Myth 1: "Just go over the old roof, it's cheaper"
It is cheaper — once. Then it costs you more, twice.
Layering means nobody looks at the decking underneath. If there's rot, it stays and keeps spreading. You trap heat between the layers, which shortens the life of the new shingles. You add real weight to the structure. And when the roof does come off, you're paying to tear off two layers instead of one.
We tear off. Every time. It's the only way to know what we're building on.
Myth 2: "Lifetime warranty means covered for life"
There are two separate warranties on your roof and they cover completely different things.
The manufacturer warranty covers defects in the shingle itself. It's typically prorated after an initial period, and it often requires a certified installer and specific installation methods to stay valid. A defective shingle is genuinely rare.
The workmanship warranty covers installation error — and installation error is what actually causes most early roof failures. That warranty comes from your contractor, which means it is worth exactly as much as that contractor still existing when you need it.
Ask both questions separately. A lot of people don't realize they're two different things.
Myth 3: "All shingles are basically the same"
Three-tab, architectural, and impact-rated Class 4 are meaningfully different products at meaningfully different price points. In hail country the Class 4 conversation is worth having — some insurers offer a premium credit for them, which changes the math.
That said, the difference between a good shingle and a great shingle is smaller than the difference between a good installation and a bad one.
Myth 4: "The roof failed because the shingles were cheap"
Usually it failed because of ventilation or nailing.
Nails driven too high on the shingle miss the nailing strip and the shingle blows off in the first real wind. Nails overdriven cut through the mat. Too few nails per shingle. None of that is visible from the ground and all of it is invisible the day the job finishes.
And a poorly ventilated attic cooks shingles from underneath regardless of what you paid for them.
Myth 5: "I should always take the lowest bid"
Sometimes the low bid is genuinely the same work at a better price. Often it's a different scope. Before comparing numbers, make sure all the quotes include:
- Full tear-off, not a layover
- What underlayment, and how much ice-and-water shield at the eaves and valleys
- Whether replacing rotted decking is included or an unpriced change order
- Ventilation work if it's needed
- Who carries the workmanship warranty and for how long
- Cleanup, including a magnetic nail sweep
Once those match, compare prices. They'll usually be closer than they first looked.
Myth 6: "The contractor can get my deductible waived"
Anyone offering this is describing insurance fraud, and it's your name on the policy. Walk away — and understand that a company willing to defraud your insurer is not the company you want holding your workmanship warranty.
Myth 7: "Roofing is roofing, anybody can do it"
The physical act of nailing shingles isn't complicated. What separates a twenty-five-year roof from a twelve-year roof is the parts nobody sees: flashing details at walls and chimneys, valley construction, ventilation balance, nailing discipline, and whether anybody actually inspected the deck before covering it up.
That's the whole job, and it's all hidden by the time you're writing the check. Which is exactly why who you hire matters more than what you buy.
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