Luxury shingles are becoming more and more popular in residential roofing. They’re also the highest-quality and longest-lasting asphalt shingle you can get.
While there are multiple brands, CertainTeed’s Grand Manor and Belmont shingles are near the top of the list. But how do they compare to each other? Which is the better luxury shingle?
For over 30 years, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided transparent advice and information to homeowners so they can make the right decisions. Because of this, I’ll give you an honest look at the facts to help you determine if Grand Manor or Belmont shingles are right for you.
This article answers the following questions:
- What are Grand Manor shingles?
- What are Belmont shingles?
- How do Grand Manor and Belmont shingles compare on key factors?
- Are Grand Manor or Belmont shingles better?
What are Grand Manor shingles?
CertainTeed’s Grand Manor shingle is the super heavyweight of laminated luxury asphalt shingles that’s all about durability combined with style and grace. The randomly placed tabs have shadow lines that provide the authentic depth and dimension you expect from a natural slate roof.
(Photo courtesy: certainteed.com)
While the looks are great, CertainTeed’s Grand Manor shingles also offer high-performance perks:
- Five-layer coverage when applied with underlayment
- Thicker and larger than architectural asphalt shingles
- Certified as meeting the industry's toughest third-party (UL) manufacturing quality standards
- Class A fire resistance
Grand Manor asphalt shingles include CertainTeed's lifetime-limited warranty to back up its high performance. However, there are more warranties these luxury shingles come with.
Grand Manor asphalt shingles also come with the following warranties:
- 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 (130 mph upgrade available with CertainTeed starter and CertainTeed hip and ridge)
With CertainTeed’s Grand Manor shingle, you get a roof that looks exceptional from every angle with the durability to protect your home for decades.
What are Belmont shingles?
Like Grand Manor, CertainTeed’s Belmont shingle is a luxury shingle designed to look like natural slate tiles. This shingle is ideal for homeowners looking for a durable and reliable roofing option with strong resistance to algae growth.
(Photo courtesy: certainteed.com)
CertainTeed’s Belmont shingles provide high curb appeal but also offer high-performance perks:
- Class 4 impact-resistant option available
- Specifically designed to resist algae growth and other environmental factors
- Certified as meeting the industry's toughest third-party (UL) manufacturing quality standards
- Class A fire resistance
Belmont shingles come with CertainTeed's lifetime-limited warranty, along with the following warranties:
- 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 (130 mph upgrade available with CertainTeed starter and CertainTeed hip and ridge)
With CertainTeed’s Belmont shingle’s easy installation, energy-efficient performance, and cost-effectiveness, they’re a smart choice for any homeowner.
Grand Manor vs. Belmont shingles: Which is right for you?
You just learned what Grand Manor and Belmont shingles are and what they offer in terms of performance. Now, let’s break it down and compare them on the four things homeowners care about the most.
We’ll compare Grand Manor and Belmont shingles on the following:
- Color options and curb appeal
- Warranties
- Durability
- Cost
Color options and curb appeal
Both Grand Manor and Belmont shingles have extremely high curb appeal because of the slate look. I personally like Grand Manor’s look more because of the distinct shadow lines that provide a more realistic slate tile and eye-catching look.
For color options, Grand Manor has eight to choose from, while Belmont has six. The total number of options isn’t much different, but Grand Manor shingles come in colors other than the standard grays, charcoal gray, and black.
Warranties
Both Grand Manor and Belmont shingles come with the same standard CertainTeed warranties. Below is a table to see a quick breakdown of the warranties you get on the shingles:
|
Grand Manor |
Belmont |
|
Lifetime, limited transferable warranty |
Lifetime, limited transferable warranty |
|
10-year SureStart™ warranty |
10-year SureStart™ warranty |
|
30-year StreakFighter® warranty |
30-year StreakFighter® warranty |
|
15-year, 110 mph wind warranty |
15-year, 110 mph wind warranty |
No matter if you choose Grand Manor or Belmont shingles, you’ll get great warranties from CertainTeed. Just make sure you hire a reputable roofing contractor to install them to avoid voiding all manufacturer warranties due to improper installation.
Durability
Up to this point, Grand Manor and Belmont shingles have been comparable. Both have great lifespans, but Grand Manor’s multi-layered design gives a roof five layers of protection (with underlayment) compared to Belmont’s two layers of protection (with underlayment).
This makes them thicker and heavier than Belmont shingles, which provides greater protection against general wear and tear, storm damage, and anything else. Belmont does have a Class 4 impact-resistant option, but all that’s added is a reinforcement on the underside of the mat on the normal shingles.
This still only provides two layers compared to Grand Manor’s five, which is why Grand Manor shingles are the clear winner over Belmont shingles when it comes to durability.
Cost
In most cases, Grand Manor shingles cost more than Belmont shingles. This simply comes down to how they’re manufactured and Grand Manor being a multi-layered material.
Now, material costs always vary by area. However, you’ll find Grand Manor shingles are more expensive than Belmont shingles 99.99% of the time.
Are Grand Manor or Belmont shingles better?
So, which is better? Grand Manor is the better asphalt shingle and is my first recommendation to homeowners interested in luxury shingles.
Even though they’re more expensive, I personally think Grand Manor shingles are worth it for the added strength and durability. However, you honestly can’t go wrong with Belmont.
Both are top-quality shingles, and CertainTeed (in my opinion) is the best manufacturer in the industry. Pick the one that fits your budget, hire a reputable roofer to install them, and enjoy 40 to 50 years of peace of mind.
Which CertainTeed shingle is right for you?
As I just said, you can’t go wrong with Grand Manor shingles or Belmont shingles. Both are high-quality roofing materials with a great lifespan, curb appeal, and warranties.
But the truth is that most homeowners won’t be able to afford luxury shingles. Even if you have the budget, maybe they’re just too much of an investment, you don’t like the look, or you simply want to know your other options.
No matter the reason, you can’t go wrong with CertainTeed shingles. But what are their other top shingles, and how do they compare?
To answer this question, I wrote another article breaking down the top CertainTeed shingles to help you find the right one for your situation, budget, home’s look, and more.
Check out The Top 5 CertainTeed Asphalt Shingles to learn about the other shingle options from one of the top shingle manufacturers.
