Quick answer
CertainTeed is a large maker of roofing products. Thinking about a CertainTeed roof? Check four things. Check the exact shingle. Check the full set of parts. Check the roofer's current status. And check the real written warranty. The maker's own pages describe roofer levels and warranty terms in more than one way. So get your terms from the current warranty paper, not from a summary.
CertainTeed: a maker, not a roofer
CertainTeed makes shingles, vents and other roof parts. It does not put roofs on homes. Independent contractors buy and install its products. Some of these contractors hold CertainTeed credentials.
We serve homeowners across the Omaha area. This page does not claim any CertainTeed credential or affiliation. It helps you check a CertainTeed offer carefully, whoever installs it.
Check 1: the exact shingle
CertainTeed makes several shingle lines. They differ in look, thickness, weight, wind rating and, for some, impact rating. A bid should name the exact line and color, not just CertainTeed.
Ask for the product data sheet. Look at samples in daylight. Our asphalt shingles page explains wind and impact ratings in general. No shingle is hail proof, and ratings come from tests with limits.
Check 2: the full system
A roof is a system: underlayment, starter strips, the shingles, hip and ridge caps, flashing and, on a vented attic, vents. CertainTeed makes many of these parts. Some of its warranties offer more coverage when certain CertainTeed parts are used together.
Make sure the bid lists each part by name. If parts are mixed from different makers, ask how that affects the warranty. Two bids that both say CertainTeed may cover very different roofs.
| Check | What to confirm | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Shingle | The exact product line and color | The bid and the product data sheet |
| System | Which CertainTeed parts are included | The bid, line by line |
| Credential | The contractor's current level, if any is claimed | The maker's roofer status info, checked today |
| Warranty | The name and terms of the warranty you get | The real, current warranty paper |
Check 3: the contractor's current credential
The maker has a page that explains its roofer programs. These programs have levels. Higher levels may be able to offer stronger warranties.
Names have changed over time. Older papers may use the name SELECT ShingleMaster. Newer pages talk about PRO and PREMIER levels, and star levels. If a contractor claims a credential, ask which current program and level, and check it with CertainTeed. Credentials can change, so check close to the time you sign.
Check 4: the actual written warranty
This is the most important step. CertainTeed's own pages do not describe warranty terms the same way everywhere. For example, one page about warranties has listed one length of time for install coverage. A newer table lists other lengths based on the roofer's level. Those pages may be updated at different times.
Because of this, we do not quote warranty lengths or terms. Your coverage is whatever your current written warranty says. Ask for a sample of that exact warranty before you sign. After the job, get the final certificate with your name, address and product.
The FTC explains how to read warranties and what to ask. Read what is covered, what is not, how coverage may change over time, and whether it transfers if you sell.
SureStart vs. SureStart PLUS
CertainTeed uses the name SureStart for its standard early protection on many products. SureStart PLUS is a separate, enhanced warranty. It has its own terms and needs, such as certain parts and an eligible contractor.
These are not the same thing. A bid that says SureStart may not include the PLUS coverage. Ask which one you will get, and ask to see its written terms.
Work quality: who stands behind the install
Product coverage deals with defects in materials. Work quality coverage deals with how the roof was put on. Some of the maker's warranties cover some install work when a roofer with the right level does the job. Contractors may also give their own written terms.
Ask both. What does the maker's warranty cover for install work, if anything? What does the contractor cover, for how long, in writing? Keep both documents.
Registration and claims
Some warranties must be registered. Ask who will do it and when, and ask for proof. Without registration, coverage may be less than you expected.
If a problem comes up, CertainTeed's warranty claims page explains how to file. It helps to have the warranty, proof of purchase, the contractor's invoice, and photos of the roof before and after the problem. Do not climb on the roof to take them. Ask a crew for photos.
Red flags with brand claims
These are warning signs. Slow down and ask more questions if you notice one.
- A crew says they work for CertainTeed.
- A credential claim with no way to check it.
- A quoted warranty length with no written document.
- SureStart and SureStart PLUS used as if they were the same.
- A bid that names CertainTeed but does not list parts.
- Pressure to sign today to lock in a warranty.
Dark streaks and shingle choice
Many roofs in damp, shady spots get dark streaks from algae. Some shingle lines are sold with algae resistance. The details and any coverage for streaks are in the data sheet and the warranty.
If streaks matter to you, ask which lines offer that feature. Then read what the warranty says about it, and for how long.
