Verbatim, this is a printed statement from a GAF Smart Choice Shingle “Lifetime” Limited Warranty. If you’ve installed asphalt shingles of any kind since September, you have cause for concern….
“All self-sealing shingles, including GAF’s, must be exposed to warm, sunny conditions for several days before they completely seal. Before sealing occurs, shingles are vulnerable to blow-offs and wind damage. Shingles installed in fall or winter may not seal until the following spring. Shingles installed in the fall or winter may not seal until the following spring. Singles which are not exposed to direct sunlight or to adequate surface temperatures or that are not fastened properly may never seal. Failure to seal, blow-offs, and wind damage under these circumstances result from the nature of self sealing shingles, not a manufacturing defect, and are not covered under this warranty.”
Integrity of an installer means everything. We’ve seen many asphalt roofs installed this winter by unscrupulous asphalt roofing installers. Did you get a “better deal” because the company was slow in the winter? The best asphalt roofing companies simply DON’T install asphalt roofing in the winter months. Fortunately, metal can be installed any time of year as there are no “blow off” or “sealing” issues related to metal roofing.