CertainTeed Shingles Review: Every Product Line, Ranked by a Contractor Who Installs Them

CertainTeed Shingles Review: Every Product Line, Ranked by a Contractor Who Installs Them

I've been installing CertainTeed shingles across the Twin Cities since 2007. We're ShingleMaster certified — that's CertainTeed's top-tier contractor credential — and we've put every product line they make on Minnesota roofs. Landmark, Landmark Pro, NorthGate ClimateFlex, Presidential Shake TL, Grand Manor. I've carried them up the ladder, nailed them down in January, and watched them take everything Minnesota throws at them.

Here's something most homeowners don't know: CertainTeed manufactures many of their shingles right here in Shakopee, Minnesota — about 20 minutes from our office. The product going on your roof was made by people who live in this climate. That matters.

This isn't a spec sheet copy-paste. This is what I've actually seen on roofs, what I recommend to my customers, and where each product fits in a real-world decision.

The Landmark Series — CertainTeed's Backbone

The Landmark series is the core of CertainTeed's residential lineup, and it's where most homeowner conversations start. There are four tiers, and each one adds meaningful weight, thickness, and performance.

Landmark (Standard)

The base Landmark is a solid architectural shingle — 227 to 230 pounds per square, dual-layer construction, Class A fire rating, and 110 mph wind warranty standard (upgradeable to 130 mph with CertainTeed starter strips and hip-and-ridge caps). It comes in over 20 color options and carries a 10-year StreakFighter algae resistance warranty.

This is where most budget-conscious homeowners land, and it's a perfectly good roof. I've installed hundreds of Landmark roofs that are holding up well after a decade. For the price — typically $95 to $125 per square for material — it outperforms most competitor shingles at the same price point. It's heavier than a GAF Timberline HDZ (220 lbs/square), which means more material between your family and the weather.

Where the standard Landmark falls short for Minnesota: no impact rating. In a state where hail damage is the number one insurance claim, that matters. If hail resistance is important to you — and in the Twin Cities, it should be — step up to the Pro.

Landmark Pro

This is where things get serious, and it's the shingle I install most often.

Landmark Pro weighs 270 pounds per square — 40 pounds more material per square than the standard Landmark. That extra weight comes from thicker asphalt coatings and a denser fiberglass mat. You can feel the difference the moment you pick one up. The shingle is noticeably thicker, and on the roof, it creates deeper shadow lines and a more dimensional look.

The Pro adds a UL Class 3 impact rating, which is significant for insurance. Many Minnesota insurers offer premium discounts for Class 3 and Class 4 rated roofs. Depending on your carrier, the annual savings can offset the upgrade cost within a few years.

The algae resistance warranty bumps up to 15 years (some lines carry 30 years with the Max Def color technology). Color options include CertainTeed's Max Definition palette, which uses enhanced granule blending for richer, more dimensional color. The difference in curb appeal between a standard Landmark and a Landmark Pro Max Def is visible from the street.

Material cost runs $125 to $145 per square — about $30 more per square than the standard. On a typical 25- to 30-square Minnesota roof, that's $750 to $900 more for a meaningfully better product. I think that's one of the best value upgrades in roofing.

Landmark Premium

Landmark Premium takes another step up at 300 pounds per square. That's 70 pounds more than the standard Landmark and 30 more than the Pro. The shingle profile is visibly thicker, and it delivers one of the best-looking dual-layer architectural shingles on the market.

At $155 to $185 per square, the Premium occupies a sweet spot between the Pro and CertainTeed's luxury lines. For homeowners who want a heavier, more substantial roof without jumping to the $200+ range of the Grand Manor or Presidential, the Premium is a smart choice.

Landmark TL (Triple Laminate)

The Landmark TL is a beast — 480 pounds per square. That's more than double the weight of the standard Landmark. Three laminated layers of fiberglass-based construction create one of the thickest, most substantial shingles in CertainTeed's non-luxury lineup.

At that weight, you're getting impact resistance, wind resistance, and a visual depth that starts to approach the look of CertainTeed's premium products at a lower price point. The TL doesn't get as much attention as the Presidential lines, but contractors who've installed it know — it's a lot of shingle for the money.

NorthGate ClimateFlex — The Minnesota Shingle

If I had to pick one CertainTeed product that was engineered specifically for a climate like ours, it's the NorthGate ClimateFlex.

