Both are Owens Corning architectural shingles, and we install both. Duration is our standard. Duration FLEX is the same shingle built on SBS polymer-modified asphalt, which gives it a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating, the highest there is. On a typical 1,600 sq ft roof, FLEX adds about $900 to $1,100 to the price. Whether that's worth it depends mostly on trees, hail history and your insurance policy.
What's the same
- Both are Owens Corning TruDefinition architectural shingles with the SureNail strip, a woven band across the nailing zone that grips the fasteners.
- Same look from the street: dimensional, laminated shingles in the same profile.
- Same installation: a full tear-off to bare decking, ice-and-water barrier at the eaves and valleys, Owens Corning starter, hip and ridge, and balanced ventilation.
- Same warranty path. On a complete Owens Corning roof replacement we register the Owens Corning System Protection warranty either way (conditions apply), and both carry our own 10-year workmanship warranty in writing.
What FLEX adds
- SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) polymer-modified asphalt. It's rubberized, so the shingle stays flexible instead of turning brittle in the cold.
- A UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating, the top of that test, which drops steel balls onto the shingle to simulate hail.
- Better odds against the things that actually break Michigan shingles: hail, wind-driven debris and falling branches, especially in January when standard asphalt is stiffest.
One honest limit: an impact rating is a test result, not a guarantee. Owens Corning says plainly that a Class rating doesn't mean a shingle will survive every storm, and its shingle warranties don't cover hail damage. Hail is an insurance matter, which is where FLEX can earn some of its cost back.
What the upgrade costs
These are the same ranges our instant quote gives, by roof size. Roof area as listed, one existing layer torn off, standard roof complexity, no wood or decking replacement, no gutters.
| Roof area | Typical house | Duration | Duration FLEX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | Small ranch or bungalow | $6,800 – $8,300 | $7,300 – $9,000 |
| 1,300 sq ft | Typical ranch | $8,400 – $10,300 | $9,200 – $11,200 |
| 1,600 sq ft | Large ranch / small colonial | $10,100 – $12,300 | $11,000 – $13,400 |
| 2,000 sq ft | Two-story colonial | $12,300 – $15,000 | $13,400 – $16,300 |
| 2,600 sq ft | Large or complex home | $15,400 – $18,800 | $16,800 – $20,500 |
Who should choose FLEX
- Homes under big trees. Downriver's older streets have mature maples and oaks, and a limb dropped in an ice storm is one of the most common ways a shingle gets punctured.
- Roofs that have already taken hail. If your street has had a hail claim before, it will again.
- Exposed roofs near the river or open ground, where wind carries debris.
- Owners whose insurer offers a credit for Class 4 shingles. Ask your agent before you decide; if there's a credit, we provide the manufacturer documentation at installation.
- Anyone planning to stay long enough to care about the next twenty-plus years more than this year's price.
When standard Duration is the right call
- Open lots without overhanging trees and no hail history.
- A home you're preparing to sell, where buyers see a new roof either way.
- A Designer color you've set your heart on. The FLEX palette is narrower than standard Duration's, so check the shingle color guide or preview colors on your own house in our color studio.
- A tight budget. A correctly installed standard Duration roof with good ventilation will outlast a premium shingle installed carelessly.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Will FLEX lower my insurance premium?
Sometimes. Some carriers give a credit for UL 2218 Class 4 shingles, and some don't, especially in Michigan, where hail is less frequent than on the plains. One call to your agent answers it for your policy.
Q: Can I get FLEX on just part of the roof?
We don't recommend mixing them. The two are priced and warrantied as complete roofs, and a patchwork makes any future claim harder. If only one slope gets the tree damage, it's usually a sign the whole roof belongs in FLEX.
Q: Is FLEX the same as Duration STORM?
No. STORM is a separate Owens Corning impact-resistant line. FLEX is the impact-resistant shingle we install; both carry a Class 4 rating.
Guthix Roofing is an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor and a licensed and insured Michigan residential builder (License #262600716) based in Wyandotte, serving Downriver. Our instant quote prices Duration and Duration FLEX side by side for your own roof, with just your name and mobile. Questions first? Call (734) 360-0805.
Want a roofer to look at yours?
See our roof replacement page, or how we work across Downriver from our shop in Wyandotte.
