"Maybe it's a combination of factors, but I'm not convinced quality hasn't dropped off a bit too..."
Yeah, I wondered the same thing when we moved in last year. Our roof was supposedly replaced just 7 years ago, but it already looks pretty worn. Makes me question the materials they're using these days...
I've noticed this too, actually. Inspected a house last month with shingles that were barely 5 years old, and they looked like they'd been through a midlife crisis already—faded, curling edges, the works. Makes me wonder if manufacturers are cutting corners or if weather patterns have gotten harsher lately. Maybe a bit of both? Curious if anyone's noticed differences based on brands or regions...
"Makes me wonder if manufacturers are cutting corners or if weather patterns have gotten harsher lately. Maybe a bit of both?"
Funny you mention this—I had a similar head-scratcher last summer. Got called out to a place with shingles that were supposedly rated for 25 years, but after just 7, they looked like they'd been baking in the desert sun for decades. Thing is, this was in a pretty mild climate area, nothing extreme weather-wise. The homeowner swore they'd gone with a reputable brand too.
I've started to wonder if it's less about brands and more about batches or production runs. Maybe some factories are rushing things or using cheaper materials intermittently? Or maybe it's something subtle like installation practices changing slightly over time without us noticing... I've seen roofs from the same brand and same region age completely differently, so it feels like there's more going on here than just weather or brand alone.
Definitely puzzling though—makes me curious if anyone's dug deeper into manufacturing changes lately.
I've noticed something similar lately. Had a project recently where the shingles were barely 10 years old but already showing severe granule loss and curling—no unusual weather there either. Honestly, I suspect you're onto something with batches or production runs. Manufacturing standards might be slipping subtly, or maybe quality control isn't as tight as it used to be. Definitely worth keeping an eye on this trend...
- Could be manufacturing, but honestly, installation quality has taken a dive lately too.
- Seen plenty of roofs failing early just because the installers rushed or skipped steps—poor ventilation, improper nailing patterns, stuff like that.
- Not saying batch issues aren't real, but I'd check workmanship first before blaming materials.
- Just inspected one last week: shingles looked awful at 8 years, turned out attic ventilation was nonexistent...
