Andy:

More clarity is needed!!
I had a small multiservice company(including roofing)in the 1980's as well as beginning home inspecting in 1985.
Your problems with organic shingles must have been with that manufacturer.
My experience in that period is with DOMTAR 3 tab "Truseal":
-had a 10 year warranty, not 25/30 years like many today; so sad,these shingles will not last that long
-My shingles are black that get hotter than other colours. My roof is now just due for replacement....23 years old!
-have seen these same shingles with lighter granules ("Frost White") at 24-25 years that still had 3-5 years life left
-now see 25 year shingles cupping/curling at 7-9 years; see product statements online from manu. that say "no problems" with product...then intro an upgrade (XL to GXL)
-my view: manufacturers cheapening product due to high oil prices; do further research online

I live in north Mississippi. My house was built in 2001 and I had a 15 year shingle roof installed. Granule shedding was epic. Within six years the edges were curling and wind of any magnitude would break off shingles. I located and tarred a leak in one area. Christmas Day, 2009 I woke up to four leaks in my main room. My insurance company inspected the roof and paid for a total roof failure. My research found that 30 year shingles have an expected life of
9-12 years in this area. I did what I see many others doing: I installed a metal roof. Initial cost is higher but it's a one time affair. Peace of mind is worth it!

I think a bit of clarity would also help this story.
The shingles shown on this video clip are most likely organic-based shingles which are notorious for having a short life span. They use a paper-based mat to hold the tar and then the granules. When this mat 'dries out' it starts to shrink, curl, etc. Excessive heat is also a major culprit. Venting is critical. I don't understand why they are allowed to continue to make this product. My Dad's roofing company had no end of problems with BP's organic shingles, and their lack of backing their warranty ...20 years ago! Needless to say we stopped using organic shingles and switched to fiberglass-laminated shingles instead. The difference in performance and longevity is quite impressive. No need to get into the 'lifetime' warranty either. Just get a 30 yr product and make sure the installation is done well with lots of ventilation.

We just love our steel roof
good investment

I have read all the comments and could,t agree more. Most of the producers of shingles try to glame everything they can on why their prodct failed. The people I have had al the problems with is BP. No Matter how many letters you send, they fail to reply. They are totally insencetive to ones problems. The warranty department on't devulge any information on any higer ups to contact. If you call about a claim they say it is still under review, and finally, you get the letter of warranty rejection. I fndthat there isnot enough consumer protection in these instances. If enough noise is made, perhaps something will get done.
Con Borg

I have used Owens Corning shingles and they we good, except that they did loose some grit the first two years but they sealed with in two days of being down and not in hot weather.

I sold the house 10 years after replacing the roof and it still looked good.

I believe there was a report just out about the same time as Marketplace did their show that also backed Corning shingles along with a second company (Green something?)

It also pays to ask the installer what they have seen, it may mean waiting a week for a company to bring in a different shingle that is better and that the roofer will back with his reputation.

My suggestion to anyone who has had similar problems is to hire a roofer that will inspect the attic to verrifry proper ventilation, and who will rectify the situation if there isn't. Be informmed, In most cases adding a maximum vent is not enough, modification to framing, insulation and soffits may be required. This can double or even tripple the cost of your roof in some cases but will solve the problem and make for an overal better experience in the long run. A mininmum of 1 1/2" of airspace is required all across the roof from soffit to peak. this should be combines with insulation value of R 40 to prevent ice problems. and a sufficient amount of vents to let out the heat and moisture preventing baked roofs and moldy wood.
pay the price, save yourselves the trouble, stop blaming the manufacturers, and most importantly hare a good roofer...

I've been in the metal roofing business for 20yrs. and for the last 5 I've been telling people that shingle don't last more than 12-13yrs at best. We'll finally it has come out into the media's eyes and hopefully someone will do something about it. I still can't believe 2 things-why the Canadian Government allows us to pollute our earth this way- and 2. why anyone would still have a product installed on their home that has to be replaced after 10yrs..like most countries in the world Canadians should invest in a permanent roof of some-kind and make sure you research your warranties and products first.

HERE'S THE REAL FACTS OF ASPHALT SHINGLES (Also called Duroid, Fiberglass, Architectural, Composite):

1. They are a tar based product that commonly use recycled newspaper as a filler. I can send you pictures from the plants where they are made that make this obvious. "Asphalt Manufacturer and Recycling Plant."

