Hiring a trustworthy, top-rated roofing contractor in Lexington to perform your roof repair and replacements is one of the most important decisions you are faced with as a homeowner. Not only is the workmanship of your roofer critically important, but so is the material they choose.

Studies indicate that more than two-thirds of roofing problems originate from poor workmanship, not the roofing material. However, issues with roofing materials do occur and luckily you should be covered by a warranty in this case.

We often talk about how to hire the right roofing contractor for your home, and today we wanted to explain how the warranties from GAF – one of the largest roofing materials producers, work and how their coverage benefits you. In this article we’ll break down the most common GAF warranties and the warranties that GAF MasterElite Certified contractors (like us) are able to offer.

GAF Warranty Basics

Basically, there are two types of warranty coverage that GAF offers homeowners:

  • coverage against workmanship errors (this is only covered by GAF if the roofing contractor has completed certain mastery certificates)
  • coverage against material defects

Almost all GAF products come with a warranty against material defects, but your specific coverage will vary depending on the warranty level. When hiring a roofing contractor in Lexington, it’s extremely important to ask about the workmanship and materials warranty they’re able to offer. This is certainly a tipping point for many homeowners. If you get two bids from reputable roofing contractors in Lexington that are similar in price, but one is able to offer much better warranty coverage, that helps make your decision much easier. Make sure you get the coverage details in writing.

What Materials Warranty Covers

Almost all roofing products come with a warranty against material defects, but your specific coverage will vary by product. GAF shingles come with a 50-year warranty on material defects while other roofing materials, such as underlayment, ice and water shields, etc., can range from a few months to several years. 

One of the reasons we prefer GAF shingles and roofing materials over the competition, is the scope of what their warranties cover. GAF shingles have limited coverage against wind damage, algae and even stains! Note, coverage varies depending on the shingle line you choose. Be sure to consult with your roofer on what warranties apply when selecting your shingles!

A few of GAF’s industry leading material warranties:

  • Windproven Warranty: For LayerLock-labeled shingles, the manufacturer, GAF, will warranty the shingles for 15 years under ANY wind speed! Note, to be warrantied for any wind speed, they must be from the LayerLock line.
  • Shingle & Accessory Warranty: This warranty covers the integrity of the materials. It provides an automatic lifetime warranty, plus wind and algae warranties. The coverage for stains and discoloration caused by blue-green algae, StainGuard Plus™ shingles, ridge cap shingles and StarterMatch® starter strip shingles come with a 25 year 10-year non-prorated period.
  • System Plus Limited Warranty: This warranty covers the qualifying GAF shingles for 50-years and in some cases the life of the shingle against staining and defects.

GAF’s Smart Choice Protection 

GAF warranties are designed with a special provision known as the Smart Choice® Protection. It protects against material defects during the vital early years of your new roof. In the event you experience any material defect on covered products during this period, GAF will provide 100% replacement materials plus reasonable labor to install them.

The GAF Golden Pledge Limited Warranty

The most popular and extensive GAF roof warranty is their Golden Pledge Limited Warranty. It provides protection against material defects for all key GAF components – not just the shingles. The warranty gives you peace of mind knowing that if any covered component fails, the warranty will replace them. The warranty is available as long as your roof is installed by a GAF MasterElite certified contractor. It is a cost-effective way to get up to 50 years of non-prorated protection against any defects with the roofing materials.

The Golden Pledge Warranty is backed by GAF, so even if your roofing contractor closes shop, you’re still covered. You can also transfer the warranty to a new homeowner when you decide to sell your home.

To be eligible for this warranty, GAF shingles and at least 5 qualifying accessory products must be installed by a GAF Master Elite Roofing Contractor.

Here are other specific warranty terms:

  • Lifetime coverage for shingles
  • Smart Choice Protection Period of 50 Years
  • Algae Warranty for 10 Years for StainGuard-Labeled Shingles or Ridge Cap Shingles
  • Wind Warranty for 15 Years
  • Tear-Off and disposal coverage when necessary
  • Workmanship warranty of 25 years

GAF displays a great deal of confidence in their MasterElite Certified roofing contractors. Even if they should go out of business, you are still able to have warranty coverage! This speaks to the highly skilled craftsmanship you can expect when hiring a GAF MasterElite Certified roofing contractor in Lexington. We are proud to undergo the rigorous MasterElite Certification requirements annually.

How to Get Warranty Benefits

Unlike traditional warranties, you do not need to register your GAF purchase of roofing materials. To make sure you can claim warranty benefits should you need them, simply hold on to your proof of purchase (your roofing contractor should help make sure you have all the documents!). Golden Pledge Limited Warranties do require registration, but this is taken care of by your roofing contractor. 

Your roofing contractor is a good first contact should you need to file a warranty claim. They can help answer any questions and guide you through the process. You may also reach GAF directly via 1-800-458-1860 or by emailing warrantyclaims@gaf.com.

Wrapping up

A GAF warranty is a great way to protect your investment and keep your home looking great for years to come. GAF warranties provide coverage for both material defects and workmanship for a certain period of time. This means that if something goes wrong with your roofing, GAF will replace any defective materials and repair any faulty workmanship. Additionally, GAF warranties can provide peace of mind when it comes to knowing that your roof is protected. 

Next Steps

We recommend and install GAF materials because of their industry leading warranties and unmatched qualities. AIC Roofing and Construction is part of the elite 2% of roofers in North America to hold the GAF MasterElite Certification. This certification is renewed by us every year as part of our commitment to excellence.

Because of our MasterElite Certification, we are able to offer exclusive warranties (like the GAF Golden Pledge Limited Warranty) to our customers – free of charge.

We are able to offer our customers peace of mind with industry leading warranties at no additional cost. Replacing your roof is an expensive and stressful process. That’s why our team goes above and beyond to take the stress out of the process for you! We’re proud of the stellar reviews and accolades we’ve received from the Lexington community. 

Rest assured knowing that our expert staff are with you every step of the way – before, during and after.  We recently won the Consumer Protection Excellence Award, meaning we’ve installed more than 100 roofing systems with enhanced warranties for customers. 

Contact us today to schedule your free, no-hassle roof inspected by one of the experts at AIC Roofing and Construction. Our GAF and Owens Corning expertise roofing will ensure your roofing system is protected against any material defects or possible workmanship errors for up to 50 years and 25 years, respectively.

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