CertainTeed Roofing Shingles Review – Pros and Cons

Before You Begin: Check out our article on the best asphalt shingle brands and the worst to avoid. 

CertainTeed has a significant reputation for being a superior manufacturer of premium shingles. Does the quality match the high price tag for this top brand? This review will look at CertainTeed's product lineup, pricing, benefits, and disadvantages. 

Is CertainTeed a Reliable Roofing Manufacturer?

CertainTeed is the top producer of interior and exterior building products, operating since 1904. This company is a subsidiary of one of the world's oldest and biggest product companies - Saint-Gobain and employs over 6,300 people in over 60 facilities across the United States and Canada. 

Originally widely known for its line of premium (quality and price tag) shingles, CertainTeed also branched into more affordable shingles to keep up with competitors like GAF, the world's largest manufacturer of asphalt shingles and Malarkey, known as the best of the best. 

No matter your budget, architectural style, or design tastes, CertainTeed will have a product for you. However, even the most affordable shingles run at the middle to top end of the price range. 

Pro Tip: Want to see how CertainTeed's prices measure up to the largest and most popular budget brand? Check out this GAF vs. CertainTeed comparison.

CertainTeed Product Lineup

CertainTeed is like most roofing manufacturers and produces shingles in all three tiers, organized by a good, better, best system. 

Most contractors refer to traditional 3-tab (strip) shingles as basic or good shingles. For a better shingle at a mid-price, there are architectural shingles. But if you want top-quality and don't mind paying top-dollar, you'd like designer shingles. 

CertainTeed outshines all the competition with its large selection of premium shingles, with more products than any other brand.

Pro Tip: We cover the different types of roofing shingles and the pros and cons of each type in this guide.

Good Tier: 3-Tab Shingles

The most common roofing used on houses is 3-tab or strip shingles. This style offers the most traditional look and is the easiest to DIY install. 

CertainTeed has two lines of 3-tab shingles, while most brands only offer one. The XT 25 is a basic shingle with standard performance with a wind rating of 60 mph compared to the XT 30's 70 mph wind rating. The XT 30 also has a Class 4 impact rating for protection against hail and storm debris. 

Similarities between the two fiberglass lines include a 5-year SureStart plan, a limited warranty (lifetime), a Class A fire rating, and a 10-year StreakFighter algae warranty.

* Shasta White is a certified Energy Star color for energy efficiency.

Bottom Line: The XT 25 is a great shingle if you're on a tight budget and you don't live in an area with frequent significant weather. However, if you need a budget shingle that can survive hail storms, falling tree branches, or significant precipitation, you'd do better with the XT-30.

Better Tier: Designer and Architectural Shingles

CertainTeed uses different classifications for their shingles lines than the rest of the roofing brands. Other brands refer to their mid-range products as architectural and their premium products as designers. However, CertainTeed refers to its architectural line as designer shingles. 

This shingle category is CertainTeed's bread and butter, with products ranging from affordable up to high-end prices. The most affordable shingles are comparable in price to competitors. 

CertainTeed's signature line (best-selling) is the Landmark. Like other roofing brands, there are variations of the Landmark with unique features. All of the Landmark shingles have a fiberglass base with dual layers of laminate asphalt for depth and dimension, covered with ceramic granules for color blends and shadow lines.

Landmark shingles also come with a limited lifetime warranty, transferable to a new owner, a 10-year SureStart Protection for 100% coverage, and StreakFighter algae prevention warranty, varying by the line between 10 and 15 years. 

* Landmark Pro is branded Architect 80 and only available in the Northwest.
* 130 mph wind rating requires the use of CertainTeed ridge and hip caps and starter shingles
* ClimateFlex has a Class 4 impact rating and modified asphalt that is good for cold locations

Pro Tip: Learn more about why architectural shingles are the best value for your money.

Best Tier: Designer Shingles

CertainTeed's designer line of shingles comes at a steep price for top-quality. These shingles resemble natural materials like wood or slate. 

All lines have wind ratings of 110 to 130 mph, a transferable limited lifetime warranty, Class A fire rating, 15-year StreakFighter algae warranty, and a 10-year SureStart warranty.

* Best for steeply pitched roofs

** Class 4 Impact Rated

The top two best-selling lines are the Presidential Shake and the Grand Manor. The other lines may not be available in all locations.