NorthGate is an SBS-modified asphalt shingle. SBS (Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene) is a rubber-like polymer that gets blended into the asphalt during manufacturing. The result is a shingle that's more flexible and less likely to crack in extreme cold. Standard asphalt shingles get brittle when the temperature drops below freezing. SBS-modified shingles stay pliable. In Minnesota, where we see 40+ freeze-thaw cycles per winter and temperatures that swing 50 degrees in 24 hours, that flexibility translates directly into longevity.

The NorthGate weighs approximately 270 pounds per square and carries a UL Class 4 impact rating — the highest available. Class 4 means it passed the UL 2218 steel ball drop test, which simulates the impact of a 2-inch diameter hailstone. That's real protection, and it often qualifies homeowners for meaningful insurance discounts.

It also features CertainTeed's QuadraBond technology for enhanced adhesion strength, StreakFighter algae resistance, and NailTrak lines for faster, more accurate installation. Wind warranty is 110 mph standard, upgradeable to 130 mph.

For a homeowner in the Twin Cities who wants maximum weather protection without going into luxury pricing, the NorthGate ClimateFlex is my top recommendation. It handles our winters better than any standard architectural shingle on the market.

Presidential Shake — The Nicest Looking Shingle in the Industry

I'm going to say something that a lot of roofers agree with: CertainTeed's Presidential Shake TL is the nicest looking asphalt shingle in the industry. Period. I've heard that from roofers across the country, and I've seen it confirmed on every roof I've put one on.

Presidential Shake (Standard)

The standard Presidential Shake is a dual-layer luxury shingle that weighs 355 pounds per square. It's designed to replicate the look of natural wood shakes, and it does it better than anything else on the market. The sculptured tab creates genuine depth and dimension — not the flat, printed look you get from cheaper "designer" shingles.

Impact rating is Class 3, with some colors offering Class 4. Wind warranty is 110 mph, upgradeable to 130 mph. It comes with a lifetime limited transferable warranty, 10-year SureStart protection, and 30-year StreakFighter algae resistance. Seven color options, all in the warm wood-tone range that looks authentic on the roof.

The Presidential Shake runs $8 to $10 per square foot installed — roughly double the cost of a standard architectural shingle roof. That's not a small number. But here's what I tell homeowners: drive through any neighborhood where someone has a Presidential Shake on their house. You'll spot it immediately. It looks like a completely different material than what's on every other house on the block. On a home with the right architecture — craftsman, Tudor, colonial, anything with character — it transforms the entire curb appeal.

Presidential Shake TL (Triple Laminate)

The TL is the flagship. Three laminated layers, 480 pounds per square (some sources cite up to 500 lbs), UL Class 4 impact rating. This is the heaviest, thickest asphalt shingle you can buy.

The visual difference between the standard Presidential Shake and the TL is dramatic. The triple laminate construction creates even deeper shadow lines and a more pronounced wood shake profile. Standing at the curb, it looks like real cedar shake — and I mean that literally. I've had neighbors walk over during installations and ask if we're putting on real wood.

The TL is complex to install. The weight and thickness require careful handling, and the installation process is more labor-intensive than a standard shingle. That's part of why some contractors don't recommend it — they don't want to deal with the extra work. We do, because the finished product is worth it.

This is the shingle I'd put on my own house if money wasn't the primary concern. And I'm not alone — ask any experienced roofer what the best-looking shingle on the market is, and the Presidential TL comes up more than anything else.

Grand Manor — The Slate Alternative

Grand Manor is CertainTeed's ultra-premium offering, designed to replicate the look of natural slate. At 415 to 425 pounds per square, it's a massive shingle with a multi-layered laminated construction that creates genuine depth and dimension.

Class 4 impact resistance, Class A fire rating, 110 mph wind warranty (130 mph upgradeable), lifetime limited transferable warranty. Material cost runs $225 to $265 per square — this is the top of CertainTeed's pricing structure.

The Grand Manor is stunning on the right home. It has a formality and elegance that the Presidential Shake doesn't — where the Presidential looks like a cedar lodge, the Grand Manor looks like an English country estate. The color options (Colonial Slate, Georgian Brick, Black Pearl, and others) have a layered, slate-like appearance that catches light differently throughout the day.

This is a specialty product for homes where the roof is the defining architectural element. I don't install many Grand Manor roofs — they represent a small percentage of projects — but the ones I have done are consistently the most visually impressive roofs I've been part of.

