I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not totally convinced it’s all a quality control issue. Sometimes storage or handling at the supplier makes a difference—had a batch of CertainTeed that looked rough, but turned out the yard left it in the sun too long. Not saying manufacturers are perfect, but sometimes it’s more about how the product’s treated before it even gets to us.
That’s a fair point. I’ve seen bundles get warped or the color go off just from being stacked wrong or left out in the weather too long at the yard. Makes me wonder how many “bad” shingles are really just victims of poor storage, not bad manufacturing. Anybody here ever had to reject a whole order because of this? I once had to send back three pallets after they arrived looking like they’d sat through a monsoon... felt like such a waste.
Had a similar situation last summer—ordered a batch for a shed project, and when it showed up, half the bundles looked like they’d been through a spin cycle. Corners curled, colors all over the place, and some even had that weird musty smell. I was convinced at first it was just a bad run from the factory, but the delivery guy let slip they’d been sitting outside for weeks during a rainy spell. Ended up refusing the whole lot. Felt like such a waste, but I wasn’t about to slap those on my roof and hope for the best.
It does make you wonder how much blame gets put on the manufacturer when really it’s just poor handling or storage. I’ve seen guys at the yard stack pallets right under a leaky awning, then act surprised when the bottom bundles are ruined. Not sure if there’s any real way to tell until you crack them open, though. Maybe I’m just picky, but I’d rather wait than deal with warped shingles down the line...
It does make you wonder how much blame gets put on the manufacturer when really it’s just poor handling or storage.
I’ve run into this exact thing more times than I care to admit. Half the time, folks are quick to throw the brand under the bus, but honestly, it's usually the way the stuff gets stored at the yard or during delivery. Had a pallet of shingles delivered last fall—looked fine on top, but the bottom row was basically glued together from sitting in the rain. The supplier tried to tell me it was a “manufacturing defect,” but you could see the mud splatter halfway up the bundles. Not fooling anyone.
I get being picky—shingles are too expensive and too much work to mess around with warped or moldy ones. If I can, I always ask to see the bundles before they’re dropped off. Doesn’t always work, but it’s saved me a headache or two. Sometimes you just have to stand your ground and refuse the batch, even if it means waiting another week.
Funny thing about Tamko starting in a chicken coop—maybe that’s why some yards still treat their stock like barn scraps...
- Seen this a lot—blame gets tossed at the brand, but half the time it’s just bad storage at the yard or on the truck.
- Had a batch of CertainTeed last summer, looked perfect up top, but the bottom bundles were stuck together and had that musty smell. Yard guy tried to say it was a “bad run,” but you could see where water had pooled under the tarp.
- I get why folks are picky. Once you’ve had to tear off a section because of warped shingles, you don’t want to risk it again.
- I always try to check the bundles before they’re unloaded, but sometimes the driver’s in a rush or it’s already on the roof. Not much you can do at that point except hope for the best.
- Funny thing is, I’ve had better luck with smaller suppliers than the big box stores. Maybe less volume means they actually care how stuff’s stored?
- That Tamko chicken coop story cracks me up. Makes you wonder if some of these places ever moved past those barnyard habits...
- Curious—has anyone actually had a legit manufacturer defect? Like, not storage or handling, but something straight from the plant? I’ve only seen it once, and even then it was debatable.
- Also, does anyone bother with those “storage guidelines” they print on the wrappers? I feel like nobody reads them, but maybe I’m wrong...
