"Personally, I've found CertainTeed's hip and ridge shingles pretty forgiving—they seem less brittle than some others I've handled."
I've had mixed results with CertainTeed myself. They're decent, but GAF TimberTex shingles have been consistently easier to handle in colder weather—less cracking when bending. Might be worth comparing before you commit.
Yeah, I'd second the GAF TimberTex recommendation. I've found CertainTeed shingles to be decent overall, but they can sometimes be a bit unpredictable in colder temps, especially if you're working early mornings or late afternoons when the chill sets in. Last fall, we had a project that ran into November, and TimberTex shingles were noticeably easier to handle—less cracking and splitting around the bends.
One thing I noticed though... the TimberTex shingles seemed slightly thicker, which might require adjusting your nail gun pressure or hand-nailing technique a bit. Not a huge deal, but something worth keeping an eye on if you're switching brands mid-job. Also, make sure you're storing them properly beforehand—keeping them warm overnight in a garage or covered area helps immensely with flexibility, regardless of brand.
Anyway, that's just been my experience. Every job seems to have its own quirks!
Good points about the TimberTex shingles, especially the thickness issue—definitely something I've noticed too. One thing I'd add is to watch your overlap spacing carefully. I've seen a few installs where guys got a bit sloppy on spacing, and it really showed up later during inspections. And yeah, keeping shingles warm overnight is a lifesaver... learned that the hard way after cracking a few too many on a chilly morning job. Live and learn, right?
Totally agree on the overlap spacing—had a similar issue myself. I thought I was being careful, but inspection day proved otherwise... rookie mistake, I guess. Also, warming shingles overnight? Wish I'd known that sooner, would've saved me some frustration (and cracked shingles).
Warming shingles overnight can help, but honestly, I've found that just installing them during warmer parts of the day works fine. Never had issues with cracking, even without overnight warming. Maybe it's more about handling technique than temperature alone?
