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Educate Yourself

Although homeowners may select the type of roofing, they usually leave the brand to the roofer, and that may be unwise. Even experienced roofers are apt to judge quality by two seemingly sensible but not always reliable criteria: weight and warranty.

Warranties on asphalt shingles typically run from about 20 to 40 years, but that’s not as generous as it may seem. Generally, the warranty covers both materials and labor only for the first year. After that, the cost of labor may be excluded, and the cost of the shingles is prorated, sharply reducing the warranty’s payback over the years. Some warranties are transferable, a consideration if you’re planning to sell, or buy, the house. But some manufacturers charge a transfer fee or reduce the coverage sharply. Many won’t transfer the warranty at all. Check when you choose a brand.

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The Warranty

Why Are Warranties Important?


A new roof is a big investment, typically involving thousands of your hard-earned dollars and lasting 25, 30, 40 years or more. As with any big investment, knowing in advance what your warranty covers could save you thousands in the event that problems arise with your roof.

What Are The Chances Of Having A Problem With My New GAF Roof?

Based on GAF’s state-of-the-art manufacturing process, the odds of having a problem with a new GAF roof is about 1 in 1000! On the other hand, while serious problems with GAF roofing materials are rare, if you were to have a problem, it can be as expensive to fix as your roof originally cost. So while the risk of having a problem is low, the cost if you do have a serious problem can be high.

What About Problems With Installation?

GAF’s studies indicate that more than two-thirds of the problems that people experience with their new roofs are due to the contractor’s workmanship-not the roofing materials. This is an important distinction to keep in mind when deciding on warranty coverage. MAKE SURE YOUR CONTRACTOR IS TRAINED PROPERLY.

What Should I Look For In A Roofing Warranty?

Basically, there are two types of coverage that you should ask your contractor about: coverage against material defects and coverage against workmanship errors.

Tell Me About Coverage Against Material Defects…

To the best of our knowledge, all roofing products come with a warranty against material defects, although your exact coverage will vary depending on the brand. For example, a typical shingle warranty will cover material defects for a period of 20, 30, 40 years or more. The warranty on the other components of your roofing system can vary from as little as a few months to several years. It is important to remember that coverage against material defects is provided by the manufacturer, so you should select a brand from a manufacturer who is financially strong and therefore more likely to be in business for as long as you own your roof-which could be several decades!

What Is GAF’s “Smart Choice® Protection Period”?

GAF’s warranties come with a special provision called the Smart Choice® Protection Period that covers you against material defects during the critical early years of your new roof. During this period, in the event that you experience a material defect on covered components, GAF will provide you with 100% replacement materials and the reasonable cost of labor to install them. This is important because some roofing warranties may only provide replacement materials, but not the labor to install them.

What Is The GAF Smart Choice® System Plus Ltd. Warranty?

The GAF Smart Choice® System Plus Ltd. Warranty provides coverage against material defects for all major GAF components on your roof (not just your shingles)-so you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that, if any covered roofing component fails, it will be covered by the warranty (see ltd. warranty for complete coverage and restrictions). The warranty is available through GAF certified contractors, and is a low-cost way to get up to 50 years of non-prorated coverage (against material defects) on your new roofing system.

How Do I Get Coverage Against Workmanship Errors?

Many roofing contractors provide their own warranty against errors in workmanship, sometimes for as long as ten years or more. Obviously, that coverage is only good for as long as the contractor remains in business. Since roofing is a “high turnover” occupation, the majority of roofing contractors are out of business within five years-far less than the life of your new roof-making the warranty worthless and leaving you with nowhere to turn in the event that you have a workmanship problem.