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Are CertainTeed Presidential Shake Shingles Worth It?

December 16th, 2024 | 5 min. read

Are CertainTeed Presidential Shake Shingles Worth It?

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Looking for a CertainTeed shingle that’s a step up from their standard architectural shingle? Are you interested in their Presidential Shake shingles?

Presidential Shake shingles are a unique and durable asphalt shingle option. The truth is, they won’t be a good fit for many homeowners. 

However, you’re the only one who can decide if they’re right for you and worth the large investment. You can go on CertainTeed’s website and dig through complex information, which is mainly geared towards roofers. 

This is time-consuming and doesn’t guarantee finding what you need to make your decision. So, let’s simplify it.

For over 30 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has simplified the roofing industry to help homeowners and answer complex questions with transparent information. Because of this, I want to help you better understand Presidential shingles and what they offer you. 

First, you’ll learn basic information about CertainTeed’s Presidential Shake shingles. Once that’s out of the way, we’ll get into whether they’re worth it based on color options, warranties, lifespan, and cost.

What are CertainTeed Presidential Shake shingles?

CertainTeed’s Presidential Shake shingle is a luxury shingle designed with a unique sculptured tab to provide the same depth and dimension as natural wooden shakes. The two-piece laminated fiberglass shingle creates a multi-layer design for increased durability. 

certainteed presidential shake shingle(Photo provided by certainteed.com)

This gives them a Class 3 Impact Rating, plus the unique locking system ensures they stay in place in high winds up to 110 mph. Like all CertainTeed shingles, Presidential Shake luxury shingles come with CertainTeed’s standard lifetime-limited transferable warranty.

Below are the other manufacturer warranties that Presidential Shake shingles come with:

  • 10-year SureStart™ warranty (covers 100% replacement and labor costs due to manufacturing defects)
  • 30-year StreakFighter® warranty against streaking and discoloration caused by airborne algae
  • 15-year 110-mph wind-resistance warranty (upgradable to 130 mph)

Just know certain colors do have a Class 4 Impact Rating option, but you’ll need to talk to a roofing contractor to learn more. But no matter what, CertainTeed Presidential Shake luxury shingles are a durable and unique asphalt roofing option. 

However, some roofers don’t recommend them because the installation is complex and difficult. 

How many color options do Presidential Shake shingles have?

Like most asphalt shingles, Presidential Shake shingles have multiple colors to choose from. However, Presidential Shake shingles only have 7 color options.

cetainTeed presidential shake shingles color options(Photos provided by certainteed.com)

Most of the colors have a brown hue to make the roof resemble natural wood shakes. However, they also come in CertainTeed’s standard charcoal black and grays. 

Just know that the availability of certain colors does vary by location. So, the color choices ultimately depend on what suppliers in your area have in stock. 

How long will Presidential Shake shingles last?

Presidential Shake shingles (and all luxury shingles) are larger and thicker than 3-tab and architectural shingles. The two-piece laminated fiberglass base makes it very durable and gives it a Class 3 Impact Resistance Rating. 

Because of this, Presidential Shake shingles should last 30 years. In the right conditions, they can last longer and potentially get close to 40 or 50 years. 

Unfortunately, it’s hard to be exact because too many factors impact the life of a roof. However, they should last 30 years as long as Presidential Shake shingles are properly installed and your attic is adequately ventilated

Can you get an enhanced material warranty on Presidential Shake shingles?

Presidential Shake shingles come with an algae, wind, and CertainTeed’s lifetime-limited warranty and the 10-year SureStart™ warranties. However, Presidential Shake asphalt shingles also qualify for a 50-year non-prorated enhanced SureStart PLUS warranty if certain conditions are met.

The shingles must be combined with certain accessories from CertainTeed to form a complete roof system. On top of this, the roof has to be installed by a CertainTeed-certified contractor and registered with CertainTeed before going into effect.

The SureStart Plus warranty takes the original protection and extends full coverage for up to 50 years. If you hire a roofer with the highest certification levels, CertainTeed will even provide a workmanship warranty.

How much does a Presidential Shake shingle roof cost?

I can’t give you an exact price for Presidential Shake shingles due to area-specific pricing and the other factors that affect a new roof’s cost. However, I can give you a general idea of the budget you’ll need if you choose Presidential Shake asphalt shingles for your roof replacement. 

A Presidential Shake asphalt shingle roof costs around $8.00-$10.00 per square foot, but can be lower or higher based on your roof and the roofer you hire. You’ll be on the higher end of the price range if you invest in copper flashing, need to replace a lot of decking, or add upgrades. 

To put it into perspective, this is around double the cost of an architectural shingle roof. Unfortunately, this pushes Presidential Shake shingles out of most homeowners’ budgets.

So, are CertainTeed’s Presidential Shake shingles worth it?

While I prefer other CertainTeed luxury shingle options, Presidential Shake shingles are worth the investment. The high curb appeal, warranties, and lifespan make it a great shingle if you have the budget.

The Class 3 Impact Rating also means they have good storm damage durability and makes them a long-lasting shingle. However, I don’t recommend going way over budget just to afford Presidential Shake shingles. 

If Presidential Shake shingles don’t fit your budget, there are more affordable options that still come with the high quality you expect from CertainTeed.

What other CertainTeed shingles should you consider?

After reading this article, you have a good idea of whether CertainTeed's Presidential shingles are worth the investment. Even with my opinion, it’s up to every individual homeowner to decide. 

Just consider your budget and how long you plan on living in your home. But as I said, I prefer other CertainTeed shingle options.  

One of the main reasons CertainTeed is my preferred brand is the quality of its products across all shingle lines. So, let's look at CertainTeed’s other top shingles and how they compare to Presidential Shake shingles to ensure you choose the right one.

Check out The Top 5 CertainTeed Asphalt Shingles to learn the other CertainTeed shingle options so you can make the best decision.

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