2. Most shingles fail to meet the tear strength tests that are allowable for their stated warranty.

3. Many people are having problems with these shingles: Leaks, curling, buckling, granules coming off, fading, discoloration, etc. As a result, asphalt companies are all facing class action lawsuits because their warranties are not matching their standards and many people are frustrated trying to get a claim settled...

Nothing in life gets a solid full term warranty. When you buy a $30,000 vehicle, where do you stand 3 to 5 years after your purchase, why does anybody expect a $3ooo roof to fully last 25 years and be fully compensated for failure due to many reasons. I would say to check out your newly added insulation in your attic because it was more than likely installed improperly without proper lower and upper venting. Roof failure is due to more than the shingle itself, and usually is the cause of poor ventilation, poor insulation, excess snow,lack of proper products used under the shingle to begin with, and yes last of all home owners that are to ignorant and cheap to listen to good companies advice.

I totally understand what everyone is going thru.I also had asphalt shingles installed 12 years ago with a 25 year warranty,I just replaced my roof for the last time.How can i say that?I've decided to pay more on the front end without paying anything later......by installing a permanent aluminum roof.My roof looks great and will last longer then my house.As well,this is a "green roof solution"and energy star rated.Unfortunetly you get what you pay for.Google either "permanent roof or metal roofs"

We also have had to replace our IKO roof after 10 years. Our original roof lasted 20 years, also IKO. The last roofer mentioned that roofing companies were having to change their makeup of the roofs and they were more environmentally friendly. It seems to be a pattern that more roofs are being replaced sooner than past years when more oil products were used. We checked out Steel.Our cost would have been starting at $25,000, compared to shingles starting at $6,300. Steel also has it's downfalls when you look into it more. We held off for two years replacing the roof, so we only got 8 years from our last roof.The south facing shingles seemed to be the first to deteriorate. Shingles are made for different temperatures and weather related problems also. It would be interesting to hear about the different makeup change in the past 10 years.

Today I came home to the sound of several nail guns installing my new shingle roof. We purchased the Milarkey Legacy (50 year warranty) for our condo complex. Yes, we know the shingles will not last that long, nothing does in our climate. The shingle is a combination of rubber and asphalt designed in Seattle and tested throughout the US and Canada. The key is correct installation. We hired a roofing engineering firm that independently assisted us choosing a reputable contractor. What is important is correct venting of the attic, correct underlay materials, etc. It is like preparing a fence for a new paint job: replacing old lumber, adding new nails, sanding, an undercoat and most important maintenance over the years. We live in Canada and are proud of harsh climate. We will see how long our new roof lasts...I am hoping for at least 25 years. Do your homework, ask questions, investigate!

The roofer is the one that should be BUSTED
The roof on the program is not vented at the ridge or upper roof area. The roofer needs to read the building code.
Roof attic spaces can reach 150 degrees plus
Look at the video - no vents and edge shingles BAKED
Heat levels in the attic will force heat out the soffit panel and produce the condition as shown on the show.
The manufacture cannot warranty against the condition shown.
The ROOFER needs to address his installation procedures and requirements to adequately vent any space under a shingled roof.
I am an experienced in residential building design / onstractor and inspector
The ROOFER is the one to be BUSTED not the shingle manufacture.
Cheers, Victor

I was interested in the topic of this storey however I expected that I would get information on what recourse I would have considering my own experience. We purchased our dream home about two years ago. At that time the house was about a year old. Over the first winter we lost some shingles due to wind and had them replaced and didn't think much about it until the following spring when we had a leak. BP of Canada sent an inspector to look at the roof and he stated that the shingles were not sticking properly. We sent pictures as requested and were rewarded with a letter in which BP stated that they would authorize a BP certified roofer to seal and hand tab the affected shingles. Once done BP would send a cheque for the "reasonable amount stipulated on the Hand Tabbing Work Order. I sent my response three times, but have been told they did not receive it. There is more to this story-help!

Our home (that we purchased new) was accessed as a ‘deficient' in a recent proposed offer to purchase. The buyer's reason: Our 25 year shingles were cracked horizontally and vertically.

All of the homes on our street are approximately the same age, built be the same builder and have the same shingle issues. None of us gave the cracks in the shingles a second thought, after all, the shingles were supposed to have a 25 year warranty on them.

