Roof Warranty Comparison: Owens Corning Vs CertainTeed

Having your roof replaced is a significant project, so you’ll definitely want to get the best value from your new roof that you can. 

That means, in addition to things like hiring an expert roofing contractor and selecting high-quality shingles, you’ll also want to consider the manufacturer’s warranty options available when picking a specific shingle brand. These manufacturer warranties provide additional protection that goes above and beyond the 50-year warranty you’ll get from Schoenherr Roofing. 

Manufacturer warranties vary pretty significantly from one brand to the next. Many budget-priced shingle brands provide warranties that offer a small amount of protection, but the leading shingle brands often offer pretty comprehensive coverage, which helps increase the overall value of their products quite a bit. 

We’ll examine the warranties of two premium shingle brands — Owens Corning and CertainTeed — to illustrate this and help you determine which one offers the most value for your roofing project. 

The Basics: What Kinds of Things Do Shingle Warranties Cover?

Every shingle manufacturer’s warranty is different, so it’s always important to review the terms and conditions of a given warranty carefully before you make your decision. But with that said, most manufacturers’ warranties cover:

• Material Defects: If the shingles (and in some cases, the other associated materials, such as underlayment or flashing) are defective in any way, most manufacturer warranties will replace them at no cost to you — at least for some period of time. 
• Workmanship Problems: Some warranties will also cover any damage caused by improper shingle installation. If, for example, you selected a low-quality contractor who didn’t attach the shingles securely to your roof, and several shingles blow off in a storm, the warranty may cover the costs associated with replacement. 

In most cases, these warranties are primarily designed to protect homeowners from material defects or installation problems. They’re not intended to cover damage caused by external events. 

So, the following kinds of things would usually be covered: 

• Premature cracking, curling, or blistering
• Rapid granule loss (some loss is expected over time) 
• Shingles that don’t seal properly
• Loss of algae resistance (if applicable and within the time frame defined by the warranty)

Conversely, you usually will not be protected if the shingles are damaged by:

• Hail, hurricanes, tornadoes, or other kinds of storm damage
• Falling trees or limbs
• Foot traffic on the roof
• Accidental damage by homeowners or contractors working on the roof
• Ice dams or standing water
• Roof deck issues (shifting, etc.)
• Inadequate attic ventilation
• “Acts of God”

Some shingles are also guaranteed to withstand winds of a defined speed.  For example, Atlas StormMaster Shingles are designed to withstand winds of up to 150 miles per hour when properly installed. 

Comparing Warranties: Owens Corning vs CertainTeed

Now that you understand the basic types of things shingle warranties cover, we can examine the specific details of the warranties offered by Owens Corning and CertainTeed. 

Owens Corning Warranties

When you purchase Owens Corning shingles, you’re automatically entitled to their standard Limited Lifetime Warranty. But there are also optional warranty upgrades available. 

The Owens Corning Limited Lifetime Warranty

The Limited Lifetime Warranty covers:

• Cracking, granule loss, blistering, and other shingle defects
• Damage from winds up to 110 or 130 mph, depending on the specific shingles purchased (if installed correctly)
• Algae resistance, if your shingles include resistant coatings

The first 10 years of the Limited Lifetime Warranty fall under Owens Corning’s TRU PROtection Period, meaning that all of the material and labor costs are covered. Once this period has lapsed, coverage becomes prorated. This warranty is transferable within 60 days of selling your home, meaning that the new homeowner will be covered. 

Optional, Upgraded Warranties from Owens Corning

In addition to this standard warranty, you can purchase your choice of three additional warranties. 

However, to qualify for these warranties, you must install a complete Owens Corning Roofing System, consisting of shingles, starter shingles, underlayment, ventilation, and ridge caps, and you must have the roof installed by a certified Owens Corning contractor — like the professionals at Schoenherr Roofing (we’re actually a Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor). 

• System Protection Limited Warranty
  • Extends the TRU PROtection period to 50 years
  • Covers more components (not just the shingles)
  • Covers labor to remove and replace defective parts
  • Still prorated after year 50
  • Workmanship is not covered
• Preferred Protection Warranty
  • Everything in the System Protection Limited Warranty
  • Workmanship coverage for up to 10 years
  • Tear-off and disposal cost
• Platinum Protection Warranty
  • Everything in the System Protection and Preferred Protection Warranties
  • Lifetime workmanship coverage
  • Covers errors in installation

CertainTeed Warranties

As with Owens Corning Shingles, all CertainTeed Shingles are backed by the manufacturer’s SureStart Limited Warranty. 

