Certainteed vs. GAF vs. Owens Corning Shake Imitation Shingles: Which Is Right for Me?

Are you searching for the perfect shake imitation shingle but not sure which shingle manufacturer has the best option? Are you worried that paying a lower price for imitation shake means sacrificing top-tier protection from the Seattle rain?

When it comes to picking the right asphalt shingle for your home, it’s easy to become confused and overwhelmed because there are so many options, and all of them are fairly similar. This leaves you wondering what the differences are. 

At RoofSmart, we match hundreds of customers every year with their perfect roof using our SmartMatch Needs Analysis to find a roof based on their needs, preferences, and budget. During this process, we educate our customers on the pros and cons of each roof type and discuss how their roof options compare. 

This article will focus on the following shingles: the Owens Corning Woodmoor, the Certainteed Presidential Shake TL, and the GAF Grand Sequoia. 

These designer shake-imitation shingles were chosen for this article because they’re made by three top brands in the Seattle market (please note that we chose to include the Owens Corning Woodmoor to help understand the differences between each shingle, even though this shingle is temporarily unavailable). 

We offer all of these brands, as do most other local roofers in the area. So, I want to make sure you understand and compare all of your options. 

In this article, you’ll be able to compare 50-year luxury shingles to see how they measure up in these categories: 

1. Realistic Life Expectancy
2. Aesthetics
3. Impact resistance
4. Algae resistance
5. Wind Resistance
6. Warranty Coverage

Each category will have a winner, showing you which shingle brand performs best in that specific category. 

By the end, you’ll be able to decide which shingle best aligns with your needs and preferences. 

How do I pick the right shingle for my home?

There are a few differences between the shingles made by Owens Corning, GAF, and CertainTeed, but overall, they’re very similar. This is because they compete with each other. 

This article will help you break away from that confusion by comparing the designer shake-imitation shingles by Owens Corning, GAF, and CertainTeed based on different categories:  

1. Realistic Life Expectancy (of 50 years) 

Winner- Certainteed Presidential Shake TL

Certainteed Presidential Shake TL shingles are triple laminated, meaning that they are made with 3 layers instead of 2 (which is what their competitors use). Certainteed is the only company to have a patent for the triple laminate shingle, meaning that this feature is only available in the Certainteed Presidential Shake TL. 

The use of three layers allows Certainteed to include more asphalt in the shingle than you can get with only 2 layers. This is a big deal because the more asphalt, the longer it will take to wear through and fail, and it makes it more waterproof. 

The Owens Corning Woodmoor and the GAF Grand Sequoia are both thicker and heavier than a standard asphalt shingle, but they do not use triple laminate technology. They will last a lot longer than a standard shingle, but might wear out faster than the Presidential TL. 

2. Aesthetics

Winner- Certainteed Presidential Shake TL

These shingle options are meant to be an elevated designer shingle that is fancier than each manufacturer’s version of the standard shingle by imitating the look of wood shake. 

They are pretty similar in design, but the Certainteed Presidential Shake TL has a unique lay pattern. Instead of the usual five-inch offset that other shingles have, you do a five and 1/15 inch offset staggering. This results in a much more random appearance on the roof that looks better and more like actual shake.

The Owens Corning Woodmor and the GAF Grand Sequoia have the regular 5-inch lay pattern. 

3. Impact Resistance

Winner: Certainteed Presidential Shake TL

The Owens Corning Woodmor and the GAF Grand Sequoia shingles are both rated Class 3 for impact resistance. However, the Certainteed Presidential Shake TL shingle is rated Class 4. This makes them great impact-resistant shingles for windstorms.

These ratings come from the UL 2218 impact test, which is used to determine how well a shingle can withstand impact from debris. A steel ball is launched at the shingle, and it passes the test if there are no cracks. 

The highest rating is a Class 4. The other options are Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. The class rating for the shingle changes based on the size of the steel ball used during the test. For example, a Class 4 rated shingle withstood impact from the largest steel ball option (2 inches in diameter). 

4. Algae Resistance

Winner: Certainteed Presidential Shake TL

For great Seattle roof algae protection, consider Certainteed Landmark TL shingles. CertainTeed Shingles (including the Landmark TL) are protected from algae by their StreakFighter technology. In addition, CertainTeed offers a 30-year algae-resistance warranty. 

The Owens Corning Woodmor shingle is protected from algae by StreakGuard Algae Resistance Protection using copper-infused granules. It also has a 25-year algae resistance coverage in the warranty. 

GAF Grand Sequoia shingles have a 25-year warranty against algae, but they do not explicitly state on their website that this specific type of shingle has algae-fighting technology. 

In a rainy, humid area like Seattle, algae growth is very likely to happen over time. Most roofers recommend getting shingles with built-in algae resistance. Otherwise, you’ll have higher maintenance costs to treat the roof and get rid of algae. 

5. Wind Protection

Winner: GAF Grand Sequoia

GAF Grand Sequoia shingles are protected under a 15-year wind warranty with no max speed (if you don’t meet the right warranty requirements, it’s limited to 130 mph). 

Owens Corning Woodmoor shingles have a 15-year warranty for 130 mph winds, and Certainteed Presidential Shake TL shingles have 110 mph coverage for 15 years (you can upgrade to 130 if you meet the right requirements). 

6. Workmanship Warranty Coverage

Winner: Owens Corning Woodmoor

All of these shingles have solid warranties, but the Owens Corning warranty stands out for having lifetime coverage for workmanship issues at the Platinum level. The others max out after 25 years. 

Other than workmanship coverage, the warranty coverage is pretty similar for each manufacturer. 

Here’s a comparison table showing you the coverage you get from both the lowest and highest level warranties offered by Owens Corning, GAF, and Certainteed. 

How do I know which shingle is right for me? 

Because a lot of the shingles out there are so similar, make sure you consider which features are most important to you. Do you want the best overall warranty coverage? Do you want a shingle that’s going to last a long time?  

Ask yourself how well each shingle matches your budget, needs, and preferences. As a resident of the Greater Seattle area, we also recommend that you consider how each shingle measures up in our particular climate. 

For example, algae growth is a major concern here, but the Certainteed Presidential Shake TL has great algae-fighting technology and warranty protection. 

The CertainTeed Presidential Shake TL is also the strongest and most durable option because of the triple laminate technology. This means it has one more layer of protection than the others. In an expensive area like Seattle, the Presidential TL gives you the best protection and value for your money. 

How do I find a reliable contractor to install my imitation shake shingles? 

But the shingle itself is not the only thing you should focus on. An incredibly important factor to consider is who you choose to install your shingles. We recommend that you also prioritize choosing which contractor you feel you can trust the most. 

Each of these manufacturers (Owens Corning, GAF, and CertainTeed) has contractors that they’ve certified as qualified, reputable contractors who will do a good job installing any shingle. If your priority is getting a great quality roof AND a great quality shingle, then these certified contractors are worth looking into. 

On each company’s website, you can find a list of their certified contractors. You can search by the area you live in to find a certified contractor near you. Use these links to get started:

• Owens Corning
• GAF
• CertainTeed

How do you know if a roofing contractor is qualified to install a great roof for you? Check out our article "How Do I Know If A Roofing Contractor is Qualified?" to learn how to assess a roofing contractor's qualifications. 

Want to make the evaluation process easier? Download our Qualified Roofer Checklist to use as a guide for asking your roofer all of the right questions before you sign a contract.