I've actually installed SureNail shingles on my own roof last summer, and honestly, it wasn't too bad. I'm just a DIYer, not a pro or anything, but here's how it went for me...
First off, the strip definitely helps line things up neatly—less guesswork when you're nailing them down. I wouldn't say it dramatically sped things up (still gotta haul those heavy bundles around, lol), but it did make the process smoother overall. A buddy of mine helped out, and even he mentioned how much easier it was to keep everything straight.
As for durability, we've had a couple of pretty nasty windstorms since then, and so far nothing's budged. I mean, fingers crossed and knock on wood and all that... but I'm feeling pretty confident about them holding up.
Long story short: if you're thinking about trying these shingles yourself, they're DIY-friendly enough to tackle without too much stress. Just make sure you have plenty of snacks and cold drinks handy—roofing is thirsty work!
Pretty much matches my experience. I was skeptical at first—thought the SureNail strip might just be marketing fluff—but it genuinely made alignment easier. One thing I'd add: make sure you have a good pair of knee pads or a foam pad to kneel on. Learned that the hard way after day one... knees were killing me. Durability-wise, no complaints yet, but we'll see how they look after a couple winters.
"Durability-wise, no complaints yet, but we'll see how they look after a couple winters."
Yeah, alignment was straightforward, but honestly, I'm not entirely sold on the SureNail strips long-term. Had some shingles with similar tech before, and after a few harsh winters, edges started lifting slightly. Could've been installation error though... we'll see.
"Had some shingles with similar tech before, and after a few harsh winters, edges started lifting slightly. Could've been installation error though... we'll see."
Yeah, I had a similar experience at one of our properties a couple years back. We went with shingles that had those reinforced nail strips—can't remember if they were SureNail specifically, but same general idea. Installation seemed solid at first, alignment was spot-on, and the crew was reputable. But after about three winters (and we're talking Midwest winters here—heavy snow, ice dams, the whole nine yards), we started noticing some slight curling at the edges. Nothing catastrophic, but enough to make me wonder.
We had our roofing contractor come back out to take a look, and he mentioned that sometimes the adhesive strips don't fully bond if they're installed in colder weather or if there's dust/debris on the shingles during installation. He also pointed out that attic ventilation plays a bigger role than most people realize—poor ventilation can cause uneven temperature distribution and moisture buildup underneath, which can accelerate shingle wear and curling.
Anyway, we ended up adding some extra ventilation (ridge vents and soffit vents) and replaced just the worst-affected shingles. Since then, it's been holding up pretty well. Not perfect, but definitely better.
So yeah... it could've been installation-related or even ventilation issues rather than the SureNail strips themselves. I'd say keep an eye on it over the next couple winters and maybe check your attic ventilation situation if you start seeing any early signs of lifting or curling.
Had a few inspections where I've seen similar issues pop up. Agree with your contractor about attic ventilation—it's a bigger factor than most homeowners realize.
Couple quick points from experience:
- Adhesive strips definitely struggle to bond fully when installed in colder temps or if there's any dust/debris on the shingles.
- Sometimes, even reputable crews rush things if they're working late in the season or trying to beat incoming weather.
- Ice dams and repeated freeze-thaw cycles are rough on edges, especially if ventilation isn't optimal.
- Seen cases where adding ridge vents and improving soffit airflow made a noticeable difference in shingle lifespan.
"Poor ventilation can cause uneven temperature distribution and moisture buildup underneath..."
Exactly this. Often when I'm assessing storm damage, it's not just the storm itself but underlying ventilation issues making things worse. I'd keep an eye on those shingles next winter—if you start seeing more curling or lifting, definitely check your attic airflow before blaming the shingle tech outright.
