GAF manufactures some of the best roofing materials used in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Business owners, homeowners, and commercial and residential roofing companies trust the brand’s value in the construction and home improvement industry.
The high quality of the products that GAF manufactures enables it to back its materials with industry-leading warranties. Later in this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about GAF’s world-class roofing warranties.
But first, let’s talk about what you should expect from a standard roofing warranty. These should be the minimum inclusions of your roof’s warranty.
Two Types of Warranties for Your Roof
There are two warranties that you should expect from your residential roof repair and installation contractor. The first one is the manufacturer’s warranty. This warranty covers the manufacturer’s products in case of failure. The second one is the workmanship warranty, which is issued by your contractor. These warranties should always go together.
Manufacturer Warranty. It’s important to get your materials from the top manufacturers, such as GAF, as their reputation and their capability to cover your roof are very important. In case the contractor, for whatever reason, goes out of business, the manufacturer warranty should be good enough to still cover your materials in case of failure, even if they have to be replaced by another contractor.
Most manufacturer warranties from good residential roof repair and replacement companies can cover asphalt shingle roofs for a period of up to 25 years. But that’s only for the top part of your roof. The best warranties cover not only the shingles but also at least several other parts of the roof. After all, it is a roofing “system.” This is why it’s wise to sign up for a manufacturer’s higher warranty offerings; you don’t want to be footing the bill for the parts that are not included in a basic warranty.
Workmanship Warranty. It’s great to have a manufacturer warranty, but it’s even better to also have a workmanship warranty. Avoid contractors that don’t offer this along with the manufacturer’s warranty. A reputable contractor backs up their workmanship with a warranty because they feel confident about the quality of their installation. Your contractor should cover the cost of the labor in case your roof fails due to installation errors within the coverage period.
Frequently Asked Questions About GAF Warranties
GAF offers some of the best warranties in the industry today. In this section, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about those warranties.
How do I know if my GAF roof is covered by a warranty? Your GAF roofing is covered, and you don’t need to do anything to get the warranty. The GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty covers all GAF roof shingles and other qualifying GAF Products (accessories) in case of a manufacturing defect.
Should I register my warranty? No. You don’t have to register a GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty or a GAF Roofing System Limited Warranty. Your proof of purchase is enough; that includes your installer’s contract and the invoice from the store where you bought your GAF Products. Keep your contract or invoice so you can provide it if you need to file a claim.
For enhanced GAF warranties, however, you do need to register them, but residential roofing companies handle that for their customers. Your contractor should give the copy to you within 60 days after installation completion. If you don’t get a copy, get in touch with GAF at 1-888-532-5767.
What are the different GAF warranties? In addition to its basic warranties, GAF also offers enhanced warranties. Here are the GAF warranties and how they differ from each other:
- GAF Roofing System Limited Warranty – You qualify for this when you install a GAF Roofing System. It adds Lifetime coverage on Qualifying Accessory Products to the great coverage of the GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty. Also, ask your residential and commercial roofing repair services provider about WindProven Limited Wind Warranty.
- System Plus Limited Warranty – The Smart Choice Protection Period of 10 years under the GAF Roofing System Limited Warranty is extended to 50 years under the System Plus Limited Warranty. If tear-off is necessary, it is included in this warranty.
- Silver Pledge Limited Warranty – In addition to the benefits offered by the System Plus Limited Warranty, you get to enjoy workmanship coverage of 10 years with the Silver Pledge Limited Warranty. This also includes disposal, if necessary.
- Golden Pledge Limited Warranty – The Golden Pledge offers the same benefits as the Silver Pledge Limited Warranty, but the workmanship coverage is extended to 20, 25 or 30 years. The length of workmanship coverage depends on the type of shingles you choose. Ask your contractor about the type of GAF shingles that are available.
Is algae coverage also available? Whichever GAF shingles and accessories warranty you have automatically qualifies you to get an Algae Warranty. Your ridge cap shingles and shingles labeled with StainGuard come with a 10-year limited warranty against algae staining plus a 1-year non-prorated period. If you choose shingles with the StainGuard Plus label, you enjoy a 25-year limited warranty and a 10-year non-prorated period against discoloration due to cyanobacteria or blue-green algae. Ask your contractor about how StainGuard works to protect your roof from unsightly algae staining. Additionally, if you notice any of the roofs in your neighborhood have algae staining, you should seriously consider getting StainGuard or StainGuard Plus shingles.
What is NOT covered by GAF warranties? Any damage or issue with your roof that cannot be traced back to manufacturing defects in your GAF Products is NOT covered under warranty. GAF does NOT cover the issue, either, if it is NOT caused by misapplication under a Silver Pledge or a Golden Pledge Limited Warranty. A good example of an issue that may damage your roof but is not covered by your warranty is poor attic ventilation. Make sure to discuss attic ventilation with your contractor prior to installing a GAF roofing system.
Who offers GAF-enhanced warranties? Only GAF Certified™ Contractors are eligible to offer the GAF System Plus Limited Warranty. However, all GAF Master Elite® Contractors are allowed to offer any GAF enhanced warranty, including the Silver Pledge and the Golden Pledge Limited Warranties.
How do I file a warranty claim? There are various ways to make a warranty claim with GAF, but the easiest is to do it online at gaf.com/contact. You can also send an email to [email protected]. If you want to talk to a representative about your claim, call 1-800-458-1860. Additionally, if you prefer writing a letter, send your claim to GAF, Warranty Claims Department, 1 Campus Drive, Parsippany, NJ 07054.
If you have more questions about your GAF roofing warranty, feel free to ask your residential and commercial roofing repair services provider, Elevated Roofing LLC. We are a GAF Certified Weather Stopper® Roofing Contractor. Call us today at (205) 537-9754 or fill out this form to get in touch with us.