That's actually a good tip about checking the bundle weight—I hadn't thought to look at that before. Makes sense though, since less asphalt probably means thinner shingles and quicker wear. I recently helped my brother-in-law redo his roof, and we noticed some of the new shingles felt noticeably lighter than the old ones we pulled off. We didn't weigh them or anything, but you could just feel the difference holding them side by side.
Also, I've been wondering if installation methods might play a bigger role than we realize. Like, maybe the newer shingles are more sensitive to improper nailing or spacing? When we did his roof, we were careful to follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly—spacing nails evenly, not driving them too deep, etc. It's only been a couple years, so too soon to tell if it'll help durability-wise, but fingers crossed. Either way, it definitely seems like roofs these days need a lot more attention to detail than they used to.
I get why people might think shingles have gotten lighter or lower quality, but honestly, I'm not convinced that's the main issue. Yeah, materials do matter, but from what I've seen, installation is a much bigger factor than most realize. I've managed properties for years now, and whenever we've had premature roof issues, it usually came down to how the shingles were put on, not necessarily their weight or thickness.
For example, we had one property where the shingles were supposedly "top-of-the-line," heavy-duty, all that good stuff. But within five years, we had leaks popping up everywhere. When we finally got a reliable roofer up there to look, he pointed out that the original installers had nailed way too high above the nail line. And apparently, if you nail too high or too deep, it compromises the integrity of the shingle no matter how thick it is. So even the "good stuff" can fail fast if it's done wrong.
On the flip side, I've seen roofs with pretty average-quality shingles last 15-20 years without any major issues simply because the crew knew exactly what they were doing. Proper ventilation is another big one—if your attic isn't ventilated correctly, your shingles basically cook themselves from underneath, and it doesn't matter how thick or heavy they are.
Also, I wonder if we're noticing roofs wearing out faster these days partly because we're paying more attention to them? Seems like everyone is hyper-aware of home maintenance now, thanks to all these DIY shows and YouTube tutorials. Maybe roofs always wore out quicker than we thought, but people just didn't notice as much back then unless it was really obvious...
Anyway, I wouldn't dismiss the importance of shingle weight entirely, but I'd argue installation and attic ventilation probably deserve more attention overall.
You know, I was pretty convinced shingles had just gotten cheaper and thinner these days, but your point about installation really hits home.
"Proper ventilation is another big one—if your attic isn't ventilated correctly, your shingles basically cook themselves from underneath..."
This right here. I learned that lesson the hard way. Had a roof redone about 8 years ago—went with mid-range shingles because, well, budgets are real. But within 4 years, I had curling edges and weird discoloration. I was ready to blame the shingles until a friend pointed out my attic ventilation was basically non-existent. Once I added some proper vents, things stabilized, and the shingles haven't gotten worse.
Still, I do think some shingles these days aren't as robust as they used to be... manufacturers cutting corners wouldn't exactly shock me. But yeah, installation and ventilation probably deserve way more credit (or blame) than most of us give them. Guess it's easier to blame the product than admit we might've hired the wrong crew or overlooked something important...
I'm not entirely sold on the idea that shingles themselves have gotten worse. I've seen older roofs fail prematurely too—usually due to overlooked issues underneath like moisture barriers or flashing. I think what's changed is our expectations: we want affordable shingles to last forever without much upkeep. Realistically, even decent shingles need proper installation and regular checks. Maybe we're just noticing shortcuts more now because we're paying closer attention...
You make a solid point about installation and expectations, but honestly, I think there's more to it. I've been installing roofs for about 20 years now, and from what I've seen, the quality of shingles has dipped a bit—not dramatically, but enough to notice. Manufacturers have tweaked their formulas over time to cut costs or meet environmental standards, and not always for the better.
Sure, proper installation is key (can't stress that enough), but even perfectly installed shingles today seem more prone to granule loss or curling earlier than they used to. I've replaced roofs that were barely a decade old and installed by reputable crews, yet still failing prematurely. It's frustrating.
Bottom line: yes, people might expect too much from budget shingles, but we also can't ignore that some materials genuinely aren't as robust as they once were. Regular checks and maintenance help, but sometimes the shingles themselves just aren't up to snuff anymore...
