I am a novice when it comes to roofing, and need to replace my roof in Michigan. My contractor is recommending GAF-Elk Timberline shingles. However, there is the choice of 30, 40 or lifetime shingles. For the size of our house, the difference between 30 to 40 year shingles is roughly $400, with an additional $400 to go from 40 to lifetime. Some friends have said these longer life shingles are not worth the additional cost. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Choose the higher warranty shingle for a thicker look or for wind resistance, not for the warranty.

The higher warrantied shingles do look better, a thicker more textured appearance.
Sometimes if you want a specific color it is only available in the higher warrantied shingles.
This is usually just a slight variation of the colors available in the 30 yr variety.

The higher warrantied shingles are more wind resistant due to the added thickness.

We install many sqs of Certainteed Landmark 30's on homes overlooking Grand Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan all the time with no blow offs.
I doubt you need a heavier shingle for wind resistance unless maybe you are located on the Straits of Mackinac.

So in a nutshell, choose your shingle for the look you desire, not the warranty.

Where are you located?
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Axiom:

Thank you for the reply. I am located in Northville.

Always selecting higher warranty shingle Clever choice.
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-Axiom- wrote:

Choose the higher warranty shingle for a thicker look or for wind resistance, not for the warranty. The higher warrantied shingles do look better, a thicker more textured appearance. Sometimes if you want a specific color it is only available in the higher warrantied shingles. This is usually just a slight variation of the colors available in the 30 yr variety. The higher warrantied shingles are more wind resistant due to the added thickness. We install many sqs of Certainteed Landmark 30's on homes overlooking Grand Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan all the time with no blow offs. I doubt you need a heavier shingle for wind resistance unless maybe you are located on the Straits of Mackinac. So in a nutshell, choose your shingle for the look you desire, not the warranty.

Excellent response...

I tell home owners with steep roofs that selecting a lifetime shingle will do more for the homes astetics than putting a lifetime shingle on a low pitch roof. Of course we put lifetime shingles on all roofs but feel better about it on steep roofs since you can really see the shingle.

Most lifetime shingles have colors only available in that line so the idea of a one of kind shingle in a neighborhood is a good selling point.

A few weeks ago we put Landmark TL's on a 4/12 roof. The roof turned out very nicely as they went from medium shakes. If they would have gone with a 30 year laminate or even a 40 year it would have been boring.

The Landmark 30 is a great shingle too and will get many years of useful life out of it.

Make sure you hire a contractor who is a Master Elite with the GAF program or a Shingle Master company with Certainteed. They will be able to offer you better warranties than standard for very little money. Just because they are factory certified does not mean they are high quality roofers.

I've done roofs in neighborhoods that require a shingle that weighs a minimal of 300 pounds per square. These home owners have no choice in upgrading!

all i cad do is 2nd the roofers above thay know what thay ar talking about. we are a shingle master co . always offer upgrades the wind is use swift starter 6 nails per shingle and shadow ridge ridge cap. we always recamend starting out with at least 30 year shingle.

What? Roofmax, u been sniffing your buggy fumes J/k

I seldom recommend a lifetime shingle other than for aesthetics. Like others stated, if its a very visible roof and looks are top priority then I'd consider it.

Not to open a can of worms, but I am becoming more convinced that the thicker shingles absorb and hold more heat and therefor have reduced life spans. In thicker I mean anything beyond a forty year dimensional.
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hmmm..never thought of it that way...i put a many lifetimes on before but now im 36 and its gonna be a while to test that theory.........i like the way you think!!