As you research new roofs and installation of new roof products, you may have heard of a GAF Limited Warranty. It typically applies to a GAF roofing system and the materials used to install it. If you get a GAF roof, you may want to know if your new roof qualifies for their limited warranty. There are are several criteria and restrictions that need to be met to make you eligible for the limited warranty.
Your GAF Roof Must Be Installed by a GAF Certified Contractor
The very first thing that would prevent you from being eligible for a GAF Limited Warranty is if you had your roof installed by anyone other than a GAF certified contractor. In fact, hiring a non-certified contractor to install a GAF roof nullifies any warranty you might have had on the materials! Hire only the certified roofing contractor to install the roof if you hope to have the security of the limited warranty.
Your Roof Has to Be 100% GAF Roofing Materials
There can’t even be metal flashing on the roof that isn’t GAF manufactured. It’s a very serious situation to have part of the roof fail and then find out that the part that failed wasn’t even authentic GAF materials. GAF won’t cover you or your roof if the pieces and areas aren’t GAF manufactured. It doesn’t matter if you paid for and bought the GAF Limited Warranty. It will be voided if the materials are wrong.
The Shingles Are Installed With GAF Roofing System Accessories
Pay close attention to this detail in the warranty documents. If you fail to install at least three GAF manufactured roofing system accessories with your GAF shingles, the warranty is voided. Thankfully, the company makes several roofing accessories that can help you reach this magical number and stay within the warranty’s guidelines. These items include ridgepole caps and short strip shingles.
The Shingles Are a Specific Kind
It’s a limited warranty after all, and this is where “limited” applies. Your shingles have to be a very specific kind before the warranty is going to cover anything. When you select your GAF shingles, be sure to ask the certified contractor if the ones you selected qualify for the limited warranty. The StainGuard labeled shingles usually qualify.
Your GAF Roof Isn’t Outside the Warranty Period
If you have had a GAF roof for some time and you did purchase the limited warranty with your shingles and roofing system, the warranty only extends to certain years. Some products or services are only covered for five years, whereas other items are covered up to forty years. It just depends, but if your roof is already older than forty years, you are outside the warranty regardless of what you are attempting to file a claim for.
The Warranty Was Transferred to You Properly When You Bought the House
GAF warranties can be transferable. However, the previous owner should have followed protocol to transfer the warranty to you. At time of purchase, that information should have been supplied to you so that you would have peace of mind and the benefits of the warranty. If you don’t remember if this occurred when you bought the house, talk to the real estate agent you worked with and/or dig out the paperwork to see if the warranty was transferred.
Repairs Have Been Completed by a GAF Certified Roofer
Hiring an uncertified roofing contractor to fix something on your roof can void the warranty too. It has to be a GAF certified roofer, preferably the same one that installed your roof. If your original roofing contractor is retired or not available, reach out to GAF to find another certified contractor to make the repairs. Additionally, you should file a claim with GAF before fixing anything, or your claim may be voided.
Are You Eligible?
If you fit all the aforementioned criteria, you are eligible. It is necessary to stick to the rules that GAF sets for its roofing materials and installation so that there is no wiggle room for alternate interpretation. Be sure to register your roof with GAF as soon as you assume ownership of the home or after the new GAF roof is installed to ensure that your warranty is in effect. You can also check with GAF via customer service to see if your address is registered in their records.
