Owens Corning vs. GAF vs. CertainTeed Standard Shingles: Which Is Right for Me?
October 23rd, 2024
4 min read
When every manufacturer offers their own version of a shingle, are you wondering how to know which one is the best fit for you? Are you looking for certain features in your shingle but unsure how to know which shingles have them?
If you’re going to spend a big chunk of money replacing your roof no matter who you hire, you want to make sure that you’re choosing a shingle that you like and that will provide great coverage. So, you’re probably wondering how you are going to narrow it down and find the option that is best for you. This is especially true if the roofing contractor you are working for offers shingles from multiple manufacturers.
At RoofSmart, we use our SmartMatch Analysis process that assesses your budget, your roof’s needs, and your preferences to help you pick the shingles you want. Following this process, we help hundreds of homeowners every year find the roofing material that is the best fit for you and your home.
This article will compare the standard architectural shingles from three major manufacturers: Owens Corning, GAF, and CertainTeed. These were chosen because they are top brands nationwide, and are used by roofers in the Seattle area.
These shingles will be assessed based on different categories that reflect their quality and durability. Each category will have a winner.
RoofSmart offers all of these shingles brands and types. But, even if you don’t end up working with us on your roofing project, we still want you to have enough information to help you decide which shingle you want to use.
By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of what each shingle can offer you and which one is the best in each category. This will help you decide which shingle best correlates with your top priorities for your new roof.
How do I pick the right shingle for my home?
Each manufacturer has their own version of the standard architectural shingle, but what’s the difference between them? A big part of the reason that it can be so difficult to choose which shingle you want is because you don’t know how they compare to each other.
This section provides an overview of what each shingle offers you in terms of
- Aesthetics
- Wind Resistance
- Algae Prevention
- Warranty Coverage
Aesthetics
Winner- CertainTeed Landmark (for color variety)
The Owens Corning Duration offers 12 color options, the GAF Timberline Shingle offers 11 color options, and the CertainTeed Landmark shingle offers 21 different colors.
If you’re looking for a lot of color variety, then the CertainTeed Landmark is a great shingle option for you.
In terms of design, it is up to you to choose which one you like best because this is more of a subjective category. But, all of these are the same type of shingle, so they each have a similar design.
Specialty colors can be hard to come by. Each manufacturer is in charge of choosing which colors they want to use, so if you’re looking for a unique color it will probably be difficult to find.
Nail Strip Technology
Winner- Owens Corning Duration
The Owens Corning Duration is made with their patented SureNail Technology. This means that they have three layers of protection with a cloth layer along the nail line that has up to 2.5 times better nail pull-through resistance and up to 2 times better delamination resistance. This greatly improves the shingle’s ability to withstand high winds. These shingles have a wind resistance limit of 130 mph.
GAF advertises that their LayerLock Technology strengthens the area where overlapping shingles adhere together. They also point out that they have the widest nail zone available (this feature is more beneficial for roofers than homeowners). With the right eligibility requirements and LayerLock materials, their shingles are protected under warranty in unlimited wind speeds (130 mph with LayerLock).
CertainTeed Landmarks are made with a NailTrak that helps keep roofers consistent while installing the shingles. Their shingles are designed to last in winds up to 110 mph.
Algae Prevention
Winner- Tie (All manufacturers have solid algae-resistant technology that is on a similar level)
Owens Corning Duration Shingles have StreakGuard Algae Resistance Protection, which blends regular granules and granules lined with copper together on the shingle to help prevent algae growth.
GAF Timberline Shingles use Time-Release Algae-Fighting Technology that releases copper over time in the shingle that fights off algae.
Similar to the other two, CertainTeed Landmark Shingles use StreakFighter technology that slowly releases copper from the granules over time to get rid of algae.
Overall Warranty Coverage
Winner- Owens Corning Duration Shingle
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.
Owens Corning Duration Shingle
- Lifetime warranty
- 10 or 50 years of coverage for manufacturing defects
- 25 years for algae protection
- Higher-level warranties offer 10 years or lifetime coverage (becomes prorated after 25 years) for workmanship issues
GAF Timberline Shingle
- Lifetime warranty
- 10 or 50 years of coverage for manufacturing defects
- 25 years for algae protection
- Higher-level warranties offer 10 or 25 years of workmanship coverage
CertainTeed Landmark Shingle
- 40-year or 50-year warranty with 10 years of coverage
- Lifetime warranty with 20 or 50 years of coverage
- 25 years for algae protection
- Higher-level warranties offer 10 or 25 years of workmanship coverage
Wind Warranty Coverage
Winner- GAF Timberline Shingle
Though the warranties for each of these shingles are similar, GAF stands out for its wind coverage with no maximum speed, whereas the other warranties cap off at a certain speed.
Owens Corning Duration Shingle
- 15-year wind coverage for winds up to 130 mph
GAF Timberline Shingle
- 15-year wind coverage with no maximum wind speed when eligibility requirements are met
CertainTeed Landmark Shingle
- 15-year wind coverage for winds up to 110 mph
How do I Make Sure I’m Getting a Great Roof?
At the end of the day, choosing a shingle that’s right for you is about knowing what your priorities are and what you want your new roof to accomplish.
The Owens Corning Duration might stand out to you for its SureNail Technology or long-lasting workmanship coverage. Or maybe the GAF Timberline Shingle is most appealing to you for having the highest wind warranty coverage. If you’re looking for lots of color variety, then the CertainTeed Landmark is a good option for you.
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:
How do you know if a roofing contractor is qualified to install a great roof for you? Check out this article on assessing the qualifications of a roofing contractor.
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