I've seen this a lot lately—shingles just don't seem to hold up like they used to. Had a client recently whose roof was barely 7 years old, ventilation checked out fine, but the shingles were already shedding granules like crazy. Honestly, I think manufacturers are cutting corners these days...
I've noticed something similar, but I'm not totally convinced it's just manufacturers cutting corners. Had a house inspection last month—roof was only about 8 years old, and the shingles looked like they'd been through a hurricane. But here's the kicker: the neighbor's roof, same brand, same installer, same age, looked almost brand new. Go figure, right?
Makes me wonder if it's more about inconsistent quality control rather than deliberate corner-cutting. Or maybe it's just luck of the draw with batches of shingles these days. I mean, I've seen roofs from the '90s still holding strong, and others from just a few years ago practically bald. Could be a combo of materials, installation, and even local weather patterns.
Either way, it's frustrating for homeowners. You'd think with all the tech advancements, we'd be getting better roofs, not worse...
"Makes me wonder if it's more about inconsistent quality control rather than deliberate corner-cutting."
Yeah, I'm leaning towards that theory too. A few years back, my brother and I replaced our roofs at the same time—same shingles, same crew, everything. Fast forward to now, mine looks like it's aging gracefully (knock on wood), while his is already starting to curl and fade. Seems like a lottery sometimes...maybe manufacturers are just getting sloppy with batch consistency? Either way, it's annoying to shell out thousands and hope you get lucky.
I've seen similar situations, and honestly, batch inconsistency could definitely be part of it. But there's another angle worth considering—installation nuances. Even with the same crew, small variations in installation technique or even weather conditions on the day of installation can significantly impact how shingles age. Slight differences in ventilation or attic insulation can also cause shingles to degrade faster from underneath, making them curl or fade prematurely.
That said, I wouldn't entirely rule out manufacturers getting lax with QC either. I've noticed more complaints popping up online about shingles failing way before their warranty periods. Makes you wonder if companies are rushing production to meet demand without keeping an eye on quality.
Have you checked if your brother's attic ventilation setup is identical to yours? Sometimes minor differences there can make a surprising difference in longevity...
Good points, especially about ventilation. I've seen plenty of roofs fail early because the attic was trapping moisture or heat. Also, don't underestimate the impact of extreme weather events lately—storms seem harsher and more frequent, which can really accelerate wear and tear...