No documents concerning the roof warranty accompanied the purchase of the home, did not specified who the manufacturer of the shingles was, or what the terms of the 25 year warranty were. We are all shocked.

What we don’t know is, what is the expected life of these degrading 25 year shingles, now that we know there is an issue with them?

This report is badly biased and incomplete. The installation was never considered. The location of the failure indicates ice damming caused by poor installation.

My "25 year" IKO shingles curled after 3 years.IKO will not release their internal lab reports, only say that the shingles are fine. Viceroy's own people investigated and said that the shingles have deteriorated prematurely. Viceroy refuses to compensate me and they continue to use IKO shingles.

Canroof Corporation didn't even have the decency to respond to my customer service inquiry into warranty coverage. I sent it in writing almost a year and a half ago--still waiting for a response. In 1997 I had new shingles put on my roof--CRC Renaissance XL Grey Slate. I was told this was a 30-yr shingle for which I paid a high premium. Unfortunately it was for false peace of mind. My shingles had to be replaced after 11 years so I went with the consumer reports magazine recommendation of Certainteed. So far so good. I will never buy CRC shingles again. Shame, shame on your customer service CRC or lack thereof. Thanks Marketplace for exposing these shoddy shingle manufacturers.

My roof began leaking after 16 years with a 25 yr. shingle. I sued the large chain and the shingle company. I was awarded $4,000. Originally the company offered me $928 which was to come from the shingle company. I advised the large chain that my contract was with them, not the shingle supplier. I felt I should have no dealings with the contractor. I purchased my roof from the chain and as far as I am concerned they need to make good on their warranty.

Furthermore, the large chain gave me a quote of $8,200 to redo my roof. I had another reputable roofer do it for $6,200.

So consumer "Be AWARE".

People are not talking 14, 15, 20, 24 years these shingles some do not last 5, 10, 15, 17 years. So why shouldn't they get some help, some don't get anything and when they try to talk with Bp all they get is a song and dance and one excuse after another . Oh yes if you send emails to talk about the roof condition or a claim after one time or so ,you don't even get a reply from Bp. Why don't some of these people like Bart, Tom, and Monique put in claims and see where they end up. Maybe they may think alittle different if it is their shinlges that are failing.

Hi to all
i have, the same problem with my 25 year IKO shingles, they only lasted 13 years, had to get my roof done last Oct. at a cost of 4000.00 dollars, tried for a claim and was told no way, i live close to the ocean and the salt air is hard on all items. as IKO state proper instaltion is a must. mine was done by a outstanding roofer, iam 72 years young ... had new cambridge shingles in stalled at a 30 year warrenty so they say be lucky to get 10 years,to all best of luck with IKO..

This Fall (2009) we replaced a portion of our roof shingles with "25 year" BP shingles. Even as they were being installed, there was excess granular loss - so much that they could not be stepped on while laying the next row of shingles. We contacted BP and explained the situation. They sent a representative who would not have gone up on the roof to inspect their shingles if my husband had not insisted. After providing proof of purchase to the company our claim was denied. The shingles were such poor quality I am not at all surprised to learn that there are many others whose shingles do not last more than a few years. I'm only relieved that we did not replace our whole roof with these poor quality shingles from a company that does not stand behind its product.

The granules on the shingles help to protect it from the UV rays. Shingles are replaced on a prorated basis. I find it very hard to believe a company to replace a 25 yr shingle 100% in the 24th year. I also believe an interview is needed with the various shingle manufactures in Canada so the the consumer can know both sides of the story. Remember nothing can truly last forever especially if its exposed to the outdoor elements. Roofing is not just about what quality of shingles are used, its a whole system, eaves, vents, underlayments and so on.

My eavestroughs have been sagging under the weight of the granules washing off from the shingles, now half bare and curled up all around the roof edges and alongside the valleys.
But thanks to the letter contributions by Marketplace watchers, I just learned something else none of the roofers who offered to re-roof my house -including the dishonest one who eventually got the job some 11 years ago, - ever bothered to mention: the 12-year maximum warranty for
low-pitched roofs. My house falls under that category.

Are there any not too expensive alternatives to the asphalt shingles? Or any brand other than IKO or BP? Can someone advise, please?

