Yeah, recessed lights are notorious for that. I've seen plenty of homes where folks jump straight to blaming the roof or ventilation when it's actually insulation gaps causing the trouble. Another sneaky spot to check is around attic hatches—those can leak air like crazy if they're not sealed properly. Always worth double-checking before dropping serious cash on premium shingles like CertainTeed... learned that one the hard way myself.
"Another sneaky spot to check is around attic hatches—those can leak air like crazy if they're not sealed properly."
Good point about attic hatches. In my inspections, I've often found homeowners surprised by how much heat loss occurs through those overlooked spaces. Before budgeting for CertainTeed shingles—or any premium roofing system—it's wise to thoroughly assess your home's insulation and air sealing first. Roof upgrades alone won't fully address underlying thermal issues, and you might end up spending more than necessary. Better insulation often offers quicker returns on investment... just my two cents from experience.
That's a solid point about insulation and air sealing. Reminds me of a job I did a couple years back—homeowner was dead set on getting the best shingles money could buy, convinced it'd solve their heating issues. When we got up in the attic, though, it was like stepping into a freezer. Turns out their insulation was barely there, and the attic hatch was basically just a plywood board loosely sitting on the frame. You could literally feel the cold air pouring down into the hallway below.
We ended up pausing the roofing project for a bit to get insulation sorted first. After sealing up that hatch properly and beefing up the insulation, they noticed an immediate difference in comfort and energy bills—even before we touched the roof itself. Made me wonder how many folks jump straight to premium shingles without realizing they're losing heat elsewhere.
Speaking of overlooked spots, another sneaky area I've seen is around recessed lighting fixtures. Some older homes have fixtures that aren't airtight, and they can leak a surprising amount of conditioned air into the attic space. Had one homeowner who couldn't figure out why their upstairs bedrooms were always chilly, even after upgrading windows and roofing. Turned out those recessed lights were basically acting like little chimneys, pulling warm air right out of the rooms.
Makes me curious—has anyone else here found unexpected air leaks or insulation gaps in places you'd never think to check? Seems like every house has its quirks...
Had a similar experience with recessed lighting myself. Worked on a project where the homeowner had upgraded everything—windows, doors, even added high-end shingles—but still felt drafts upstairs. When we finally checked the attic, turns out those recessed lights were unsealed and letting warm air escape constantly. After sealing them up and adding proper insulation covers, the difference was night and day. Always worth checking spots like that before diving into premium roofing products...
"Always worth checking spots like that before diving into premium roofing products..."
Good point about checking recessed lights—definitely overlooked spots like that myself. But honestly, sometimes the premium roofing products do make sense, even if you haven't solved every insulation issue yet. When we bought our first place, we had drafts upstairs too. We sealed up the attic and insulated everything properly, but still noticed a big difference after upgrading to a higher-quality shingle. The thicker shingles seemed to help cut down on noise and improved overall comfort upstairs, especially during storms or windy days.
Not saying you shouldn't tackle insulation first—because you absolutely should—but I wouldn't completely dismiss investing in a better roof either. Sometimes it's not just about drafts; it's also about durability, noise reduction, and long-term peace of mind. Just my two cents from recent experience...
