Are you feeling overwhelmed and confused while trying to figure out your different warranty options? With so much information to sift through, it can be difficult to determine where you should start or what elements you should look for to best protect your Seattle home.
Or maybe you feel wary about the value of warranties after hearing from friends or family who thought an expensive roof repair was covered, only to be told that they needed to pay out-of-pocket. Even worse, maybe you’re the one who went through this.
Either way, confusing warranties are an industry-wide problem. They often leave their most important target audience (you, the customer!) in the dark.
We at RoofSmart understand that this is a major issue, so we want to help you avoid it. We’ve guided hundreds of Seattle-area homeowners through confusing manufacturer warranty documents to help prevent expensive, avoidable surprises later on.
We believe everyone deserves access to this information, so we’re sharing multiple articles that go over the warranties from the different asphalt shingle manufacturers we work with (Owens Corning, GAF, and CertainTeed).
Please keep in mind that these articles are not meant to pressure you into purchasing a warranty or choosing a certain manufacturer or product. Our purpose is to provide an honest and easily understandable warranty comparison for each manufacturer.
In this article, we’ll explain what CertainTeed’s warranties really cover—from their basic SureStart to their top-tier 5-Star 25—so you can choose the right protection for your roof with confidence.
What types of roofing warranties do manufacturers offer?
- Manufacturer’s warranty: These warranties offer coverage for replacing defective materials purchased from that manufacturer. Basic coverage typically only covers shingles, but some higher-level warranties cover other materials made by the manufacturer, such as ventilation pieces or ridge caps.
- Workmanship warranty: This type of warranty is more commonly offered by roofing contractors. It provides coverage for mistakes made during installation, which is a much more common issue than having defective materials. Only the highest levels of manufacturer’s warranties offer coverage for workmanship issues.
Note: Normal wear and tear is NOT covered in any warranty.
What is CertainTeed’s SureStart Warranty and what does it include?
CertainTeed’s standard lifetime warranty package that covers all of their shingles is called SureStart. For most shingles, the “lifetime” lasts 50 years, though for a few it is 40 years. CertainTeed’s website on warranties does not include any cost information.
This is a basic package that offers great coverage for the first 10 years of the roof’s life. Here is an overview:
- Advantages and features: For 10 years, material and labor costs to replace defective shingles (specifically as a result of manufacturing errors) are covered in full.
Also, any shingles under the 50-year lifetime warranty (this applies to most of their shingles) will also cover the cost of flashing, metal work, tear-off, and disposal of shingles for 10 years. Shingles under the 40-year warranty only have labor and materials covered.
- Disadvantages: If you’re worried about workmanship errors, then this warranty is not a good option because there is no coverage for workmanship errors.
Also, they do not describe any prorated period, so after 10 years, the cost of any repairs or replacements that need to be done will be on you.
- When is the SureStart Warranty the right fit?: If you are looking for basic protection that will cover you in case any issues with the shingles arise in the initial years after installation, then this is a good warranty for you.
Basic warranty coverage is a good option if you’re not too worried about issues with your shingles or if you have a strong workmanship warranty through your roofing contractor.
However, it’s rare that you’ll need coverage in the first 10 years (though it certainly can happen!). Typically, Seattle area homeowners should be worried about leaks, which can hide in your roof for quite some time. You might not notice until after year 10.
It’s far more likely that your roof will leak due to an installation error than a manufacturing defect. And if that happens, you’re on your own for coverage with this warranty.
What is CertainTeed’s SureStart Plus program and how does it work?
In order to jump from SureStart to SureStart Plus, you’re required to get an Integrity Roof System, and it must be installed by a contractor who is certified by CertainTeed.
There is no cost information included for the SureStart Plus warranties, but the required use of CertainTeed products beyond just shingles will add to the cost of your roof (probably around $1,000).
This is money you’d likely spend anyway to have good protection on your roof, but it does mean that you can’t switch any of the products out for cheaper alternatives.
These warranties are categorized based on the different levels of coverage that they offer. The options include:
- 3-Star Protection
- 4-Star Protection
- 5-star 10 Protection
- 5-star 25 Protection
SureStart Plus offers longer coverage periods. And, with the higher levels, you’ll get added perks.
What does CertainTeed’s 3-Star Warranty cover?
- Advantages and features: This lifetime warranty covers the full cost of materials, labor, and tear-off when replacing defective shingles for 20 years.
- Disadvantages: Disposal of the defective shingles is not covered under this warranty. Neither is workmanship.
