- Noticed the same thing—bundles feel lighter, but shingles don’t seem much thinner.
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— Agreed, but I’ve seen some with less granule coverage lately.“the shingles themselves didn’t feel much flimsier than usual”
- Could be a bit less asphalt or just tighter packing. Hard to tell without cutting one open.
- Wouldn’t hurt to weigh an old vs new bundle if you’ve got both. Sometimes it’s subtle changes that add up over time.
I’ve been looking at bundles side by side since I started this project, and yeah, the new ones definitely feel lighter. The weird part is, the shingles don’t look much different at first glance—maybe a tad less grit, like you said. I actually cut one open just to see, and the layers seemed a bit thinner, but not dramatically so. My guess is they’re shaving off a tiny bit here and there to save on materials. I’d be curious if weight loss actually impacts how long they last, or if it’s just cosmetic.
My guess is they’re shaving off a tiny bit here and there to save on materials. I’d be curious if weight loss actually impacts how long they last, or if it’s just cosmetic.
I’ve noticed the same thing—bundles feel lighter than what I remember from a few years ago. It’s hard not to wonder if it’s just a cost-saving move. My last roof lasted 18 years before any issues, but I’m skeptical these newer, thinner shingles will hold up as well, especially with the wind we get here. Still, sometimes changes like this don’t show real effects until years down the line... so I guess time will tell. Good catch on checking the layers, by the way.
Yeah, I’ve been scratching my head over this too. Last time I had a crew up on one of my buildings, they joked the bundles felt like “diet shingles.” Not sure if it’s just in my head, but they do seem flimsier than what we used to get. I’m in a windy spot too, so I’m half-expecting to see more tabs lifting after storms. Anyone actually seen warranty claims go up with these lighter bundles, or is it just us being paranoid?
I get what you’re saying, but honestly, I haven’t noticed much difference in performance on my place. We had a nasty windstorm last fall—gusts over 50 mph—and the new shingles held up just fine. Maybe it’s a brand thing? Or just luck, who knows. I do think they feel lighter when you pick up a bundle, but so far, no more warranty calls than usual. Could be we’re just used to the old heavy stuff and anything new feels off.