Sometimes it’s less about what you buy and more about who’s putting it on your roof… or maybe that’s just my luck talking.
That hits the nail on the head. I’ve seen so many folks drop a small fortune on “top of the line” shingles or whatever, but if the crew doesn’t care or rushes through, you’re still gonna have headaches down the line. Flashing is a big one—people don’t realize how much water sneaks in around vents and chimneys if that part isn’t done right. I’ve been called out to fix leaks where the shingles themselves were still perfect, but whoever did the install left gaps around the pipe boots or just slapped some caulk and called it a day.
I had a job last year—nice house, newer neighborhood, they’d just had a full roof replacement after hail. The owner was proud of those impact-rated shingles, but when I got up there to check out a leak, I found they’d reused all the old flashing and didn’t seal anything properly. Water was running right under those fancy shingles and into the attic every time it rained sideways. The materials were solid, but shortcuts killed any benefit.
Insurance is weird too. They’ll give you a discount for “upgraded” stuff, but they’re not crawling around your attic looking for leaks two years later. It’s like getting cheaper car insurance because you bought a car with airbags, but nobody checks if you actually buckle up.
Honestly, I think good install matters more than brand most of the time. Not saying materials don’t count—cheap stuff will fail faster—but even expensive shingles can’t make up for bad workmanship. Around here (Gulf Coast), I always tell people to look at who’s doing the work as much as what they’re putting on.
Anyway, leaks around vents are super common after storms, especially if someone’s in a hurry to get jobs done fast after big weather events. Sometimes paying extra for the “best” doesn’t mean much if corners get cut where you can’t see them...
Funny thing, I’ve seen “premium” roofs leak within a year just because someone got lazy with the flashing or didn’t bother sealing around the vents. Ever notice how insurance never asks who actually did the install? They just want to see the paperwork and maybe a few photos. I always wonder how many folks out there think they’re set because of a fancy shingle, but have no clue what’s hiding under it... especially after a big storm rolls through.
Ever notice how insurance never asks who actually did the install? They just want to see the paperwork and maybe a few photos.
That’s something I’ve always found odd too. It’s almost like as long as you check the boxes, nobody cares about the actual craftsmanship. I’ve seen “lifetime” shingles fail in one season because the underlayment was skipped or the flashing was just slapped on. After a storm, you can’t always spot the damage right away either—sometimes it’s months before leaks show up. Has anyone here ever had their insurance actually send someone up on the roof, or is it always just photos and forms?
That’s a solid win. It’s wild how those small details—like extra clips or nails—can actually move the needle on insurance costs. I had a similar experience, though my inspector flagged some older underlayment that needed replacing. Didn’t expect that to matter as much as it did. Curious, did they mention anything about your roof decking or sheathing? Sometimes that gets overlooked but can be a big deal for wind mitigation credits.
