30 vs. 40 year shingles -- wind

Hi all. We are getting a new roof for the house we just purchased. We originally decided on 30-year dimensional shingles (Pabco), but our contractor recommends we go for the 40-year shingles instead due to us being in a "high wind area". We live in Seattle and it's true that we do get some high winds and, on occasion, some nasty windstorms (last December, for example...). And the house is exposed to Puget Sound and is up a hill a ways, so I can imagine we will get more wind than a house in a valley.

The 40-year shingles are heavier and have a higher wind rating. My question is, is it worth the extra $500 to get these?

Our house is such that the roof is not really visible from the street (we almost never see it), so the nicer look of 40-year shingles is not a factor. I figure a roof leak due to wind could end up costing me $500, so I should probably just do it. Is that a reasonable course of action, or am I just wasting $500? The 30-year shingles are wind-rated up to 60 mph.

Thanks!

Carl

 

All things being equal, the 40-yr shingles will be more wind resistant than the 30-yr shingles. Don't take the 60 mph rating as an absolute max wind resistance for your own roof. This is simply a standard measured under fixed conditions. It's kinda like the speed rating on your tires.

All it takes is one good episode of hard wind to test your roof and perhaps regret going with the 30-yr shingles. I vote for the 40-yr shingles.

Beyond the shingles per se, you also want to make sure the contractor putting on the shingles will use the proper 6-nail pattern for your shingles as recommended by the manufacturer in high-wind areas. Have this written in your contract.

Also realize that the shingles won't realize their full wind resistance until the tar strips have been heat activated to fuse and seal the bottom edges of each shingle. This will prevent wind liftup. I'm not that familiar with your climate, but it may be a problem this late in the year. I'm guessing the temperature has to be over 70°F on your roof for the shingles to fuse. You'd want them to fuse before any high wind season.

 

Get the 45 year shingle. I have built houses in the Seattle and Portland area most of my life. You do not have to worry about the shingle sealing. It will do that no matter what time of year you put them on out there. If your roofer suggested a 45 year shingle you will probably not have to worry about him. He will do a good job. If he had not brought it up, then I would worry. Good Luck

 

I don't know why they have a year rating on shingles. Should be a weight rating. In Florida a 40 year shingle last about 25 years and a 30 year about 18 because of the sun and heat.

I would go with the heavy duty 40 year no tab shingles to withstand high winds. I just went thru 125 mph winds a couple year back with a 30 year tab shingle roof and it did fine but I can't
say the same for my metal roof on my barn. It did fold back
in one place.