Getting an honest review of roofing products and materials isn’t always easy, but at Roofing Insights, it’s what we do every day. And today, we’re covering BP’s Vanguard shingles.
You can expect to find some of the best shingles in the world going onto homes throughout the USA, but it’s essential that we put these products to the test to ensure they’re truly holding up to the standards we expect them to.
Our latest tests were put together with the help of roofers from across the country. We put shingle brands to the test, and these reviews are what came out of it.
What’s in the Test and How Does It Work?
We want to make sure that the shingles in our test would hold up over time, so we do our tests as a team; each person does their part in testing different aspects of product quality and gets to vote on how well they performed.
This is the list of what we put each product through and how we’ll write up this review. You can also watch the video above for an in-depth look into each product and how well they performed.
- Packaging
- Weight
- Nailing zone
- Pull test
- True coverage
- Consistency
- Reputation trend
- Granule loss
- Feedback friendly
Some of the test factors carry more weight than others, depending on the brand and its positioning in the market. A good shingle should score above average in most if not all of these categories. But if a shingle doesn’t, that doesn’t make it a “bad” product.
The scores used throughout the video are ranked 1 through 5, with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best. We’ll give you the average at the end of the post after combining each category.
Packaging: Scored 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Packaging is a bundle of shingles only defense against harsh weather and damage that can easily be caused during transportation. If the shingles are banged up, opened, or wet from the weather, it can cause many problems when trying to install them.
BP understands this well and has developed a good packaging that holds up well. While they didn’t receive a perfect score in this category, we’re still impressed with their product.
Weight: Scored 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Weight might not directly affect product performance, but it can dramatically impact it. We’ve found that heavier shingles will often last longer and hold up better in harsh weather, and our roofers agreed.
The BP Vanguard shingles are strong, heavy, and made to last. They scored as some of the best shingles in this category, and we’re not surprised. A perfect 5/5 in the weight category makes sense why they’re a premium option.
Nailing Zone: Scored 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nailing zones are crucial for accurate installation and adherence of the shingles. To get the most out of your shingles and ensure they stay up on the roof where they belong, they need to be nailed on properly. A good nailing zone should have these characteristics:
- Clear direction on where to nail
- Good margins
- No obstructions in the design
- Markings that show where to nail
BP’s shingles didn’t meet all of our standards for this portion of the test. We would have liked the shingles to provide a better nailing zone. This is one area where we could see them improving.
Pull Test: Scored 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Roofers often choose to disagree with us on whether or not the pull test can truly be used to determine how well a shingle will hold up over time, but we stand by it. We like the pull test because it shows us that the shingles are built strong and will handle some types of abuse. We see a common correlation that heavy shingles hold up better during the pull test.
Some of the best brands have struggled in this test because it’s not something that manufacturers plan for. We gave BP Vanguard a score of 4/5 when compared with some of the other shingle brands.
shingle weight” class=”wp-image-10073″/>True Coverage: Scored 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
True coverage is an important topic and factor because it can save your roofing company a lot of money and help to increase profits. Some shingle manufacturers design their shingles a bit larger, thus allowing you to complete a roof with fewer needed bundles. While this may not seem like it would have a big impact, you can save enough bundles to complete an entire project over time.
BP does a great job in their manufacturing process and received a glowing 5/5 for the true coverage of their product. We’re impressed with how they’ve helped roofers out in this way.
Consistency: Scored 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Consistency is a finicky thing to score a shingle manufacturer on, but it is essential to count on if you want a reliable product. Shingles are sold in squares or 100sqft lots. They almost always are split into three bundles to offer that many shingles. But, because 100sqft can’t go evenly into three bundles, companies have to determine how many shingles they’ll place in each bundle.
We want to see shingle companies placing the same amount of shingles in each and every bundle to receive a perfect score here. BP did a good job, but they weren’t perfectly consistent with how many shingles were in each bundle.
Reputation Trend: Scored 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Talking to roofers is what we do at Roofing Insights. Whether it’s meeting new people at the Roofing Conference or Roofing Business School we know the industry well, and we know many of the roofers that live and work throughout the country. Because of that, we can take note and report back on roofer’s opinions on the industry and different products.
The consensus around BP Vanguard shingles is that they’re extremely well made and, in many ways, are a premium option on the market. BP has worked hard for its reputation, and it shows.
Granule Loss: Scored 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Granules are the small sand-like pieces of material on the outer layer of the shingles that help protect your home and shingles from harsh weather. Granules are the first line of defense against:
- Hail damage
- Blown debris
- Walking on the roof
Unfortunately, poor manufacturing can lead to undue granule loss before the shingles are installed. BP has mastered manufacturing, and their process helps keep granules on the shingles despite being lifted, carried, and dropped.
Feedback Friendly: Scored 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When we test shingles, we want it to be productive both for roofers to know what they’re getting out of a product and that the manufacturer can be more aware of problems with their products. After completing the test, we reach out to the companies to provide them with info on their products and ask a few questions.
BP was extremely receptive to our feedback and was grateful for the information we provided. We scored them highly here because they listened, and we believe they’ll take action to improve.
Final Score: 4.44/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our final score is an average of each test put together. To reference how well BP did, the highest score in this test was 4.55. BP Vanguard shingles received just a .10 lower score after the test. We’re really impressed with these shingles, and you should be too.
BP’s hard work and feedback-friendly attitude will only help them continue improving their product and making it a better solution for homeowners who need a new roof.
Hire a Roofer You Trust to Provide the Best Shingles for Your Home
At Roofing Insights, we both test products and work with roofing contractors to help them improve their businesses. We’ve seen a lot of roofs and worked with a lot of different companies.
We know who the good guys are, and we want to pass that knowledge on to you. If you need a new roof or even just repairs, check out our Directorii. If you’re a roofer that’s doing the right things and providing customers with roofing solutions they can count on, reach out and apply to be on our Directorii.
Be sure to check out our blog for more product reviews. Your home deserves the best!