Attic airflow
In a vented attic, warm, wet air that cannot get out can cause frost, drips and early wear. There, ask how the crew will set up intake vents low and exhaust vents high. Some attics are unvented on purpose, sealed and insulated at the roof line, and should not get vents added. Ask which kind you have and what the warranty asks for.
If you sell the house
Buyers often ask about the roof. Some warranties can pass to a new owner. Some need a form or a fee within a set time. Some cannot pass at all.
Read what your paper says. Keep it ready to give to a buyer. Ask the maker about any steps needed.
A simple plan before you sign
Take these steps in order.
- Get two or three bids that name every part.
- Line them up side by side and ask about any gaps.
- Check any roofer status claim with the maker.
- Ask for a sample of the exact warranty paper.
- Get the roofer's own work promise in writing.
- Agree on who registers the warranty and when.
Comparing two bids that use this brand
Two bids may both say CertainTeed. One may cost more. Before you choose, set them side by side.
Do they use the same shingle line? The same under-layer, starter and ridge caps? The same vents? Are both tearing off the old roof? Is bad deck wood priced the same? Is the same warranty offered, by name? Price gaps often hide in these lines.
Ask for photos during the job
Once a roof is done, most of it is hidden. Ask the crew to take photos as they go. Ask for the bare deck, any new wood, the under-layer, the ice and water sheet, flashing, vents and the ridge.
Save these with your warranty. They help if you ever need to file a claim or sell the house.
Wind and the edges
Wind lifts shingles at edges first. Wind coverage often depends on the right starter row and the right nails in the right places. Ask what the warranty says about wind and what the crew will use. Put it on the bid.
Why we do not quote warranty years
It is tempting to give a simple number. But the maker's own pages do not agree in every place. One page may be newer than another. Program names have changed. A number we print today could be wrong for you tomorrow.
So we send you to the source. Ask for the current written warranty for your exact roof. That paper, not this page and not a sales pitch, sets your terms.
Old names and new names
Roofing makers rename their programs from time to time. A roofer may still have an old sign or truck decal. An older brochure may use a past program name.
That does not mean anyone is lying. But it does mean you should ask which current level they hold today. Then check it. If the answer is unclear, ask for it in writing.
Plain-word parts list
Ask for each of these to be named on your bid.
- The deck boards: what will be done if any are bad?
- Underlayment: which product?
- Ice and water sheet: where will it go?
- Starter row: which product?
- Shingles: which line and color?
- Ridge caps: which product?
- Vents and flashing: what kind, and are they new?
Questions about the warranty paper
When you get the written warranty, look for clear answers to these.
- Which warranty is this, by name?
- Is it the standard one or an enhanced one?
- Does it pay for labor, or only for materials?
- Does coverage change after a set time?
- Is any install work covered, and by whom?
- Does it transfer if I sell the house?
- Does it need to be registered, and who does that?
If the roofer goes out of business
Roofing businesses open and close. If your roofer closes, their own work promise may end with them. A maker's warranty may still cover what it says it covers.
This is one more reason to know which coverage comes from whom. Keep the maker's certificate and the roofer's terms as two separate papers.
Papers to keep together
Put these in one folder for the life of the roof.
- The bid, with each part named.
- Proof of the contractor's credential, if claimed, checked near signing.
- A sample of the warranty before signing, and the final certificate after.
- Proof of registration.
- The contractor's own work terms.
- Photos of each layer as it went on.
Common questions
Are you a CertainTeed credentialed contractor?
This site does not claim any CertainTeed credential or affiliation. If a crew says they hold one, ask for proof and check it with CertainTeed.
How many years of work coverage will I get?
We do not quote a number. CertainTeed's own pages describe work terms differently in different places. Your terms are whatever your current written warranty says.
What is the difference between SureStart and SureStart PLUS?
SureStart is CertainTeed's standard early protection on many products. SureStart PLUS is an enhanced warranty with different terms and requirements. They are separate. Read which one you get.
Why do I see different credential names?
CertainTeed has used names like SELECT ShingleMaster in the past and newer names like PRO and PREMIER more recently. Ask which current program and level the contractor holds.
How do I file a claim?
CertainTeed has a warranty claims page that explains the steps. Keep your warranty, proof of purchase and photos.
Related help
Sources we checked
Official and standards pages we used to check facts on this page. Rules can change, so confirm with the source.