CertainTeed is one of the oldest and most trusted companies for building materials. While CertainTeed specializes in manufacturing asphalt shingles, they also produce insulation, solar panels, fencing, siding, and drywall.
Although CertainTeed shingles are more expensive than other companies, they remain popular. Last year, Consumer Reports listed CertainTeed’s Presidential Shake® and Grand Manor® shingles among those they recommend.
In this article, we’ll discuss the types of shingles CertainTeed offers and which best suits your needs.
Types of CertainTeed shingles
CertainTeed makes three types of asphalt shingles: strip, dimensional, and luxury. The strip shingles are CertainTeed’s traditional 3-tab shingle, designed for homeowners on a strict budget. They're made from a fiberglass matt coated with a layer of asphalt, weighing and costing less than other options.
CertainTeed’s dimensional shingles give your home a more architectural appearance, mimicking more expensive roofing options like slate or wood shake.
CertainTeed's luxury shingles are the company’s most expensive, sophisticated option. These shingles are heavier and offer stronger protection against extreme weather conditions. Let’s get into the details.
Strip shingles
Due to the increase in severe weather events, some shingle manufacturers have limited production of the traditional strip, or 3-tab, shingle. CertainTeed included. Its only line of strip or 3-tab shingles is the XT™ 25. These roofing shingles are best for smaller, more inexpensive homes or for replacing old shingles.
XT™25
Though the XT 25 is fire-resistant and features a 10-year warranty for algae growth, it doesn't hold up well in strong winds. Its limited 25-year warranty only covers winds up to 60 MPH. But for homeowners on a tight budget who live in a stable climate, the XT 25 shingle is a solid option. It's made of a durable fiberglass mat coated with asphalt and is available in 15 colors. XT 25 shingles cost about $90 per square.
Dimensional shingles
Dimensional shingles have multiple layers and mimic the appearance of natural slate and wood shake. They're also referred to as designer shingles. Though typically more expensive than strip shingles, dimensional shingles are heavier and feature stronger warranties. Currently, CertainTeed offers ten options for homeowners wanting a more substantial, more attractive designer shingle.
Landmark® shingles
CertainTeed Landmark shingles are easy to find and easy to install. They have a Class A fire rating and a 25-year StreakFighter® warranty against unsightly algae streaks. Unlike the XT 25 shingles, Landmark has a 15-year 110 mph wind-resistance warranty with an upgrade available to 130 mph. Landmark shingles are available in 25 colors and cost about $150 per square.
Landmark® Pro
Like the standard Landmark shingle, the Landmark Pro shingle features the same type of wind and algae protection. But the Landmark Pro has thicker, heavier layers of asphalt, a Class 3 impact rating, and a longer lifespan. They cost about $170 per square.
Landmark® Premium
CertainTeed’s Landmark Premium shingle is similar to the other Landmark products, but the Premium shingle weighs in at 290 pounds per square, making it a more durable option. This shingle features the same protection, including CertainTeed’s SureStart warranty, which covers all defective materials and labor costs for ten years.
Landmark® ClimateFlex®
The Landmark ClimateFlex captures the beauty of wood shakes in a polymer-modified asphalt designer shingle. Its rubberizing aspects keep it pliable and easy to handle in cold weather. This designer shingle features the same warranties and protection against wind and algae as the other Landmark products. It also resists hail damage, protecting your home in any climate. This shingle weighs 229 pounds per square.
Landmark® Solaris
The Solaris shingle's Cool Roof Technology helps to reduce your home's heat absorption. Its multi-layer design includes a fiberglass base, a protective layer of asphalt, and a reflective layer. This design keeps your home more comfortable while lowering energy bills. Rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), Landmark Solaris shingles comply with the 2016 California Title 24 Part 6 Cool Roof Requirements. The same wind and algae warranties protect it as other Landmark products.
Landmark® Pro Solaris
Like the standard Solaris shingle, the Landmark Pro Solaris features the same type of wind and algae protection. But the Pro Solaris series has thicker, heavier layers of asphalt, a Class 3 impact rating, and a longer lifespan.
Landmark® TL
Landmark TL shingles give you the beauty of a wood shake roof at a lower cost and less maintenance. This shingle includes a high-contrast palette of six nature-inspired colors. Its random tabs and natural shadowing enhance the visual dimensions. The Landmark TL is a high-quality triple-laminate shingle that offers superior protection from the elements. It also features the same wind and algae protection as others in the Landmark series.
