation to receive a claim payment of only $2400 (12%)
from the asphalt manufacturer's "Limited Warranty" coverage.

      This is the problem of intentionally marketing shingles with "Inflated" warranty periods.  Because manufacturers
      provide warranties of 30, 40 and 50 years to "sell" (more) shingles with a documented history of premature failure
      many innocent families will suffer financial loss - And recent Class Action Lawsuits have not resolved this injustice.

      Consumers should Not be Shocked by the idea that asphalt manufacturers (and asphalt roofers) are currently
      selling roofing shingles with a history of premature failures - Selling shingles they already know will be defective.
      The truth is, asphalt manufacturers and asphalt roofers have been selling defective shingles for a very long time.
      The sales of defective asphalt shingles has been Widespread and Pervasive - Over a period of almost 30 years.

      And consumers Should Never Expect asphalt manufacturers (or asphalt roofers) to disclose information on the
      history of premature failure (or claims history) for shingles they are currently selling - They could not sell defective
      shingles for 30 years by disclosing the History of Premature Failures or the documented history of claim payments.
 

THE SECOND STEP IN PRODUCT SELECTION

After Determination of the Appropriate Material
Select the Highest Quality Product

After selecting the appropriate Material (asphalt, cedar metal, rubber, tile) for your project
The 2nd STEP in Product Selection is determination of the best available roofing PRODUCT.

Consumers should not assume products of the same material (i.e., all asphalt shingles) are comparable.*
And consumers must NEVER assume that warranties indicate either the Quality -or- the Durability of shingles.

While inexperienced roofing consumers tend to assume warranties indicate either shingle durability or quality
industry experts understand "Limited Warranties" are Marketing Tools - Designed to sell more product.
Asphalt manufacturers and asphalt roofers understand that consumers use warranties as a tool
in product selection and, therefore, the longest warranties periods sell the most product.

When the Premature Failure of Asphalt Shingles Became Common Knowledge
Then
"Service Life" (Durability or Lifespan) was Eliminated from Warranty Coverage

     After manufacturers stopped covering the "Service Life" of shingles, very quickly warranty periods were increased.
     Soon the traditional 15 year and 20 year warranties were replaced with 30 year, 40 year, 50 year and (wait for it)...
     "lifetime" warranties.  This practice of "Inflating" warranty periods became the norm in the asphalt roofing industry
     as competition caused all manufacturers to increase warranty periods - in order to gain, or protect, market share.

                A recent study for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) determined that life expectancy
                for asphalt shingles is only 20 years.  Even the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA)
                recommends replacement of asphalt shingles every 20 years  See Durability of Fiberglass Shingles

                However, estimates from both the NAHB (20 years) and the ARMA (20 years) - Do NOT indicate the
                Re-Sale Window for asphalt shingles - which includes a Five Year Certification.  If asphalt has a
                20 year "Functional Lifespan," that DOES NOT mean it can pass a Re-Sale Inspection at that time.

                        * Based on product design and proven performance, There are Only Two (2) conventional
                        fiberglass shingles that we find ANY evidence of typical durability beyond 20 years.  These
                        shingles are not popular products (in the Seattle area) as most roofers don't tell consumers
                        about the history of premature failures - and the very limited durability of fiberglass shingles.

Do you want to get the BEST VALUE on your roofing project?
You will need Full Disclosure and Unbiased Information.
Contact us for Specific Advice on Your Project.
Free Consultation Anywhere in U.S.

Seattle RoofBroker
 

THE THIRD (AND FINAL) STEP IN PRODUCT SELECTION

 After (1) Determination of the Appropriate Material
And (2) Selection of the Highest Quality Product
Then - and only then - You can Select a Contractor

     It is assumed that you want to hire an installer that is experienced in the roofing MATERIAL you have selected...
     If you are re-roofing with cedar shakes you probably Don't Want to use a contractor that does only 1 or 2 cedar
     installations per year - It's much better to use a contractor that "specializes" in cedar, or does a lot of shake roofs.

     When you are purchasing metal shingles - you really Don't Want to use a roofing contractor that has only installed
     1 or 2 metal roofs his entire career... especially when those projects were "standing seam" roofing and you selected
     the modern (4-way Interlocking connection system) metal "shingles" or metal "shakes" or metal "tile" roofing.

You Don't Want the Contractor "practicing" on Your Roof

     It is also assumed you want to hire a contractor that is experienced with the roofing PRODUCT you have selected...
     If you have decided to purchase (Brand X) metal shingles because of the superior connection system, the superior
     fastener system and the 50 year history of performance - Why would you even consider hiring ANY contractor that
     tried to sell you (Brand Y) metal shingles with inferior connection and fastener systems and a history of failures?

     Likewise, if you decided to purchase (Brand A) asphalt shingles because they are one of only a very few products*
     that contain different materials than typical asphalt shingles - and have a proven history of performance - then...
     why in the world would you even consider hiring ANY contractor that tried to sell your (Brand F) asphalt shingles,
     that have a long history of premature failures and over ten years of documented warranty claims?

You Don't Want a Contractor who has tried to Deceive You about Product Quality

     Consumers assume that roofers would not (intentionally) sell defective asphalt shingles - that is absolutely incorrect.
     Roofers have been selling defective asphalt shingles for a very long time.  For almost 30 years roofers have been
     selling defective asphalt shingles - in fact, the current Contractor Disclaimer was designed to protect roofers from
     financial liability for INTENTIONALLY selling asphalt shingles that were EXPECTED to fail prematurely.

     Do NOT expect anyone financially dependent on asphalt sales (manufacturers or roofers) to provide full disclosure
     of information which hinders their ability to "sell" shingles.  Do NOT expect asphalt manufacturers or asphalt roofers
     to disclose information on the documented history of premature failures since the production of cheaper shingles,
     nor disclose the class action lawsuits that resulted from continued sales of asphalt shingles Known to be defective.

                     * Based on product design and proven performance, There are Only Two (2) conventional
                     fiberglass shingles that we find ANY evidence of typical durability beyond 20 years.  These
                     shingles are NOT popular products (in the Seattle area) as most roofers don't tell consumers
                     about the history of premature failures - and the very limited durability of fiberglass shingles.

Do you want to get the BEST VALUE on your roofing project?
You will need Full Disclosure and Unbiased Information.
Contact us for Specific Advice on your Project.
Free Consultation Anywhere in U.S.

Seattle RoofBroker

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     Disclaimer: This is not an advertisement or a solicitation and information is provided only as a public service.
     The information above is presented for educational purposes only.  The commentary and all contents reflect
     the professional opinion and experience of the author alone and are subject to error or change without notice.
     The presence of a link to a website does not indicate approval or endorsement of that website or any products,
     services or opinions that may be offered by them.