These shingles are designed in such a way that they deliver improved flexibility and superior performance in harsh weather conditions. Just like other Owens Corning shingles, SureNail Technology is still present and with the combination of new flex technology provides even better strength against blow-offs.
Dmitry Lipinskiy has decided to test Owens Corning new roofing shingle for its claims for flexibility, durability and hail resistance.
1. Flexibility
You can literally roll this shingle and its unheard off in asphalt shingle world. Shingle stands up to its name and flexes easily without cracking. Not that it’s applicable but it shows characteristics of a very important feature of innovative roofing product Owens Corning have created. Compared to regular shingles it flexes, it bends and it goes back to original form. Very important in harsh conditions.
2. Strength
Secondly, Dmitry and his team performed a hail simulation test to see how it will hold. 2″ steel ball was dropped from 20′ height on duration flex, regular duration shingle and competitor shingle (not class 4 rated). This was the most impressive part.
Both Duration and competition shingle dented deeply. You could visually see dents, and feel them with your touch. If shingle would be flat it would hold water in dents from impact. Not on Flex shingle. You could see where it hit but you couldn’t feel it with a touch of your finger on either front or back, nor visually see the dents. Best class 4 shingle we have ever tested. In the coming month, we will for sure compare how they compare to all competition shingles.
3. “Freezer” test
In Owens Corning promotional video, the company claimed shingle performs much better than other class 4 shingles, but have a disclaimer that test “is not scientific”.
Scientific or not, but claims were made and Dmitry and roofing insights team were tempted to mimic it. In Owens Corning video shingles were placed in the freezer for 24 hours but the temperature was not disclosed. Dmitry placed duration flex and competitor shingle (not class 4) into his freezer for two hours and results were very different. Both shingles kept breaking at all points he tried to bend it.
Does it mean that flex failed? Not at all. No one expects for any asphalt shingles to perform well in Siberia in winter time, but point to be made: both tests were not scientific and we don’t feel its fair to compare any products in extremely cold conditions, but since OC performed the test first, we wanted to point that it can be misleading and send the wrong impressions about characteristics on new addition to Owens Corning family of products.
Conclusion
Duration Flex is one of the best asphalt shingles on the market, and the best product we have seen from Owens Corning. While it will break in the extreme condition we believe it will perform better in colder temperatures and will have lower temperature flexibility threshold compare to most competitors products.
Comment below what you think and if you have tried installing it yet.
Well I was disappointed last week. I was replacing my roofing and struck a deal with a local Maine O/C for the Duration shingle, but then pushed to change it to the Flex after seeing this. After driving my roofer crazy to switch we found out it’s not readily sold in the New England market area. It seems we don’t get enough hail. Tons of snow but not enough hail. But thanks anyway Dmitry.