Here is a fact most homeowners learn too late: the warranty on your new roof depends less on the shingle than on the person who nails it down.
Manufacturers write strong warranties for their products. Then they add a condition that changes everything: the product has to be installed to their standard. A bargain crew that skips steps can void the coverage on the very shingles they are installing, and the homeowner finds out years later, when a claim gets denied.
This is why certification matters, why Hearthstone Restoration installs one manufacturer exclusively, and why the letters “ShingleMaster” on our name are worth understanding before you hire anyone. Here is the plain-language version.
What a CertainTeed ShingleMaster is
CertainTeed is one of North America’s oldest and largest building-materials manufacturers, and its credential program certifies the contractors who install its roofing systems. A ShingleMaster is a contractor whose company has trained on CertainTeed’s installation standards, demonstrated quality workmanship, and earned the right to offer CertainTeed’s stronger warranty tiers.
In practice, certification means the crew on your roof installs the system the way its engineers designed it: the right nailing pattern, the right underlayment, the right ventilation and flashing details. Those details are invisible from the street, and they are the difference between a shingle that reaches its potential and one that ages out a decade early. Our post on how long roofs last in North Carolina shows how large that gap gets.
Why we install CertainTeed exclusively
Some roofers install whatever brand the supply house has stacked cheapest that week. Every job is a first date with the materials.
Hearthstone Restoration installs CertainTeed products exclusively, across their full line. One manufacturer, mastered. Our crews, the same crews for over a decade, know these systems down to the fastener. That depth is what certification is supposed to represent, and it is only possible when a company commits to doing one thing at the highest standard instead of everything at an average one.
The product itself earns the commitment. CertainTeed shingles are built heavier and thicker than the average shingle on a Triad roof, the color selection is far wider than most lines offer, and depending on the style you choose, the shingles carry a 25 or 30 year algae-resistance warranty that keeps the dark streaks off your roof for decades.
The two warranties on your roof, explained
Every roof carries two separate promises, and homeowners deserve to understand both before signing anything. CertainTeed’s own guides, Understanding Roof Warranties and My Roof Warranty: What It Is and What It Covers, are worth ten minutes of any homeowner’s time. The short version:
The manufacturer warranty covers the products: the shingles and roofing components, against manufacturing defects. It comes from CertainTeed.
The workmanship warranty covers the installation: the human work of putting the roof on. It comes from your contractor, and it is only as strong as the company standing behind it. Hearthstone Restoration backs every roof with a lifetime workmanship warranty, and we are local enough in Greensboro to honor it for the life of your home.
The trap sits between the two. A materials warranty can be reduced or voided by a faulty installation. Hire an uncertified crew to save money and you may be trading away the manufacturer coverage your shingles came with.
SureStart PLUS: the extended warranty we offer
Because of our certification, Hearthstone Restoration offers CertainTeed’s SureStart PLUS 4-Star extended warranty. CertainTeed explains the program in its Worry-Free Warranties guide, and the idea is simple: the manufacturer extends its protection beyond materials alone, standing behind the installation as well, at a strength only credentialed contractors can offer.
Two things make SureStart PLUS coverage worth asking every roofer about:
It puts the manufacturer behind the whole roof, not only the shingles. Coverage at this tier reaches beyond product defects, which is exactly the protection a homeowner cannot get from a bargain install.
SureStart protection is transferable. If you sell your home during the coverage period, the warranty can transfer to the new owner. That is a real selling point when your house goes on the market: buyers notice a roof whose protection comes with the keys. We wrote about the roof’s role in resale in why roof quotes vary so much, and this is one more piece of that picture.
Ask us for the full 4-Star coverage terms during your inspection visit, in writing, and we will walk you through exactly what applies to your project.
What this means when you compare roofers
When the quotes come in, add one line to your comparison: what warranty tier can each contractor offer, and who backs the workmanship? Our ten questions for choosing a roofing contractor puts this in a full checklist. You will find that the certification question sorts the field fast, because a contractor’s warranty answer tells you exactly how much confidence they have in their own crew.
Ours: lifetime workmanship from us, SureStart PLUS 4-Star from CertainTeed, in writing, on every qualifying roof.
Want the full picture for your own roof? Request a free drone inspection from Hearthstone Restoration. We serve Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, and homeowners across North Carolina. You will see your roof from above, get a straight answer on what it needs, and see every warranty term on paper before you decide anything.
👉 Request your free drone inspection
Frequently asked questions
What is a CertainTeed ShingleMaster?
A roofing contractor credentialed by CertainTeed for training and workmanship on its roofing systems. The certification also authorizes the contractor to offer CertainTeed’s stronger extended warranties, like SureStart PLUS.
What does the SureStart PLUS warranty cover?
It extends CertainTeed’s protection beyond the standard materials coverage, backing the installed roof system at a level only credentialed contractors can offer. Terms vary by tier and project, so ask for your exact coverage in writing. Hearthstone Restoration offers the 4-Star tier and reviews the details with every homeowner.
Is a roof warranty transferable when I sell my home?
SureStart protection can transfer to a new owner during the coverage period. A transferable roof warranty is a genuine asset when listing a home.
Can a bad installation void my shingle warranty?
Yes. Manufacturer warranties assume the product was installed to standard. Improper installation can reduce or void that coverage, which is the strongest practical argument for hiring a certified installer.
Does Hearthstone Restoration install brands other than CertainTeed?
No. We install CertainTeed exclusively and carry their full product line. One manufacturer, mastered by the same crews for over a decade, is how we keep every roof at the standard our warranties depend on.