makes you wonder if the “30-year shingle” thing is just wishful thinking in sunny spots
That’s exactly my hangup. I’ve got a west-facing slope that bakes all afternoon, and after 12 years, those shingles look like they went three rounds with a blowtorch. The north side? Still pretty decent. It’s wild how uneven the wear is.
I get the appeal—price is right, install isn’t crazy complicated, and repairs are mostly DIY-friendly. But "30-year" feels like marketing unless you’re living under a cloud. I did the algae-resistant ones too (figured it couldn’t hurt), but honestly, it’s the UV that’s chewing them up, not moss.
If you’re coastal or down south where salt and sun team up, I’d say expect to swap them out sooner than later. Metal was tempting for me but double the cost at least... and I’m not made of money. For now, I just keep patching and hope for cloudy days.
Yeah, I hear you on the “30-year” pitch. Mine started curling at year 10, and that’s with regular maintenance. The south side is rough, but the shaded parts still look okay—go figure. I’ve patched a few spots, but it feels like a losing battle in the summer heat. Metal crossed my mind too, but the upfront cost just wasn’t doable. If I had to do it over, I’d probably look into lighter colors or maybe even tile, just to deal with the sun a bit better.
Funny how the sun just cooks one side and leaves the other alone, right? I’ve got a building where the north-facing shingles still look brand new, but the south is basically toast. Anybody ever try those “cool roof” reflective shingles? Wondering if they actually help or just marketing fluff...
I’ve wondered the same thing about those reflective shingles—seems like they’d help, but I’m not sure if it’s enough to justify the price. My neighbor put them on last year, and he claims his attic is a bit cooler, but I haven’t seen his energy bills. Has anyone noticed a real difference in how long the shingles last, or is it mostly about keeping the house cooler? I’m in the Midwest, so sun damage isn’t as crazy as down south, but our south side still fades way faster.
I get where you’re coming from. We swapped out our old shingles for the reflective kind two summers ago, and honestly, the difference in attic temp was noticeable—maybe by 10 degrees on really sunny days. But as for energy bills, it wasn’t a massive drop, just a bit less AC run time in July and August. The upfront cost was higher, but we figured it’d pay off slowly over time, especially since our south-facing roof gets pretty roasted too.
About longevity, I haven’t seen much difference yet, though the color does seem to fade slower compared to our neighbor’s standard shingles. Midwest weather is weird—one year it’s brutal sun, next it’s hail every other week—so I’m not sure any shingle lasts as long as the warranty claims. If you’re mostly worried about fading or heat, they help some, but don’t expect miracles. Still, I don’t regret spending a bit extra for the peace of mind.