Advantages of CertainTeed

CertainTeed Integrity Roof System

CertainTeed offers full roof coverage by having multiple products to protect every part of your roof, from the decking to the ridges. Installing all CertainTeed components ensures your roof gets complete protection and the best warranty access. This system includes:

• Underlayment - goes directly onto the roof deck before shingles. CertainTeed's WinterGuard offers waterproofing and prevention of ice dams, whereas the DiamondDeck is a synthetic barrier that's water-resistant.
• Starter shingles - flat shingles that go along the eaves for protection from rain and ice.
• Shingles - any of the CertainTeed shingle lines.
• Ridge vent - vents to cover gaps at the peaks of roof decks to allow moisture and heat to escape the attic.
• Ridge and hip shingles - multiple choices for matching these shingles to your chosen shingles for protection of the ridges and hips.

Superior and Extended Warranties

CertainTeed offers lifetime warranties for 15 of its 19 product lines that cover product defects. In terms of warranties, CertainTeed ties with GAF, which is known for having the best warranties. Check more information from the following warranty section. 

CertainTeed has extended warranties (for a price). Stipulations apply, such as having to use a complete Integrity Roofing System. But you can get 20 to 50 years of coverage for tear-offs and labor. 

Certified Installers

Like many manufacturers, CertainTeed offers a ShingleMaster certification to contractors who complete specially designed training programs for installing CertainTeed products. 

Heavier Weight

CertainTeed's shingles are all heavier than the competition. This excess weight will mean more durability and protection against storms, peeling, or ripping for most people. But on the flip side, not all roofs can handle a heavier shingle. It's crucial to ensure your roof is in excellent condition and can support the extra weight. 

CT's 3-tab shingles weigh over 200 pounds a roofing square (100 square feet - one square foot is 12" x 12") compared to 160-280 per roofing square for other brands. Architectural and designer lines are heavier, weighing more than 200 pounds up to almost 500 pounds a roofing square.

Algae Protection

CertainTeed's shingles have better protection against algae and stains due to copper-coated granules. Each line has a stain warranty, ranging from 10 to 15 years, depending on the product. 

CertainTeed offers AP on its products in comparison to other brands, while everyone else only offers AP on select lines. The only brand that exceeds CT's algae warranties is Atlas, which provides a lifetime algae warranty for three premium lines.

Top Selection of Luxury Shingles

CertainTeed has the largest selection of premium shingles, including the Presidential and Arcadia Shakes and the Belmont, Carriage House, and Grand Manor lines. Some premium lines have TL - triple layers of lamination for a more 3D profile.

Disadvantages of CertainTeed

More expensive

The biggest downside of CertainTeed's shingles is the higher cost. While the 3-tab shingles are comparable in price to 3-tab competitors, architectural and designer shingles cost a lot more than the competition. This cost does give you better durability and performance, but it's often hard to recompensate these costs during resale. 

Extended coverage costs more.

If you want to qualify for CertainTeed's enhanced warranties, it can cost you a lot more than other brands. First, you're required to use all CertainTeed products, as outlined in the Integrity Roofing System. CT's underlayment, starter shingles, and hip and ridge shingles all cost more than the competition. 

Purchasing an extended warranty can add up to 15% more expenses to your final costs. In most cases, the coverage offered by extended warranties does not recoup the expense of purchasing the warranty. 

And finally, you also have to use a certified CertainTeed Credentialed Installer, who usually has higher costs than using a locally licensed roofer.

Pro Tip: The most significant reason for warranty claim denials is installation error. When you use a certified installer, there's less chance of a denied claim.

Company Pricing by Product

Warranties

CertainTeed offers three types of warranties, going from a basic warranty up to advanced coverage. Higher warranties will cost additional fees compared. 

Pro Tip: To avoid warranty claims being denied due to installation issues, find a contractor that offers a warranty on labor and installation so you get full coverage.

Conclusion

CertainTeed has a reputation as being one of the top roofing manufacturers, running head to head with competitors like Malarkey and GAF - the world's largest manufacturer of roofing materials. CertainTeed's reputation influences the price, with most lines being more expensive than the competition, including 3-tab shingles, which are a more affordable style.