Landmark® TL Solaris
Take the superior, triple-layer construction of the Landmark TL and add a reflective layer coated with the advanced CoolStar™ reflective technology, and you have the best of both worlds–the Landmark TL Solaris. This shingle option includes everything the TL and the Solaris series offer, including the StreakFighter® algae resistance technology and the 15-year 110 mph wind-resistance warranty that is upgradable to 130 mph.
Northgate® ClimateFlex®
The Northgate shingle is made of an SBS polymer-modified asphalt, giving it more flexibility and durability. This shingle has a Class 4 impact resistance and is resistant to cracking, making it a solid option for homeowners in colder climates. The Northgate ClimateFlex is specially engineered to resist winds up to 130 mph, features the ENERGY STAR-rated Cool Roof technology and is available in 12 colors.
Highland Slate®
The Highland Slate shingle is designed to appear like a natural slate, made of a single layer of fiberglass. This shingle is incredibly heavy, like the rest of CertainTeed’s architectural shingles, but nowhere near the weight of natural slate shingles. Fire-resistant and featuring the same warranties as the Landmark brands, the Highland Slate shingle is a solid alternative to expensive slate.
Luxury shingles
CertainTeed’s laminate luxury shingles are heavy and durable, closely resembling wood shake and quarried slate at a fraction of the cost. There are nine product lines of CertainTeed luxury shingles.
Grand Manor®
CertainTeed’s Grand Manor shingles are designed to mimic the appearance of natural slate tiles. Including underlayment, the Grand Manor provides five layers of protection against severe weather like high winds, hail, and ice. Weighing almost twice the Landmark shingle, the Grand Manor is Class A fire resistant and features a lifetime limited transfer warranty and a wind warranty up to 110 MPH. We recommend Grand Manor shingles if you have a steep-sloped roof.
Carriage House®
With its cut corners and shadow lines, these shingles provide a hand-crafted appearance as you get with scalloped-edge natural slate. The Carriage House shingle is best suited for steeply pitched roofs. In addition to a Class A fire rating, the Carriage House shingle features 10-year SureStart protection, a 15-year algae-resistant StreakFighter warranty, and a 15-year wind warranty up to 110 MPH.
Belmont®
The Belmont shingle is another alternative to natural slate tiles with six color options. This shingle is reinforced with a fiberglass mat, giving it a Class 4 impact-resistant rating. It's also resistant to algae growth and includes a special sealant underneath the shingle, preventing blow-off.
Belmont® IR
CertainTeed's Belmont IR (impact-resistant) shingle is designed to withstand extreme weather, including hail and high-force wind. This shingle features a Class 4 impact rating, a 15-year algae resistance warranty, and a Class A fire-resistance rating.
Presidential Shake®
CertainTeed’s Presidential Shake shingle is designed to appear as natural cedar wood shakes without the cost and maintenance. This shingle features two layers of laminated fiberglass, a protective outer layer, and CertainTeed's unique color blending technology for a superb dimensional look. Consumer Reports recommends this shingle with an overall score of 81. Available in seven nature-inspired colors, it's resistant to fire and algae and winds up to 110 MPH.
Presidential Shake® TL
The Presidential Shake TL shingle is a high-quality triple-laminate shingle, making it stronger, heavier, and more durable than the Presidential Shake. The Presidential Shake TL is a stronger, lower-cost alternative to cedar shake and is available in six colors, like weathered wood and aged bark, and it requires less annual maintenance.
Presidential Shake® IR
CertainTeed's Presidential Shake IR (impact-resistant) shingle is engineered to resist extreme weather, including high-force wind and hail. The Presidential Shake IR shingle features a Class 4 impact rating, CertainTeed's StreakFighter® algae resistance technology, and a Class A fire-resistance rating.
Presidential Solaris®
The Presidential Solaris shingle starts with the highly-rated Presidential shingle and adds CertainTeed's advanced CoolStar® Technology to help reduce your home's heat absorption. Its multi-layer construction melds a fiberglass mat with a protective asphalt layer and a color-blending, reflective layer. This design provides a stunning dimensional appearance while keeping your home comfortable and lowering energy bills. Rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), Presidential Solaris shingles comply with the 2016 California Title 24 Part 6 Cool Roof requirements. The same wind and algae warranties protect it as CertainTeed's other premium shingles.