- When is it the right fit?: Because of the added level of quality assurance that you get through using a certified contractor and having all the elements of an Integrity Roof System protecting your home, this warranty is a good option for anyone who wants to ensure that their roof will be installed with skill and care.
3-Star Protection is also a good option for you if you want more than 10 years of coverage for material defects.
How does 3-Star Protection compare to the SureStart Warranty?
A big difference between the SureStart Warranty and 3-Star Protection is that the cost of disposal is no longer covered (assuming you wanted the 50-year warranty).
However, 3-Star Protection has full coverage for material, labor, and tear-off costs for twice as long as the SureStart Warranty.
Additionally, because 3-Star Protection requires a certified CertainTeed roofing contractor to do the installation, you are greatly decreasing your chances of having workmanship issues on your roof.
What does CertainTeed’s 4-Star Warranty include and how long does it last?
- Advantages and features: The full cost of materials, labor, tear-off, and disposal are covered for 50 years with this lifetime warranty.
- Disadvantages: This level of warranty still does not cover workmanship, so if that is a priority for you, then this warranty is likely not the best option.
- When is it the right fit?: Again, this warranty is a good option if you want access to great materials that are installed by a skilled contractor.
If you’re planning on staying in your home for quite a while after getting your new roof, the 4-star Protection is a good option because it ensures that you’ll be fully covered from defects for a long time.
How does 4-Star Protection compare to 3-Star Protection?
4-Star Protection offers a big jump in the length of time that full coverage for the replacement of defective shingles is offered. It moves from 20 years to 50 years.
The cost of disposing of defective shingles is also included, which 3-Star Protection does not have.
What is the difference between CertainTeed’s 5-Star 10 and 5-Star 25 warranties?
- Advantages and features: Just like all the other SureStart Plus warranties, both of the 5-Star Protection options offer full coverage for the cost of materials, labor, tear-off, and disposal when replacing defective shingles. This coverage lasts 50 years.
The best part about the 5-Star Protection warranties is that they offer coverage for workmanship. 5-Star 10 Protection covers workmanship for 10 years and 5-Star 25 Protection covers it for 25 years (this is the only difference between the two 5-Star Protection warranties).
- Disadvantages: This is the highest level of coverage that CertainTeed offers, so everything is included. That being said, CertainTeed does not go into detail on its website about what’s covered under workmanship or how CertainTeed decides when it'll pay for a workmanship issue. So, we’d recommend reading your warranty agreement closely to learn more if you choose 5-Star Protection.
- When is it the right fit?: If you are looking for CertainTeed’s best available protection for your roof, then 5-Star Protection (specifically 5-Star 25 Protection) is an excellent choice for you. It has full coverage on everything, giving you peace of mind for many years after your new roof is installed.
How do 5-Star 10 Protection and 5-Star 25 Protection compare to 4-Star Protection?
5-Star Protection offers different amounts of coverage (10 or 25 years) for workmanship issues, whereas 4-Star Protection offers none.
This is the only difference between these warranties, but it is a pretty significant jump because adding on a workmanship warranty means that you have coverage for an installation mistake, which is more likely to happen than a material defect.
In a rainy area like Seattle, an installation mistake can easily cause your roof to leak. Having a warranty with a workmanship warranty can help save you from paying for costly repairs out of pocket.
SureStart vs. SureStart Plus: How do the CertainTeed warranties compare?
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the coverage offered by each Certainteed warranty tier to help make the decision process easier for you.
*40-year coverage does not include tear-off and disposal coverage, but 50-year coverage does.
What voids the CertainTeed SureStart warranties?
CertainTeed SureStart warranties all come with the same limitations for coverage in the warranties. Basically, it excludes coverage for things outside of CertainTeed’s control, such as damage to the roof caused by natural disasters or not following the proper installation instructions and requirements that CertainTeed lays out before the shingles are installed.
Here is a full list of the limitations outlined in their warranty:
How do you choose the best CertainTeed warranty for your roof?
After reading this article, you no longer need to feel confused or overwhelmed at the thought of sifting through all of these warranties on your own. You can now quickly and effectively choose the warranty that will best fit your coverage priorities.
Each warranty is designed to offer different levels of coverage ranging from highest to lowest. The higher you go, the more coverage you’ll get. But you’ll also have to adhere to stricter eligibility requirements. That’s why it’s important to research warranties and choose the one you want BEFORE any work begins on your roof.
After learning about the warranties CertainTeed offers for their products, you’re probably curious about what kind of warranty coverage you can get from other shingle manufacturers. To learn more about how a different company structures their warranties and what they cover, read our articles “Warranty Comparison for Owens Corning: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Differences” and “Warranty Comparison for GAF: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Differences“.
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