Every roofing contractor in the Pacific Northwest claims a manufacturer certification of some kind. Most of those certifications are entry-level credentials that anyone with a pulse and a class fee can earn. The CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster designation is a different category. Here is what it actually means, what it actually delivers to you as a homeowner, and the limits that responsible roofers should be willing to explain.
The honest definition
CertainTeed is one of the largest residential shingle manufacturers in North America. They certify installers across three tiers of credential. The SELECT ShingleMaster is the top tier, awarded to contractors who can demonstrate documented installation expertise, ongoing crew training, business stability, and a sustained record of installations that hold up. It is widely cited as the top 1 percent of CertainTeed installers nationally. We are a 4-Star SELECT ShingleMaster — the highest contractor rank inside that top tier.
The credential is not a marketing badge you buy. It is renewed through ongoing performance, training documentation, and inspection records. CertainTeed can and does revoke it from installers who let standards slip.
What the warranty actually covers
The reason the credential matters to you as a homeowner is what it unlocks on the warranty side. On qualifying installations using CertainTeed materials, a SELECT ShingleMaster can register the strongest warranty CertainTeed offers in the residential market:
| Warranty component | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Material defect | 50 years, non-prorated for the qualifying period |
| Workmanship | 15 years, backed by CertainTeed (not just the contractor) |
| Tear-off and disposal | Included during the qualifying period |
| Transferability | One transfer allowed within defined window |
The single most important word in that table is "manufacturer-backed." A workmanship warranty from a contractor who goes out of business in year four is paper. A workmanship warranty backed by the shingle manufacturer survives the contractor.
What it does not cover
The warranty is strong, but it is not infinite, and you should hear the exclusions out loud from your roofer before signing. The common ones:
- Acts of God beyond the warranty thresholds. Hailstones above a certain size, sustained winds above a certain speed, falling trees — those are insurance claims, not warranty claims.
- Damage from later modifications. If a different contractor adds a satellite dish, a skylight, or solar panels and the installation creates a leak, that is not a CertainTeed warranty failure.
- Maintenance neglect. Moss colonies allowed to grow for years, gutters left clogged until water back-flows under the shingles — those are homeowner maintenance issues, not material defects.
- Improper ventilation. If a previous installer left an under-ventilated attic and the shingles bake faster than rated, the warranty has limits. We always audit ventilation at install.
"A workmanship warranty from a contractor who goes out of business in year four is paper. A workmanship warranty backed by the manufacturer survives the contractor."
— Gabriel Horta Blancas, Owner
What gets the warranty voided
Even a SELECT-installed roof can have its warranty voided by mistakes made later. The CertainTeed warranty rests on the assumption that the roof system stays intact and is installed and maintained according to spec. The voiding patterns we see most often:
- Mixing manufacturers on the same roof system. CertainTeed shingles installed over a non-CertainTeed underlayment, or paired with non-spec ridge venting, can void coverage on parts of the system. We install the full CertainTeed Integrity Roof System where the warranty calls for it.
- Roof-mounted equipment added by another trade. Solar arrays, satellite dishes, HVAC mini-split lines, and skylights cut into the roof field by a different contractor often create unsealed penetrations. We coordinate with other trades when we can; when we cannot, we document the as-installed condition before any third-party work.
- Pressure-washing the shingles. A pressure washer aimed at asphalt shingles strips granules, and granule loss is the visible end of shingle service life. Use a soft-wash or moss-treatment approach instead.
- Ignoring ventilation. Trapped attic heat ages shingles from the inside out. If your attic ventilation does not meet code, the warranty has limits. We audit ventilation as part of every estimate.
Why the credential is hard to get
CertainTeed runs the SELECT program intentionally narrow. The requirements include sustained installation volume, employee training documentation, business longevity and licensure, customer satisfaction tracking, and ongoing inspection. Crews have to be trained on CertainTeed's specific installation specifications — flashing details, fastener patterns, ventilation calculations, valley methods. That training has to be refreshed.
The credential is not transferable between companies. If a crew leaves us tomorrow, they cannot take the SELECT designation with them. It is the company that earned it, and the company that has to keep earning it.
How the warranty registration actually works
A common misconception is that the warranty is automatic the moment the last shingle is nailed down. It is not. The strongest tiers require active registration by the SELECT installer within a defined window after substantial completion. If your roofer does not file the registration — or files the wrong tier — you do not have the warranty you paid for.
On every CertainTeed roof we install, we collect the product lot numbers, complete the registration form for the qualifying warranty tier, file it with CertainTeed, and hand the homeowner a copy of the confirmation. Keep that document with your closing papers. If you ever sell the home or file a warranty claim, that is the proof of coverage.
How to verify any contractor's claim
- Ask for the company's SELECT ShingleMaster certification number.
- Look the contractor up on CertainTeed's official credentialed installer directory.
- Ask to see the warranty registration form they will file for your specific job.
- Verify the contractor's Oregon CCB license at the residential and commercial level. (Ours is CCB #204939.)
If a contractor cannot or will not let you verify their claim, take that as the answer.
What you get when we install your roof
Every CertainTeed roof we install includes the SELECT ShingleMaster warranty registration in your name. We file it within the qualification window, we hand you the documentation, and we keep a copy in our records. We are CCB #204939, LBPR-certified for older homes, and CESCL-certified for any ground-disturbing work. Monthly OSHA training is documented and in-house, not outsourced. Veteran-owned, family-built. Open Mon through Sat, 8 AM to 7 PM. Closed Sundays.