Also, does anyone bother with those “storage guidelines” they print on the wrappers? I feel like nobody reads them, but maybe I’m wrong...
Honestly, I think you’re spot on—most folks just rip the plastic and get to work, but after seeing a few jobs go sideways because of warped or stuck-together bundles, I’ve started paying more attention. It’s wild how much damage a little moisture can do, and it’s almost always from sitting too long in a damp yard or getting rained on in transit.
I’ve noticed the same thing with smaller suppliers. They seem to baby their stock more, probably because they can’t afford to eat as many returns as the big box stores. Makes a difference when you’re not pulling bundles off a pallet that’s been sitting out back for weeks.
As for actual manufacturer defects, I’ve only seen one batch of shingles with weird granule loss, and even then the rep blamed storage. Hard to prove it’s the plant unless it’s something obvious like the color being totally off. Most of the time, it really does come down to how the stuff’s handled before it hits the roof.
That Tamko chicken coop story cracks me up too. Guess some habits die hard...
Most of the time, it really does come down to how the stuff’s handled before it hits the roof.
I’m not totally convinced it’s just storage though. When I had my roof done last year, we got bundles straight from the supplier, kept them dry, but still had a few with weird edges that wouldn’t lay flat. Maybe just bad luck, but I think sometimes the factory messes up too. Hard to know for sure unless you’re opening every pack right there in the yard.
I hear you, it’s not always just about how you store the shingles. When I did my roof, I had a couple bundles with corners that looked like they’d been dropped or something—straight from the supplier, too. Could be a factory thing, or maybe rough handling during shipping? Either way, it’s frustrating when you’re paying good money and still end up tossing a few pieces. I started checking the bundles before signing off on delivery after that. Not perfect, but at least you can catch the worst of it before it’s on your roof.
That’s a smart move, checking the bundles before signing off. I’ve had similar issues—sometimes it’s like the corners get mashed in transit, and you don’t notice until you’re halfway through stacking them. I started snapping a few photos of the bundles as they come off the truck, just in case there’s a dispute later. Out of curiosity, do you usually store your shingles outside for a while before installation, or do you try to get them up on the roof right away? I’ve heard some folks say leaving them out too long can mess with the adhesive strips, especially in hot weather.
I try not to leave shingles sitting out for long, especially in the summer. Had a batch get a little too warm once and the adhesive strips started sticking together—made installation a pain. If I can, I get them up on the roof the same day they arrive. Sometimes that’s not possible, but I at least keep them covered and off the ground. Weather here can be unpredictable, so I’d rather play it safe than deal with ruined bundles.