I would not expect any product to carry a 100% replacement guarantee for an extended period of time and am quite certain the comment about the Certainteed warranty offering 100% coverage for 25 years is incorrect. If I have use of a product for a period of time then how can I expect 100% replacement? Improper installation and ventilation is often the cause of premature failure with asphalt shingles. Marketplace fell short in researching their subject and made some wrong assumptions. Obviously more time would be required than what is available on the program to provide the complete and correct information. I feel an interview with IKO, BP and Certainteed is required as follow up to this program.

This story is so familiar to me. I hired a reputable company to reshingle my home with 25-year BP asphalt shingles. After 8 years I started to see a lot of granules on the ground around the house. The shingles were completely worn out in many areas and needed to be replaced. BP did agree to pay the prorated cost of replacing the shingles, including labour and associated materials (felt, valleys, etc.) but only for a small percentage of the roof surface (the most badly damaged area). The reimbursement was only about 21% of the total cost. Further, they would only honour the warranty if I reshingled using BP shingles again! I have put on 40-year fibreglass shingles and hope that they will fare better. I'm wondering if the higher levels of UV may be a factor? A builder friend of mine tells me that shingles are affected by UV radiation.

On Friday,Jan 15,you"Busted" IKO Industries Ltd.
Since then I have written Mr.Derek Fee[head of the Warranty
Team at IKO] regarding IKO's refusal to honour their 20-year
warranty on our shingles which had to be replaced in 13 years. We purchased another brand to re-roof.
My final words to Mr.Fee were: "To partially remedy the damage resulting from your company's exposure to poor business practises I heartily recommend you review denied claims for the year 2009 and reimburse these customers. I await a reply to this letter."
I'll let you know if my request is acted upon!
Thanks for the information flowing out of "Markerplace".
Sincerely, Judith MacCarthy.

I am 85 years old. In May 2001 I renewed my roof with 25-year B.P.shingles. Summer 2008, south-facing shingles started to curl. Spring 2009, grit from the shingles blocked the downspout elbows causing my eavestroughs to flood. Now all the south and west-side shingles are curling, cracked and mostly bare of grit. August 2009 I finally found B.P. AND asked that they rectify this matter. If as B.P. say, they get very few complaints, why is it necessary to have a department whose sole purpose is to settle claims?) After repeated delays, a B.P. inspector examined the roof on November 20,2009. He advised me that they would probably replace half of the shingles then at a pro-rated value. I have yet to hear from them. I don't want a patchwork roof. Please advise regarding best course to follow... Thank goodness for CBC and Marketplace!

Yup, I'm finding Marketplace is going for the quick and emotive story but there is truth to the fact asphalt shingles aren't what they used to be. I had BP's 25 year rated, organic-backed shingles show excess grit loss and clawing after only 3 yrs! I made a warranty claim and they completely replaced the whole roof with an upgraded product, labor included. That was very decent, but I suspect the new product will be showing advanced wear like the original one within a few years and then what? Will they keep replacing them while I own the house?

I wish I would have installed a metal roof the first time around.

A competitive fiberglass-backed product on my garage is holding up much better for more years so far so I would not be afraid of trying them; no reason for that type of product to be any worse than the organic ones.

Our 25 year old BP shingles are 13 years old. We sent a claim on Sept.22,09 with pictures of the roof. We had pictures of the shingles with blisters, shingles curled up, shingles with junks missing, wide spreading shingles, assorted venting and still these shingles are supposedly good and should last.
We feel that these shingles have failed because of their make up (we have a container full of pieces of shingling showing that the outer coating had come apart) and are asking for them to reconsider their decision about their quality and help us to replace them.We are confused at what could have made the decision so final without asking us for more information on the state of the roof shingling. Is there no one who could help with this by at least taking a fair look at the roof? It's ironic that the high roof with the 2 gable end vents, 2 in roof vents and eve vents,is in the worst.

Finally, somebody busted these 2 companies (IKO & BP). They have been misleading the roofing companies as well as the consumers for a long time. My Company only sell the GAF/ELK shingles that offer 20 year upfront warranty (They cover all materials installed on roof including all labor cost for 20 years.) They also offer the Golden Pledge Warranty that covers the Workmanship for 20 years (must be inspected by GAF/ELK to qualify.) So if your roofer is out of business, your warranty carries on.