Presidential TL Solaris®
Take the superior, triple-layer construction of the Presidential TL and add the advanced CoolStar technology to reflect the sun's rays, and you have a shingle that reduces heat absorption while protecting against extreme weather elements. The Presidential TL Solaris shingle option includes everything the TL and the Solaris series offer, including the StreakFighter® algae resistance technology and the 15-year 110 mph wind-resistance warranty that is upgradable to 130 mph.
Pros and cons of CertainTeed shingles
Pros
- + Durable
- + Competitive warranties
- + CertainTeed Integrity Roof System
- + Fire and algae-resistant
- + Easy to install
Cons
- - Expensive
- - Warranty claim issues
Pros of CertainTeed shingles
Durable - CertainTeed shingles are some of the heaviest roofing shingles available. Many series, like the Grand Manor and Northgate, feature several layers of fiberglass, giving them more durability in severe weather conditions and preventing the loss of granules.
Competitive warranties - CertainTeed offers a limited lifetime transferable warranty and strong wind warranties, except for its 3-tab shingle. Other companies are more strict about transferable warranties. Most of CertainTeed’s shingles feature its 10-year SureStart warranty, which covers all materials and labor costs for defective shingles.
CertainTeed Integrity Roof System - The CertainTeed Integrity Roofing System offers a complete system of roofing materials with waterproof underlayment, starter shingles, roof shingles, Solaris hip and ridge caps, and roof ventilation. Installing the whole system will give you complete peace of mind, knowing that all the products are designed to work together.
Fire and algae resistant - Most CertainTeed shingles have a Class A fire rating and feature its StreakFighter warranty against algae streaks and damage.
Easy to install - While CertainTeed shingles can be heavier than others, they are easy to install. CertainTeed features a certification training program for roofing contractors and the NailTrack system, which gives roofers a broader area to nail down the shingles.
Cons of CertainTeed shingles
Expensive - CertainTeed’s biggest knock is its high price point. Other asphalt shingle brands sell 3-tab shingles for nearly half the cost of CertainTeed’s XT 25 shingle. CertainTeed’s popular Landmark Pro shingles still cost more than the popular GAF Timberline shingle.
Warranty claim issues - While CertainTeed does feature competitive warranties, some homeowners have complained about rejected claims regarding manufacturing defects.
Who is CertainTeed?
Founded in 1904, the company, then known as the General Roofing Manufacturing Company, became Certain-teed in 1917. The Certain-teed corporation initially focused on manufacturing asphalt shingles but expanded to producing vinyl siding in the 1960s.
In the 1970s, the company dropped the hyphen and became CertainTeed. It joined the Saint-Gobain family in 1988 and produces various exterior and interior building materials with more than 60 facilities in the U.S. and Canada.
Saint-Gobain is one of the world’s largest and oldest building companies, tracing back to its French origins in the 1700s. Currently, CertainTeed strives to manufacture more sustainable and environmentally friendly products.
Are CertainTeed shingles right for you?
There’s no doubt that CertainTeed roofing shingles cost a bit more than its competitors. But if you’re considering installing asphalt shingles for your new roof and want a reliable, durable material, CertainTeed is a good option. After all, even CertainTeed’s more expensive shingles cost less than a metal roof or clay tile roof.
While CertainTeed consistently compares to GAF and Owens Corning in terms of quality and warranties, CertainTeed offers a superior product. With its solid and durable layers of fiberglass and its striking resemblance to natural slate, CertainTeed provides a high-quality asphalt shingle.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The Landmark Pro has all the features of the Landmark shingle. But it's thicker, has heavier layers of asphalt, a Class 3 impact rating, and a longer lifespan.
CertainTeed offers several shingle warranties on their products. Depending on the series, the warranty could include CertainTeed's limited, transferable lifetime warranty, a 25-year algae-resistance warranty, the 10-year SureStart™ protection, and a 15-year, 110 mph wind-resistance warranty.
Carol J Alexander is a home remodeling industry expert for Fixr.com. For more than 15 years as a journalist and content marketer, her in-depth research, interviewing skills, and technical insight have ensured she provides the most accurate and current information on a given topic. Before joining the Fixr team, her personal clients included leaders in the building materials market like Behr Paint Company, CertainTeed, and Chicago Faucet, and national publications like This Old House and Real Homes.