Should You Choose Owens Corning Duration Shingles for Your Seattle Roof?

Are you worried that choosing the wrong architectural shingle could lead to leaks, wind damage, or costly repairs down the road, especially with all the rain we get in Seattle? Do you feel overwhelmed comparing shingles that all seem to offer the same features?

At RoofSmart, we help hundreds of customers every year find the right roofing material for them. We assess your roof’s needs, and then ask about your budget and preferences so that we can recommend the roofing material that best fits your unique situation. 

We know how hard it is to spot the real differences between shingles when every brand claims they’re durable, weather-resistant, and covered by “strong warranties.” But not all shingles are built equally, especially in the Pacific Northwest.

We believe that the Owens Corning Duration is the best standard architectural shingle for Seattle homeowners. 

In this article, you’ll learn how the Duration’s nail zone strength and warranty protections outperform competitors in wet, windy Seattle weather so you can choose the right shingle with confidence.

All of the shingles that we mention in this article are sold by us, including the Owens Corning Duration. We think it’s a great choice for a lot of homeowners, but that doesn’t mean that you have to get it. This article is meant to be educational and explain why we like this shingle most compared to others in its category so that you can make an informed decision. 

What criteria are we using to determine the best architectural shingle?

Each manufacturer has their own version of a standard architectural shingle, all of which are pretty similar to each other in terms of weight, strength, longevity, and color options. This can make it difficult to figure out which one is the best. 

Because all the standard architectural shingles look the same and have similar protection against algae growth and high wind speeds, we wanted to focus on other categories that emphasize how well the shingles can protect your roof in other ways. 

With that in mind, here are the criteria we came up with to determine what makes the best architectural shingle:

• Designed to be durable: Although each shingle is made in pretty much the same way, each manufacturer has a unique design method used to make sure that the area where the shingle gets nailed during installation stays strong and prevents leaks. The stronger this section, the better protection your home has against Seattle’s constant rain. 
• Strong premium warranty protection: No matter what kind of shingle you get, there’s always a possibility that it could be defective or that your roofer will install it incorrectly. That’s why it’s important to have a strong warranty that provides coverage for fixing damage caused by either of those problems. This can potentially save you from paying thousands to repair damage from a leak on your Seattle roof. 

What makes the Owens Corning Duration stand out as the best budget shingle for Seattle homeowners?

The Owens Corning Duration is pretty similar in design and functionality to its competitors (the GAF Timberline HDZ and the CertainTeed Landmark). 

For example, each one has a Class 3 rating for impact resistance. This means that all 3 shingles have roughly the same ability to withstand damage when they are hit by debris. In other words, they have a similar level of strength and durability, which makes it difficult to decide which one is best. 

So, given that these shingles are similar in design, here’s how the Owens Corning Duration shingle stands out according to the criteria we set for the best budget shingle:

How Is the Owens Corning Duration Designed to Be More Durable?

Owens Corning Duration series shingles are all made with a SureNail strip, which is the area along the shingle where the roofers place the nails during installation. 

Each manufacturer ensures that this area is reinforced, but what makes a SureNail strip extra powerful is that it has a cloth strip embedded in the shingle within the nailing zone. This means that the nail is penetrating through three layers (other shingles typically have only one or two layers). 

According to Owens Corning, this gives the shingle the following benefits:  

• Up to 2.5 times better nail pull-through resistance: This means that the nails were better at staying in place in high winds.
• Up to 9 times better nail blow-through resistance: Sometimes nails get pushed in too far during installation, which means that you need extra nails (and therefore extra holes) in your roof to secure the shingle. But with the SureNail strip, this issue was significantly reduced. 
• Up to 2 times better delamination resistance: Your shingles can start to pull apart if they get extremely hot, but the Duration shingle has better resistance to this problem.

Having great wind resistance and reducing the number of holes (aka potential leak points) helps to protect your roof from damage in Seattle’s rainy and windy weather. 

What Warranty Protection Does Owens Corning Duration Offer?

If you get your Duration shingles installed by an Owens Corning certified contractor, you will have access to Owens Corning’s Platinum Protection warranty, which is their premium warranty. 

The Platinum warranty gives you 50 years of protection against manufacturing defects and a 25-year workmanship warranty (this is only available in premium warranties). 

Other top manufacturers offer this same level of protection, but their workmanship warranty stops completely after 25 years. But with Owens Corning, you continue to get workmanship protection at a prorated price after the first 25 years. 

Here’s a comparison table that gives you an idea of how the premium warranty coverage differs when comparing Owens Corning, CertainTeed, and GAF. 

Having a manufacturer’s defect or a workmanship error can cause damage on your roof. As a Seattle area homeowner, having any sort of issue on your roof is likely to lead to a leak, which can cost thousands of dollars to fix. 

Having warranty coverage (especially a workmanship warranty) protects your home and your wallet. 

How do the standard architectural shingles from GAF and CertainTeed perform in Seattle weather?

In fairness to GAF and CertainTeed, we think that the Timberline HDZ and the Landmark are also great shingles. However, we think that the Owens Corning Duration really elevates the level of protection that you get with their nail strip and strong premium warranty. 

The GAF Timberline HDZ has a very wide nail zone, but it's not reinforced. So, any blow-through is the fault of the installer, not the design of the shingle, and you have to notice and fix it while you're doing the job, or it'll be a leak down the road. The same goes for the CertainTeed Landmark shingle. 

The Landmark shingle is about 10% thicker than the other options, meaning that it could potentially last a little bit longer (but only by a few years). 

How do I know when the Owens Corning Duration is a good fit for my Seattle home?

Just because we recommend the Duration in this category, that doesn’t mean it’s the only good fit for everyone. Make sure you consider your needs, aesthetic preferences, and budget when you are making your decision. 

The Owens Corning Duration is a great option for you if:

• You want a shingle with some built-in error proofing
• You like the look of a classic asphalt shingle with a great color palette
• You have a much steeper slope (the SureNail strip helps prevent tearing and holds it in place)
• You have a certified Platinum Preferred Contractor that will offer you access to Owens Corning’s premium warranty

How do Owens Corning Duration shingles compare to GAF Timberline and CertainTeed Landmark?

Now that you’ve seen what makes the Owens Corning Duration stand out, especially in terms of nail zone durability and premium warranty protection, it’s easy to see why it’s our top pick for Seattle homeowners who want long-term value without overspending.

If you want to dive deeper and compare the Duration side-by-side with similar options from GAF and CertainTeed, your next step is to look at a full breakdown of all three. 

Read our article “Owens Corning vs. GAF vs. CertainTeed Standard Shingles: Which Is Right for My Seattle Home?” to see a comparison of each brand’s most popular architectural shingles in terms of performance, design, and warranty so you can confidently choose the best shingle for your home and your budget.