CertainTeed vs TAMKO Shingles: 2 NC Warranties Compared

CertainTeed vs TAMKO shingles: which one fits a North Carolina home? Both CertainTeed Landmark and TAMKO Titan XT are architectural asphalt shingles with a limited lifetime warranty for qualifying homeowners, a 10-year early coverage period for manufacturing defects, and a 15-year wind warranty. The differences are in the details: how the early coverage works, how high the wind rating can go, and how algae is covered. Iconic Roofing installs both, so this guide lays out the facts to help you choose.

Short answer: neither shingle warranty covers hail or storm damage. They cover manufacturing defects and, within limits, wind blow-off. Storm damage is a question for your homeowners insurance, and your insurer makes that decision.

CertainTeed vs TAMKO Shingles at a Glance

Here is how the standard manufacturer warranties compare, based on each company’s published limited warranty. Full terms and exclusions apply.

Warranty feature	CertainTeed Landmark	TAMKO Titan XT
Main warranty	Limited lifetime for individual owners on their own residence (50 years for other ownership)	Limited lifetime on single-family homes (480 months otherwise)
Early coverage period	10-year SureStart: non-prorated materials and labor for manufacturing defects	10-year Full Start: shingles and labor for defects that cause leaks (excludes tear-off, disposal and accessories)
Wind	15 years, 110 mph; up to 130 or 160 mph with CertainTeed starter and hip & ridge, when installed per manufacturer requirements	15 years; up to 160 mph with TAMKO’s High Wind Application and TAMKO starter and hip & ridge
Algae	Up to 25-year StreakFighter algae-resistance warranty	10-year (120-month) algae-cleaning warranty, prorated after year 1
Hail and storm damage	Not covered by the shingle warranty	Hurricanes, hail and storms excluded
Enhanced warranties	SureStart PLUS, available through CertainTeed-credentialed contractors	Available through TAMKO-credentialed contractors

Warranty details are summaries of the manufacturers’ published limited warranties as of November 2026, not a warranty from Iconic Roofing. The manufacturer’s written warranty controls; terms, exclusions, registration and installation requirements apply and can change. See certainteed.com and tamko.com for full terms. Insurance coverage decisions are made by your insurer.

CertainTeed Landmark Warranty Explained

CertainTeed Landmark shingles carry a limited lifetime warranty when an individual owns the home and lives in it. For other types of ownership, the term is 50 years. The warranty is transferable, subject to CertainTeed’s terms.

The first 10 years are called SureStart. During that time, if a manufacturing defect shows up, coverage is non-prorated and includes materials and labor. After SureStart ends, coverage continues under the limited warranty’s terms.

Wind coverage runs 15 years at 110 mph. When the roof is installed with CertainTeed’s matching starter and hip and ridge shingles, per CertainTeed’s requirements, the wind rating can go up to 130 or 160 mph. Landmark shingles with StreakFighter also carry an algae-resistance warranty of up to 25 years, which helps against the dark streaks common on shaded North Carolina roofs.

SureStart PLUS

CertainTeed also offers enhanced SureStart PLUS warranties. These require a full CertainTeed roof system and a CertainTeed-credentialed contractor, and the levels of coverage depend on the contractor’s credential. Ask any contractor which credential they hold and which warranty they can register for your roof, then check it on CertainTeed’s credentialing page.

TAMKO Titan XT Warranty Explained

TAMKO Titan XT shingles carry a limited lifetime warranty on single-family homes. On other buildings, the term is 480 months.

The first 10 years are TAMKO’s Full Start period. If a manufacturing defect causes a leak in that time, TAMKO covers replacement shingles and labor. Full Start does not cover tear-off, disposal or accessories.

Wind coverage runs 15 years. With TAMKO’s High Wind Application and TAMKO starter and hip and ridge shingles, the wind warranty goes up to 160 mph. The algae-cleaning warranty lasts 120 months and is prorated after the first year. TAMKO’s published limited warranty lists hurricanes, hail and storms among its exclusions.

TAMKO also has enhanced warranties available through TAMKO-credentialed contractors. Check terms directly with TAMKO before you sign.

What Shingle Warranties Don’t Cover

This is the part many homeowners miss. A shingle warranty is about the product. It is not storm insurance. Generally, manufacturer shingle warranties do not cover:

• Hail, hurricanes and other storm damage
• Damage from poor installation that doesn’t follow the manufacturer’s instructions
• Problems caused by poor attic ventilation or other conditions listed in the warranty
• Normal wear outside the warranty’s terms

If a storm damages your roof, your homeowners insurance policy is where coverage questions go, and your insurer makes the call. We can inspect your roof and document what we find with photos. For claim basics, the NC Department of Insurance has guidance at ncdoi.gov.

How to Keep Your Shingle Warranty Valid

Warranties come with conditions. A few habits help you keep the coverage you paid for:

1. Install per manufacturer requirements. Higher wind ratings depend on matching starter and hip and ridge shingles and the right nailing pattern.
2. Register the warranty if required. Some coverage, including enhanced warranties, needs registration.
3. Keep your paperwork. Save your contract, invoice, product names and installation date.
4. Ventilate the attic properly. Heat buildup is hard on shingles, and ventilation requirements appear in the warranty terms.
5. Read the transfer rules. If you plan to sell, check how the warranty transfers to the next owner.

Which Shingle Fits Your Home?

Both are solid choices for architectural shingles, and the right one depends on your home, the colors you like and your budget. Think about:

• Shade and algae. If your roof sits under trees, compare CertainTeed’s StreakFighter warranty with TAMKO’s algae-cleaning warranty.
• Wind exposure. Both can reach up to 160 mph wind coverage when installed per manufacturer requirements with matching accessories.
• Look and color. Each line comes in a range of colors. Seeing samples next to your siding and trim helps.
• Price. Cost depends on your roof’s size, pitch and layers to remove. Our instant roof quote gives you a starting price in minutes.

How long your shingles actually last also depends on ventilation, installation and weather. Our guide on how long a roof lasts in North Carolina covers that in detail, and our roofing FAQ answers common questions about inspections, financing and timelines.

Why Homeowners Call Iconic Roofing

Iconic Roofing is based in Hickory and installs both CertainTeed Landmark and TAMKO Titan XT shingles across Catawba, Caldwell, Alexander, Iredell, Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties. We’re licensed and insured in North Carolina and open 24/7. Most roof replacements take 1–2 days, weather permitting.

We offer free roof inspections, and we’ll show you samples of both shingles so you can compare them in person. Financing is available for qualifying homeowners; see our financing page for details.

Ready to compare CertainTeed vs TAMKO shingles on your own roof? Call 828-501-0742 to book a free inspection, or get started online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Warranty details are summaries of the manufacturers’ published limited warranties as of November 2026, not a warranty from Iconic Roofing. The manufacturer’s written warranty controls; terms, exclusions, registration and installation requirements apply and can change. See certainteed.com and tamko.com for full terms. Insurance coverage decisions are made by your insurer.