I am in the process of having my roof replaced. I signed a written contract for the installation of GAF/Elk Timberline Prestique HD 30 in charcoal.

The installation of my new roof began last week. I went out of town Friday for a long weekend, and the crew was finishing up laying the OSB and roofing felt. I get back late Sunday, and probably 50% of the shingles are down, and the shingles on my roof are Owens Corning Duration in Onyx Black. Obviously, this is not the specific shingle I contracted for and I am pretty pissed. I am going to call the contractor first thing Monday morning to find out WTF happened.

My question for the experts here is how pissed should I be? Is there any quality difference between the GAF/Elk Timberline Prestique HD 30 and the OC Duration? In terms of appearance, is there a big difference between the two? Finally, I tried to look at prices between these shingles online and couldn't find any. Can anyone tell me what the price difference is? If the OC is cheaper in price, then that will be my starting point for deducting from my final payment for this F up!! Appreciate the info.

Asking the difference of what we think between the shingles wont get you far. I won't put down any OC and only GAF. Most will say opposite. Its like a thin between Chevy and Ford, they are just peoples opinions. Is the quality really that different? I doubt it. The price is also near the same. His contract may very well say that a substitute shingle of equal quality and value may be used if contracted shingle is out of stock.

If it doesn't and the contract specifically states the GAF shingles and you want them on there, tell them you arent paying him until he removes the improper shingles and puts the agreed ones on.

first of all, why in the world is it taking so long to do your roof? is it huge and steep?

second, im with Bam, and dont use OC unless a customer requests it. I wont use CT either. GAF and Tamko are the only shingles i push these days.
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I am tearing off owens corning duration right now. They are 10 yrs old and shot.
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Bam is right, I think that the difference between shingles is kind of a moot point. However, if the contractor specified GAF and thats what you want, then make him pull them down and put the right ones up. Some contractors do this but I don't know why. It can create unhappy customers(case in point). It just makes the customer wonder what else you might be trying to slide by him.

rooferjosh wrote:

I am tearing off owens corning duration right now. They are 10 yrs old and shot.

They must be oakridges, Durations haven't even been out 5 years yet.


IMO, Durations are just as good as Prestiques, but if you paid for Prestiques that is what you should get.
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Thanks for the info. I am going to call this morning on this. I am a reasonable guy, and if the shingle is comparable to the GAF, I can probably live with it. I may deduct some off my final payment though. Dude should have at least called me if there was a problem getting the GAF shingle. Even if there was, he should of known this before he tore my old roof off.

We pay $3.00 per square more for OC Duration than we do for GAF Prestique. It may be and honest mistake. I have had the wrong shingle delivered from our supplier and the roofers would never know. Since that happened I always have the material checked out before installation.
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Agreeing with most of what's being said here; IMO, the biggest concern is that your contractor (or sales rep, more likely) didn't communicate with you that there was going to be a product change & get your OK about it.

Heck, since it's running long there's a possibility that he was hoping the black shingles would be fully installed before you got back into town & you would have never known.

Some contractors have manufacturer's discounts & that prices them lower through the supply house than most other products, so it's possible he got them through this arrangement.

Then again, the contractor might have gotten an 'old stock, let's move it' sale price.
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Be thankfull he didnt put them on.
Here Owens Corning cost more than GAF/ELK. And they should.

If you are okay with the change as far as looks (not in the manner he went about it). Maybe take the wife out for a nice dinner and deduct the amount from the bill? That is how I would go about it.

I've use landmarks becuase I trust them and I like to work with it the best. I have seen defects in alot of differant shingle types. Holding a shingle in my hand and predicting if it is good or bad is a skill I have not learned yet.