The CertainTeed SureStart Warranty 

The CertainTeed SureStart Warranty covers:

• Cracking, premature wear, granule loss and other manufacturing  
• Labor and materials for the SureStart period
• Damage from winds up to 110 or 130 mph, depending on the specific shingles purchased (if installed correctly)
• Algae resistance, if you buy algae-resistant shingles 

The first 10 years of the SureStart Warranty provide complete coverage, but the coverage becomes prorated after this time. The warranty can be transferred to a new homeowner once within 10 years of installation. 

Optional, Upgraded Warranties from CertainTeed

Like Owens Corning, CertainTeed also offers additional warranty options. 

And once again, you’ll have to meet key criteria to be eligible for these warranties. For example, you must install a CertainTeed Integrity Roof System, which includes shingles, starter shingles, underlayment, ventilation, and ridge caps, and you must have the roof installed by a CertainTeed Credentialed Contractor, like Schoenherr Roofing (we have the CertainTeed ShingleMaster certification).   

• 3-Star Warranty
  • 20 years of non-prorated protection
  • Covers shingles, CertainTeed accessories, labor, and tear-off costs (but not disposal costs)
  • Workmanship is not covered
• 4-Star Warranty
  • Everything in 3-Star Warranty
  • Disposal costs covered (not just tear-off)
  • Workmanship is not covered
• 5-Star Warranty 
  • Everything in 3-Star and 4-Star Warranties
  • 25 years of workmanship coverage for installation errors
  • Covers materials, tear-off, labor, and disposal
  • This warranty is transferable once within the first 15 years

Owens Corning vs CertainTeed: Bottom Line Warranty Comparison

As you can likely tell, the warranties offered by both of these companies — including the standard, included warranties and the optional upgrades — are quite robust and offer a ton of protection. Most homeowners will be well-served with either option. 

With that said, there are a few key differences, which we’ll outline below. 

But first, let’s take a look at their similarities. Both manufacturer warranties:

• Manufacturing defects in the shingles  
• Wind damage, usually up to 110 or 130 miles per hour
• Algae resistance when appropriate
• Labor costs during the initial non-prorated period
• Material costs for replacement shingles
• Tear-off and disposal costs in upgraded warranties
• Workmanship errors in top-tier upgraded warranties
• Transferability 
• Extended coverage for full roofing systems   

Now for the key differences:

• Owens Corning provides lifetime workmanship coverage with their Platinum Protection package, while CertainTeed provides only 25 years of workmanship coverage with their 5-Star SureStart Plus package. 
• Owens Corning provides up to 50 years of non-prorated material coverage with System Protection level warranties (or higher), while CertainTeed only provides 20 years of non-prorated material coverage with their SureStart PLUS tiers.  
• Owens Corning names their warranty tiers (System, Preferred, and Platinum), while CertainTeed uses a star-based system (3-Star, 4-Star, and 5-Star).
• Owens Corning provides more bundled options, with higher tiers automatically including more benefits, while CertainTeed warranties are more customizable, with benefits spread across separate tiers. 

The biggest difference is that the Owens Corning warranty offers longer lasting protection, while the CertainTeed warranty can be transferred for longer. So, while both warranties are quite impressive, Owens Corning may be the better option for homeowners who intend to stay in their home for a long period of time, while CertainTeed may be more attractive for homeowners who may sell their home in the next few years.  

Protect Your Warranty; Choose the Roofing Experts at Schoenherr Roofing!

It’s important to note that whichever shingle brand you choose, improper installation may void your warranty, leaving you unprotected. That’s why homeowners should always work with a roofing contractor with plenty of experience, the expertise to carry out the work, and a rock-solid reputation.

That’s exactly what you get when you rely on the professionals at Schoenherr Roofing! We’ve been providing roofing services for more than 30 years. During that time, we’ve made a name for ourselves as the preferred choice for Michigan homeowners. Schedule a consultation or request a free estimate here.