engineer2
Well-known member
Anybody get a settlement on defective Timberline shingles? Just got the letter and they want me to jump through hoops to file a claim. They always shed a lot of gravel and some are down to fiberglass after 12 years.
GAF Timberline Shingle Lawsuit
- Thread starter engineer2
- Start date
Warrenator
Well-known member
I went through that with American CemWood shingles 10 years ago. Many forms, an inspection, etc, then a check that was pro-rated for the value decrease over time so $1500. Meh. I would still do it. Don't think you're gonna get the full value of a new roof though. Good luck.
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
I got that letter too.
My GAF shingles were put up in 2000, and they had a claimed 25 year life span.
I got the letter, and everything is pro-rated. You have to take pictures of the defective area's of the roof, and send in all kinds of info like roof square footage, how many packs of shingles you used, the percentage of the area that is defective versus the entire roof area, how much you paid for the shingles, how many packs you used, and a bunch of other stuff.
Then, according to my letter, I need to have proof of purchase, which consists of either your dated receipt when it was installed, or a barcode from one of the shingle packs or they won't even look at your claim.
The funny part is, if I got the letter from them, then doesn't that mean that they have all of my information to begin with? How did they know to contact me, and know that I had their product? And if this is the case, then why do I have to provide them with the very information they seem to already have?
Anyway, I figured mine out, and with the 10 years of pro-rated life left, and figuring all the other stipulations they put on, I would get, maybe, $250.00 bucks back.
Oh yeah, and just for everyone's info, the shingles have to have come from a certain factory, and had to be manufactured between a certain span of years. I forget the actual info, but you need that as well so they can prove you bought the defective shingles.
Jim
My GAF shingles were put up in 2000, and they had a claimed 25 year life span.
I got the letter, and everything is pro-rated. You have to take pictures of the defective area's of the roof, and send in all kinds of info like roof square footage, how many packs of shingles you used, the percentage of the area that is defective versus the entire roof area, how much you paid for the shingles, how many packs you used, and a bunch of other stuff.
Then, according to my letter, I need to have proof of purchase, which consists of either your dated receipt when it was installed, or a barcode from one of the shingle packs or they won't even look at your claim.
The funny part is, if I got the letter from them, then doesn't that mean that they have all of my information to begin with? How did they know to contact me, and know that I had their product? And if this is the case, then why do I have to provide them with the very information they seem to already have?
Anyway, I figured mine out, and with the 10 years of pro-rated life left, and figuring all the other stipulations they put on, I would get, maybe, $250.00 bucks back.
Oh yeah, and just for everyone's info, the shingles have to have come from a certain factory, and had to be manufactured between a certain span of years. I forget the actual info, but you need that as well so they can prove you bought the defective shingles.
Jim
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Trey T
Well-known member
OP: Just 12yrs is premature.
Owens Corning had lawsuit, too. I received bids from contractors (5bids) to replace my roof recently and GAF (50yrs)was the most attractive; to prevent any future issue like premature wear, I bought the best warranty from GAF, basically 25yrs all inclusive for about $600 additional. My last roof lasted about 20yrs, so it made sense to buy the warranty because of where I live with drastic seasonal change.
Still waiting for GAF inspector to come out to give approval.
Owens Corning had lawsuit, too. I received bids from contractors (5bids) to replace my roof recently and GAF (50yrs)was the most attractive; to prevent any future issue like premature wear, I bought the best warranty from GAF, basically 25yrs all inclusive for about $600 additional. My last roof lasted about 20yrs, so it made sense to buy the warranty because of where I live with drastic seasonal change.
Still waiting for GAF inspector to come out to give approval.
jmiller_2308
Well-known member
Good luck with the lifetime warranty; I got suckered in by it myself.
I figured I didn't want to roof again in my life so I fell hook line and sinker for the "lifetime" shingle from GAF with the gold pledge warranty. Four years later I try to get matching shingles for my garage addition only to find out that they discontinued them. I paid through the nose to find and ship matching shingles and GAF couldn't have cared less.
When I talked with GAF I got up to a VP (bfd) and she pretty much blew me off and didn't even help me in finding shingles that might still be available. I asked what my warranty meant and what would happen if something happened that my roof need repair. Without missing a beat she said they would make an "adjustment" and "pro-rate" me for the shingles
So much for taking care of your customers or standing behind your product
I put this roof on because my Certainteed shingles failed and went through a similar legal deal. I too had to do the stupid human tricks and in the end I think I got less than $500 out of the settlement.
It was when the previous roof was failing that my original builder clued me in. The shingle guys are betting that a storm or other hazard will take out the roof and that your insurance will replace it before the shingle guys need to make good on their warranty and the warranty is always pro-rated so they come out good either way. The insurance companies don't want to pay either so they do their best to blame the shingle. In the end, we are stuck in the middle trying to get a roof fixed and all our money is sitting in their pockets
Good luck with the lifetime warranty; I got suckered in by it myself.
I figured I didn't want to roof again in my life so I fell hook line and sinker for the "lifetime" shingle from GAF with the gold pledge warranty. Four years later I try to get matching shingles for my garage addition only to find out that they discontinued them. I paid through the nose to find and ship matching shingles and GAF couldn't have cared less.
