The roof of your house is one of the first things someone notices when strolling or driving past. It contributes significantly to the overall curb appeal of your property and protects it from the elements such as hail, snow, rain, wind, and more. What alternatives do you have if your roof has to be repaired, but your roofer informs you that the shingles on your property have been discontinued?
You want your roof to appear good and unified. While this is true, it is also critical that you have repairs completed as soon as feasible. Continue reading for a few things to consider while having your roof fixed if your shingles have been discontinued.
Your policy and your insurance company determine how discontinued shingles are handled
How a damaged roof will be handled depends on how your policy is worded and the internal rules of your insurance provider. If the current shingles have been discontinued, the finest insurance companies and plans frequently cover the replacement of all shingles as long as the damage is significant enough to call for replacement across a sizable region. Although there isn’t a single standard for defining “substantial,” the more damaged an area is, the more likely the insurance company will agree to a full replacement.
What the insurance provider will cover might also depend on the language of your policy. For instance, some policies specify that just the damaged plane is covered or that only repairs will be made. Other policies only allow for a single layer of current shingles to be removed for payment, regardless of whether this is against local building regulations. Most plans specify that they will pay for replacement “like with like,” which means that the insurance company must pay for as feasible as the current shingles. For instance, the business cannot request that the new shingles be one-dimensional three-tab shingles with a 20-year guarantee if the present shingles are 30-year architectural shingles.
Tips for Handling Damage to Discontinued Shingles
The first step is asking a trustworthy, skilled roof contractor to evaluate your roof. Before calling your insurance provider, you should complete this. In addition to knowing whether similar or nearly identical shingles are available under a different color or product name, knowledgeable contractors know that discontinued colors or shingles may still be in the manufacturer’s inventory. Carefully read your policy, especially the small print. Understanding what the roofing contractor says will be simpler for you to comprehend the more you are aware of your coverage. You may use your expertise to assess if contractors and adjusters are being truthful with you. Typically, roofing contractors may inquire as to his availability to be there when the adjuster appointed by your insurance provider conducts his inspection. For instance, your contractor might be able to highlight the damage the adjuster might miss or clarify why choosing repairs over replacement may cost more in the long term.
What if I have Atlas Chalet Shingles?
From the 1990s through the beginning of the 2000s, these shingles were quite popular. Why is shingle so well-liked? Atlas Chalet gained popularity mainly because it was a cost-effective alternative that seemed to be a high-quality architectural shingle. Naturally, everyone sought to improve their homes with expensive-looking shingles while spending less money. However, you got what you paid for with Atlas Chalet shingles. Later, it was discovered that they were susceptible to damage and tended to shatter in hot weather, producing gas bubbles when exposed to moisture. The problem with these shingles being discontinued is that you can’t just replace a few shingles because they are no longer available, even if unrelated damage necessitates partial shingle replacement. Instead, you must purchase a completely new roof, which is not cost-effective.
What if I Have Certainteed Horizon Shingles?
From 1987 through 1996, CertainTeed Horizon shingles were the most popular. The fact that these shingles were made of organic materials contributed to their appeal to homeowners. Don’t you think that sounds fantastic? Not exactly! Because the shingles were organic, they degraded significantly more quickly than conventional shingles and frequently experienced heat blistering. Additional flaws include:
Cracking: Heat is frequently to blame for cracking.
Fishmouthing: Shingles that curl up to resemble a fish’s mouth are said to be “fish mouthing.”
Degranulating: When this happens, the granules in the roof shingles fall off, making the shingles less waterproof and perhaps making your roof a suitable habitat for algae.
Premature deterioration: this describes widespread harm brought on by natural events.
It might be challenging to distinguish between thermal blistering and hail/storm damage when it comes to insurance claims for roof damage. As a result, claims for CertainTeed Horizon shingles are commonly rejected by insurance providers.
Here is a list of all the discontinued shingles:
All Bird (1998), GS (1999), and Celotex (2000) shingles were discontinued
The following CertainTeed organic asphalt shingles were discontinued:
- Hallmark – discontinued end of 2003
- Independence – discontinued end of 1996
- Horizon – discontinued end of 1996
- Custom Sealdon 25 – discontinued end of 1994
- Custom Sealdon 30 – discontinued end of 2004
- Sealdon 20 – discontinued end of 1994
- Sealdon 25 – discontinued end of 2005
- Hearthstead – discontinued end of 2005
- Solid Slab – discontinued end of 1999
- Master Slab – discontinued end of 1995
- Custom Saf-T-Lok/Saf-T-Lok – discontinued end of 1992
- Custom Lok 25 – discontinued end of 2005
- Firehalt – discontinued end of 2003
- Centennial Slate – discontinued in 2010
- Landmark TL Impact Resistant – discontinued in 2012
- Landmark Plus – discontinued in 2012
- Hatteras – discontinued end of 2016
- Independence – discontinued end of 2017
- Symphony – discontinued June 2018
- Patriot (single layer, one-piece) – discontinued end of 2017 in the following regions:
- Southwest/South Central/North Central/Northeast/Southeast/South
- Atlantic/South Central
- All regions (except WA / OR markets) – January 2021
- Arcadia – discontinued January 2020
- CT20 – discontinued January 2021
- Landmark IR – discontinued January 2021
- XT-30 IR – discontinued January 2021
- Matterhorn Metal Roofing – discontinued December 2020
Do you need a patch or a more extensive repair?
The more extensive the damage to your roof, the more probable you will end up with a brand-new, unified roof with identical-colored shingles. Even though no one wants to cope with a completely damaged roof, your insurance provider is far more likely to pay for discontinued shingles if the damage is more severe. If all your roof requires is a minor patch, you might have to put in a little more effort to come up with a fix that doesn’t make your roof seem patch-worked. You’ll probably need to talk to your insurance provider about the amount of coverage they give for repairs and whether the policy includes provisions for your home’s external value or curb appeal.
Find a match with the help of a roofer
Your best chance is to speak with your roofer if, in the end, you only need a patch or if your insurance company won’t assist you in making sure your complete roof is fixed with new shingles. You can speak with a few highly-rated local professionals to identify the roofer that can provide you with the greatest shingle match if you don’t already have one. Given the variety of roofing brands, hues, and colors available, at least one contractor you speak with should be able to locate a replacement for your old roof shingles. Repairing a hole or damaged area of your roof is more vital than having a completely matched roof, even though this may not be the ideal answer. Your roof performs its job if it safeguards your property and keeps the elements out. Until you’re ready to rebuild your roof, the patch will keep your roof functioning as it should. Then, just a little farther down the road, you’ll receive the lovely-looking roof you were hoping for.