Fixing Racked Shingle Installation with CertainTeed Landmark in North Kingstown, RI

Like most Pinnacle roofing projects, the work was completed in a single day — the homeowner went to work with an old roof and came home to a new one.

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The roof on Stony Lane in North Kingstown had a problem you could see from the driveway if you knew what to look for: vertical seam lines running straight up the slope, evenly spaced, like a zipper. That pattern is the telltale signature of rack-method shingle installation — a shortcut where shingles are stacked vertically rather than staggered in the offset pattern that manufacturers require. Those zipper seams channel wind-driven rain straight through the roof. Combined with an undersized ridge vent that was trapping moisture in the attic, this home had been dealing with persistent leaks and early sheathing deterioration. Pinnacle Roofing stripped it down and rebuilt it right — with the CertainTeed Integrity Roof System.

Scope of Work

The full tear-off confirmed what the exterior suggested: compromised plywood beneath the racked shingles. Moisture had been migrating along those vertical seam lines for years, softening the sheathing in predictable patterns that followed each zipper. Multiple sheets of plywood were replaced — a common discovery during North Kingstown roof repairs — to restore a solid, code-compliant nail base. The inadequate ridge vent — too narrow to provide the airflow this attic volume required — was removed entirely.

Pinnacle installed the complete CertainTeed Integrity Roof System in proper offset courses, eliminating the vertical seam vulnerability. Every eave received WinterGuard waterproofing underlayment to protect against the ice dams that North Kingstown’s wooded, shaded lots are prone to. DiamondDeck synthetic underlayment covered all remaining surfaces. A properly sized ridge vent was installed along the full ridge length, paired with existing soffit intake vents to create the balanced ventilation system that prevents moisture buildup and extends shingle life.

What We Installed (And Why)

CertainTeed Landmark in Heather Blend was selected for this North Kingstown home — a color whose warm blend of browns and greys complements the wooded suburban landscape along Stony Lane. Landmark shingles feature CertainTeed’s NailTrak nailing stripe, which prints a visible guide line across every shingle showing exactly where nails must be placed. On a home that suffered from improper installation the first time around, NailTrak is the built-in quality control that ensures this roof won’t repeat the same mistakes.

CertainTeed’s QuadraBond adhesive technology applies adhesive to both sides of the shingle laminate, creating a double-layered bond that resists the delamination forces that RI’s temperature swings impose — the shingle surface can swing from below-zero winter nights to 160-degree summer rooftop temperatures. The Landmark line also carries CertainTeed’s StreakFighter algae-resistance warranty: 25 years of protection against the black algae streaks that thrive on north-facing slopes and shaded roof sections — exactly the conditions found on this tree-lined North Kingstown lot.

Good To Know

Racked shingles are one of the most common installation shortcuts Pinnacle encounters on North Kingstown re-roofs — and one of the most damaging. In the rack method, a roofer starts at one side of the roof and stacks shingles vertically, stepping up one course at a time. It’s faster than the manufacturer-specified offset method, but it creates continuous vertical seam lines where water can travel without interruption. During a nor’easter with wind-driven rain, those seams act like channels, funneling water to the deck. Near Wickford Village and the Saunderstown neighborhoods, where mature trees shade roofs and slow drying after rain, racked seams hold moisture even longer. If you can spot evenly spaced vertical lines running up your roof slope, it’s worth having a professional assess whether your shingles were racked — before the next storm tests those seams.

Why This Approach Works

Properly offset shingle courses eliminate vertical seam alignment — water hitting any joint runs onto the solid face of the shingle below. Combined with balanced ridge-to-soffit ventilation, the attic stays dry and the sheathing stays sound. CertainTeed’s own data shows that proper ventilation can reduce summer attic temperatures by 20 to 30 degrees, directly extending shingle life in North Kingstown’s hot-roof summer conditions.

Why Pinnacle

As a CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster, Pinnacle is certified to install the full Integrity Roof System — unlocking the enhanced wind warranty and system-level coverage that individual product warranties can’t match. Pinnacle’s crew installs every roof in manufacturer-specified offset courses, never racked. Our five-star reputation and A+ BBB rating reflect the installation quality North Kingstown homeowners count on.

North Kingstown, RI

From the charming shops and galleries of Wickford Village to the quiet residential streets of Saunderstown, North Kingstown is a community that values craftsmanship and attention to detail. Pinnacle shares those values on every project. If you’re considering a roof replacement or repair in North Kingstown, book a free appointment — we’d be glad to take a look.

Project Photo Gallery

Completed CertainTeed Landmark roof in Heather Blend — clean lines and dimensional color

Heather Blend shingles up close showing the natural tonal variation across the roof surface

New plywood sheathing replacing compromised deck boards found during tear-off

Racked shingle pattern visible on the old roof — vertical zipper seams running up the slope

Inadequate original ridge vent removed — undersized for proper attic ventilation

WinterGuard ice and water shield installed at eaves before underlayment application

Full ridge vent installed — balanced intake and exhaust for proper attic airflow

Completed roof from the rear elevation showing ridge vent profile and clean courses

Original roof showing the racked installation pattern

Additional pre-work condition photo

Alternative finished view — front elevation

Close-up of completed Heather Blend surface