I totally found your show terribly one sided. Where was the comments from the shingle company? Did you even bother to talk to them? We had IKO shingles that happened to fail several years ago. IKO replaced our shingles with absolutely NO HASSLE. A valid claim and doing the paper work was all that we needed. Ventilation is an important factor on the life of the shingles, most people do not have enough venting causing the shingles to bake on the roof, thus causing problems. Marketplace - get your facts straight before reporting such garbage, your biased reporting is unforgivable. Make sure you have both sides of a story, before reporting.

problem with roofing today is ventilation and weather conditions , if a roofer does not know his job then trouble follows . Mike Holmes I imagine has seen more than I have however , I constantly see improper ventilation , improper installation . Also with contractors building in the winter it makes it hard to get the proper instalation that is required , then when something goes wrong we wonder why . I have seen shingles put on roofs that have been totally saturated from the ice and snow melting throughout the pallets of shingles , people then wonder why there roof is prematurely aging . If a roof had 2 sides that were done the same day , which one would leak first , neither if it` s done properly .It`s buyer beware , check references , ask to have the warranty explained , most times it`s bad installation (been roofing for 17 years )

I`d like to know how many vents were on this roof that was shown ( I didn`t notice any )if there is , then what type ( cfm - is very important-cubic feet per minute) also were the eaves clear of insulation and what slope the roof is also determines the amount of vents as well as what type . When I watching the show it seemed that the reporter was ill informed , the companies state quite clearly that it a pro-rated warranty ..If your roofer does not explain this to you then really who is to blame , also if he does not explain the proper ventilation to the consumer then it`s the contractor who is not doing his job . Nowadays people don`t want to hear all the garble they just want the cheapest price and that`s where they run into trouble . I own a roofing company and I could gladly show you some roofs that were installed in the early 90 s and are still fine .

Your topic was very timely. The roof on my house was replaced approximately 12 years ago with 25 year shingles, manufactured by ... A claim was sent November 2009, and no response has been received to date. On consultation with the installer, he informed me he will no longer use this manufacturer in view of the premature deterioration of their product, and poor service to his customers. I am awaiting their response to my claim File #W09B144.

just to let you know,we have IKO asphalt shingles,they were put on 12 years ago,and for the last 5 years my husband has been saying how terrible the IKO shingles look,they are curling up as well as spreading apart!!we are in our seventies and on a pension,and don't look forward to replacing the roof again!!

thank you for your great programming.

If you can afford it, the way to go is STEEL.I have seen 20 year aspalt shingles last only 6 years!What a waste of money and toxic for the landfills!

After viewing the clip this evening about shingle warranties, I have to say that I was thoroughly disappointed. I believe that the comments that were made were not properly investigated. My family has owned and operated a roofing supply store for over 30 years, and I take a lot of pride in the products that we sell.
First of all I'd like to add... Who ever said that a shingle warranty is long term???? All shingle manufactures offer a limited warranty. The roof that was shown to my perspective was a low slope roof (on the garage portion). A low slope roof no matter what the shingle warranty is, only offers a 12 year warranty. To be honest, I believe that the home owner did get a sufficient offer from the manufacturer. If you consider that the shingle was a 25 year warranty, he did receive 12 years of that warranty. If the whole job cost the home owner $3000.00 of that amount the material alone was approximately half. So if you consider that $1500.00 was product and he used half the time then it is reasonable for the home owner to get half of that amount; which in turn would have been about $700.00, for which he mentioned is what he was offered. The manufacturer does not and should not cover materials not manufactured by them. So that means items such as vents, metal flashing and so on should not be covered by that warranty. The labour portion as well should not be covered by the manufacturer, that portion should be warranted by the installer.
Also, you only singled out one manufacturer but showed several different ones in the clip. I did not here any comments in rebuttal from any of the manufactures. A home owner who is unfamiliar with these products, would think that all the shingles shown were made by the same company. All manufactures, regardless of there line, such as dishwashers, stereos, televisions, etc… offer a pro-rated warranty. So there for I feel that it is Maketplaces’ responsibility to do a more thorough investigation prior to airing such a segment.

Thank you for bringing this to light. It has been an on going issue in the roofing industry for many years. When the oil prices spiked to beyond $100 per barrel most shingle makers were forced to reduce the amount of "asphalt" in their shingle reducing the life span. As this high cost continued they have moved away from "organic" based foundations to a fibreglass mat. Time will tell if this will stand up to our climate...