130 mph with SureStart Plus upgrade. ASTM D7158 Class H.
Hail / impact
Class 3
UL 2218 Impact-Resistance Test rating. Class 4 is the highest grade; some Florida insurers offer a small discount on hail-rated roofs.
Fire rating
Class A
ASTM E108 / UL 790
Weight per square
270 lbs
Standard architectural asphalt
Algae resistance
StreakFighter
15-year algae warranty
Manufacturer
CertainTeed
Malvern, PA · made in the USA
What you're looking at.
The granule tones the blend is built from, how the colour is classified, and how it behaves on a roof.
Granule 01Base tone#8A8985
Granule 02Deeper granule#777672
Granule 03Lighter granule#9A9994
Hex
#8A8985
Family
Gray
Undertone
Cool blue
Best in
Daylight
How it shifts
Max Def Birchwood is the kind of gray you choose when you want the roof to recede and the rest of the house to lead. Not quite black, not quite slate. It is a confident, anchored color that absorbs the eye instead of bouncing it. On a south-facing Florida elevation it reads cool and slightly blue. On a north-facing roof in shade it pulls toward true black.
The profile
The shingle profile carries a deep shadow line that emphasizes the gray tone in midday light. At dusk the whole roof becomes one quiet plane that frames the rest of the house instead of competing with it.
Where it belongs
Pairs cleanly with white, cream, navy, sage, and warm terra-cotta sidings. Almost any house color works underneath it.
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About Max Def Birchwood.
Questions homeowners ask before they commit. Answered without sales spin.
A confident, slightly cool dark gray. It reads close to black in shade and as a clean slate in direct sunlight. The granule blend has a faint cool undertone that keeps it from looking flat. On a Florida elevation with strong overhead light, expect the surface to brighten visibly compared to a cloudy day.
Minimally. CertainTeed's ceramic granule coating is engineered to hold color for 25 plus years in Florida UV. Expect a barely-visible shift toward a slightly warmer tone over the first 5 years, then stability. The full warranty covers premature fading. Source: CertainTeed product warranty card and NRCA Asphalt Shingle Manual.
In direct overhead sun it brightens to a clear charcoal with visible dimensional shadow lines. On cloudy days it reads almost black and recedes visually, which flatters most siding colors underneath. At sunset the granule blend shows its warmth.
Slightly, compared to a white or light-gray roof. In Florida, a mid-dark roof adds approximately 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit to attic temperatures during peak summer. Proper attic ventilation and a modern radiant barrier reduce the actual cooling-load impact to less than 20 dollars per month in most homes.
Very similar in daylight. The gray-family SKUs across CertainTeed, GAF, CertainTeed, IKO, and Owens Corning sit within a small tonal window. Subtle differences in granule blend (some lean cool blue, others lean warm slate) become visible only side by side. Use the Compare tab to see direct hex deltas.
Generally yes. CertainTeed's algae-resistance package uses copper- or zinc-infused granules that inhibit the most common Florida algae strain (Gloeocapsa magma). Expect clean performance for the warranty window with normal cleaning; in heavy-shade or low-airflow installations occasional soft-wash maintenance helps. Source: NRCA Algae Discoloration field guidance.
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#8A8985 · gray · cool blue undertone Manufacturer swatch