The Warranty System — Better Than You Think

CertainTeed's warranty structure is one of their biggest competitive advantages, and most homeowners don't fully understand how it works until I walk them through it.

SureStart Protection (10 years): Every CertainTeed shingle comes with SureStart, which covers 100% of materials and labor for manufacturing defects during the first 10 years. That's not prorated — it's full replacement at no cost. If a manufacturing defect shows up in year 7, CertainTeed covers the replacement shingles and the labor to install them.

Lifetime Limited Transferable Warranty: Beyond the SureStart period, CertainTeed's warranty continues for the life of the roof. The key word here is "transferable" — when you sell your home, the warranty transfers to the new owner. The second owner gets coverage for up to 50 years from the original installation date. That's a real asset at the closing table.

SureStart PLUS (up to 50 years): When you use a full CertainTeed Integrity Roof System — their shingles, starter strips, ridge caps, underlayment, and ventilation — installed by a credentialed contractor like us, you qualify for SureStart PLUS. This extends the non-prorated coverage period significantly, in some cases up to 50 years.

StreakFighter Algae Warranty: 10 years on the standard Landmark, 15 years on the Pro, and 30 years on select premium lines.

Wind Warranty: 110 mph standard on all architectural lines, upgradeable to 130 mph for the life of the warranty with proper CertainTeed accessory installation. That 130 mph upgrade is permanent — not a 15-year window like some competitors offer.

Compare that to GAF, where the unlimited wind speed warranty expires after 15 years. I'd rather have 130 mph for life than unlimited for 15 years.

What CertainTeed Does Better Than Everyone Else

Weight and thickness. Across their entire lineup, CertainTeed shingles are consistently heavier than comparable products from GAF, Owens Corning, and other manufacturers. More material means more weather protection. It's that simple.

SBS-modified technology. The NorthGate ClimateFlex line uses SBS rubber-modified asphalt that stays flexible in extreme cold. In Minnesota, that's not a nice-to-have — it's a performance requirement.

Color quality. CertainTeed's Max Definition color technology produces richer, more dimensional color blending than any competitor I've installed. The color difference is visible from the street.

Warranty transferability. The free transfer to subsequent homeowners, with coverage extending up to 50 years from installation, is one of the strongest warranty transfer policies in the industry.

No class action lawsuit history. Unlike some competitors, CertainTeed doesn't have a trail of class action lawsuits related to shingle failures. That matters when you're choosing which product to trust with your home.

What I'd Change

I'm going to be honest about the things that aren't perfect, because you deserve the full picture.

Presidential Shake color options are limited. Seven colors, mostly warm wood tones. If you want a cool-tone or gray Presidential, you're out of luck. I'd love to see CertainTeed expand the palette.

NorthGate ClimateFlex color selection is also somewhat limited compared to the Landmark Pro lineup. More Max Def options for the NorthGate would make it even more appealing.

Grand Manor installation is demanding. The weight and thickness of these shingles means slower installation and more labor cost. It's worth it for the right project, but homeowners should budget accordingly.

Pricing transparency. CertainTeed doesn't publish MSRP pricing the way some manufacturers do, which makes it harder for homeowners to do preliminary research. I always give straight pricing in our quotes, but I wish the manufacturer made it easier for people doing their homework.

Which CertainTeed Shingle Should You Choose?

Here's my quick guide based on what I've seen work best in the Twin Cities:

Budget-conscious, solid performance: Landmark. You're getting a heavier, better-built shingle than the competition at the same price point.

Best value upgrade: Landmark Pro. The jump from 230 to 270 lbs/square, the Class 3 impact rating, and the Max Def colors make this the sweet spot of the lineup. This is what I install most often.

Maximum weather protection: NorthGate ClimateFlex. SBS-modified, Class 4 impact, built for freeze-thaw cycling. This is the Minnesota shingle.

Best-looking roof on the block: Presidential Shake TL. Nothing else in the asphalt world looks like this. If curb appeal is your priority and your budget allows it, the TL is the answer.

Luxury estate aesthetic: Grand Manor. For the home where the roof needs to make a statement.

Give us a call at 952-206-6339 . We'll walk your roof, talk through your priorities, and recommend the CertainTeed product that makes sense for your home and your budget. No pressure, no games — just a straight answer from a ShingleMaster who's installed them all.