What Happened To 30 Year Roofing Shingles?

The Shift Away From 30,40 & 50 Year Roofing Shingles

The Old Days And The Old Ways Of Roofing

Remember the good old days when you could buy a 30 year roofing shingle. If you wanted something a little heavier then you could upgrade to a 40 or even a 50 year shingle. If you have been asking around lately Im sure you have come across the new phrase "limited lifetime." What does that mean anyway and where did this whole new roofing shingle system come from?

How Limited Lifetime Shingles Came To Be

Ok, so I will let you in on the secret. GAF Roofing manufacturer underwent a serious process of developing the best fiberglass mat technology you could possibly imagine. After much toil they perfected the strongest fiberglass mat in today's roofing industry. Due to the mats strength the shingle requires less asphalt. This was one of the main goals GAF set out to achieve a more sustainable shingle that would cut back on our precious resources. The shingle was put through the extremest testing possible to make sure it had the stuff to be presented as Americas first "limited lifetime" roofing shingle. Needless to say it passed all the test by UL and was released onto the market in 2011. Check out the video below by GAF called "Chasing A Dream" to learn more: 

GAF Forces Industry Wide Warranty Change

Once GAF introduced the limited life time 50 year shingle into the market it created a huge shift. Other manufacturer's such as IKO, CertiainTeed, Owens Corning and most others were forced to offer their shingles as limited lifetime shingles in order to stay in competition with GAF. Its interesting to note that all the shingle brands across the board carry the same limited lifetime warranty but only GAF has made any technological changes to their shingle in order to justify the longer warranty. 

Warranty Info On GAF Limited Lifetime Roofing Shingles

The basic breakdown of a limited lifetime warranty is fairly simple and works out to the benefit of the homeowner. You get 10 years of 100% non-prorated warranty coverage against material defects. From year 11-50 the warranty value begins to pro-rate. For more information on GAF warranties visit this page: http://www.gaf.com/Roofing/Residential/Products.

Quality That Can Be Trusted

I believe this sets GAF roofing products apart and makes their brand safe to use. Remember to always consult a professional roofing contractor before performing any work on your roof. To find local residential roofing contractors in Washington State visit www.reliableroofingcontractorswa.com.