When I talked with GAF I got up to a VP (bfd) and she pretty much blew me off and didn't even help me in finding shingles that might still be available. I asked what my warranty meant and what would happen if something happened that my roof need repair. Without missing a beat she said they would make an "adjustment" and "pro-rate" me for the shingles
So much for taking care of your customers or standing behind your product
I put this roof on because my Certainteed shingles failed and went through a similar legal deal. I too had to do the stupid human tricks and in the end I think I got less than $500 out of the settlement.
It was when the previous roof was failing that my original builder clued me in. The shingle guys are betting that a storm or other hazard will take out the roof and that your insurance will replace it before the shingle guys need to make good on their warranty and the warranty is always pro-rated so they come out good either way. The insurance companies don't want to pay either so they do their best to blame the shingle. In the end, we are stuck in the middle trying to get a roof fixed and all our money is sitting in their pockets
I have GAF Timberline on my one garage roof and CertainTeed one piece siding on my walls outside.
I too found GAF very evasive in their responses when I e-mailed them. Plus, your contractor has be a Gold installer, blah, blah, blah.
I figure if I get 25 years out of them, I'll dump them for something better when the time comes. My garage isn't that big, and the reno just done is part of a family land deal...we'll see.
ilovevocs
Well-known member
Shingle warranties are a joke. The proration occurs at an exponentially increasing rate.
As far as a matching shingle and the previous one being discontinued it isn't a choice by the manufacture. Mineral granules that color the shingles are mined and when a vein gets mined out its done.
Try getting weights from a manufacturer on their shingles any more... They will tell you weight doesn't affect performance.
Now it really doesn't because of the advancements in the sealing technology but one would still conclude that if sealing technology was the same, weight would assist in choosing the shingle that is the "thickest".
Have tried to obtain weights from some manufacturers to meet outdated specifications and was unable to procure them from most... OC, GAF,... The list goes on.
Give them a call for yourself and they will tell you the data isn't available. Funny thing is they ship these things. You tell me they don't know what the weight.
The shingle market is nothing short of slight of hand. They market hard, period and make the best product they can in a market that demands cheap, cheap, cheap.
If you buy shingles based on a warranty you didn't read the fine print. This "lifetime" BS cracks me up. Ask a contractor about proration and inquire about the schedule. Not to mention that none of them cover labor. Labor in most regions for removal and replacement would be double even that of a cheap shingle.
Not to mention that in 30 years as a commercial contractor I have never seen a manufacture pay out anything of significance.
Warranties these days are BS all across the board. The manufactures conduct enough testing that they know the failure point of their product and do not assume risk with warranties.
As far as a matching shingle and the previous one being discontinued it isn't a choice by the manufacture. Mineral granules that color the shingles are mined and when a vein gets mined out its done.
Try getting weights from a manufacturer on their shingles any more... They will tell you weight doesn't affect performance.
Now it really doesn't because of the advancements in the sealing technology but one would still conclude that if sealing technology was the same, weight would assist in choosing the shingle that is the "thickest".
Have tried to obtain weights from some manufacturers to meet outdated specifications and was unable to procure them from most... OC, GAF,... The list goes on.
Give them a call for yourself and they will tell you the data isn't available. Funny thing is they ship these things. You tell me they don't know what the weight.
The shingle market is nothing short of slight of hand. They market hard, period and make the best product they can in a market that demands cheap, cheap, cheap.
If you buy shingles based on a warranty you didn't read the fine print. This "lifetime" BS cracks me up. Ask a contractor about proration and inquire about the schedule. Not to mention that none of them cover labor. Labor in most regions for removal and replacement would be double even that of a cheap shingle.
Not to mention that in 30 years as a commercial contractor I have never seen a manufacture pay out anything of significance.
Warranties these days are BS all across the board. The manufactures conduct enough testing that they know the failure point of their product and do not assume risk with warranties.
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Trey T
Well-known member
Did you misquote someone? My roof is advertised at 50yrs, not lifetime (timberline HD).Good luck with the lifetime warranty; I got suckered in by it myself.
I figured I didn't want to roof again in my life so I fell hook line and sinker for the "lifetime" shingle from GAF with the gold pledge warranty. Four years later I try to get matching shingles for my garage addition only to find out that they discontinued them. I paid through the nose to find and ship matching shingles and GAF couldn't have cared less.
...
It was when the previous roof was failing that my original builder clued me in. The shingle guys are betting that a storm or other hazard will take out the roof and that your insurance will replace it before the shingle guys need to make good on their warranty and the warranty is always pro-rated so they come out good either way. The insurance companies don't want to pay either so they do their best to blame the shingle. In the end, we are stuck in the middle trying to get a roof fixed and all our money is sitting in their pockets
But yes I agree, lifetime shingles are are joke. If anyone believe that a 50yr shingle should last 50yr doesn't understand where they live; In my area, I expect my roof to last about 20-25yrs, based on owning two homes in the past 10yrs.
the golden pledge that I'm concerning with is the 25yrs all inclusive based on craftsmanship failure. That's a ~$600 bet I took, again it's a bet not a gauranteed. If somewhere along 25yrs, the roof failed due to craftsmanship (sub contractors are illegal aliens or day laborer), I can make my case and claim against GAF. My main "warranty" is my insurance which I pay for RC instead of ACV if natural disaster occur.
As for color in 5-10yrs, the roof change color and it's difficult to find a color that will match your roof.