Certificate of Coverage

Warranties explained before you sign

The fine print, translated into plain English.

Most homeowners never read their roofing or siding warranties until something goes wrong. By then, it’s too late to ask the questions that matter: who covers the labor, how long the full coverage lasts, and what quietly voids it. This page answers those questions before you sign a contract, not after a claim gets denied.

Below you’ll find the three layers every exterior warranty is built from, GAF’s roofing coverage tiers side by side, what to know about siding warranties, and the mistakes that cancel coverage. We’ve installed roofs across the Miami Valley since 1960, so we’ve seen every one of them.

RoofingGAF coverage tiers
SidingCertainTeed coverage
WorkmanshipThe layer most skip
Ask about your warranty Compare GAF tiers
Understanding warranties when a home improvement warranty claim is denied due to exclusions and fine print
How Coverage Works

Every exterior warranty has three layers

Know which layers you have, and which ones you don’t, before the crew shows up.

  • Layer 3

    Workmanship

    Covers the installation itself: flashing, nailing, ventilation details. It comes from your contractor or, on top GAF tiers, from GAF. Without it, a leak caused by installation is your problem.

  • Layer 2

    System coverage

    Extends the manufacturer’s promise to the whole roof when the shingles are installed with matching accessories, like underlayment, starter strips and ridge caps.

  • Layer 1

    Material coverage

    The manufacturer’s promise that the product itself is free of defects. Every shingle and siding panel comes with it, but it usually covers material only, not the labor to replace it.

The catch: most warranties homeowners are handed only include the bottom layer. Material-only coverage sounds generous, but the labor to tear off and reinstall a roof is often the bigger cost. Always ask which layers your coverage actually includes, and get the answer in writing.

GAF Roofing Warranties

Climb the GAF coverage ladder

Same shingles, very different protection. The difference is the accessories and the installer.

  1. Level 1

    Shingle & Accessory

    Full coverage
    10 yrs
    Workmanship
    Not covered
    GAF accessories
    None
    Installer
    Any installer
  2. Level 2

    Roofing System

    Full coverage
    10 yrs
    Workmanship
    Not covered
    GAF accessories
    3 or more
    Installer
    GAF Certified or higher
  3. Level 3

    System Plus

    Full coverage
    50 yrs
    Workmanship
    Not covered
    GAF accessories
    3 or more
    Installer
    GAF Certified or higher
  4. Level 4

    Silver Pledge™

    Full coverage
    50 yrs
    Workmanship
    10–15 yrs
    GAF accessories
    4 or more
    Installer
    GAF Certified Plus or Master Elite®
  5. Level 5

    Golden Pledge®

    Full coverage
    50 yrs
    Workmanship
    Lifetime*
    GAF accessories
    5 or more
    Installer
    GAF Master Elite® only

“Full coverage” is GAF’s Smart Choice® Protection, the non-prorated period. *Golden Pledge workmanship is lifetime, with the first 25 to 30 years non-prorated depending on the shingle. Figures for Timberline® shingles from GAF’s warranty comparison. See GAF’s limited warranties for complete coverage and restrictions.

Why the steps matter: moving up the ladder doesn’t change the shingle on your roof. It changes who pays when something goes wrong. Higher tiers add years of full coverage and, at the top, put GAF behind the workmanship too.

Our promise: before you sign, we’ll tell you in writing which GAF warranty your roof will be registered under and which accessories it takes to get there. Start with our GAF Lifetime Roofing System guide.

Siding & Fine Print

Siding warranties and what voids coverage

The details that decide whether a claim gets paid.

CertainTeed siding coverage

CertainTeed vinyl siding carries a lifetime limited warranty for the original homeowner of a single-family home. When the house sells, coverage can pass to the next owner on a prorated basis, which is worth knowing if you plan to move.

  • Lifetime limitedFor the original homeowner
  • TransferableProrated for the next owner
  • Fade protectionAgainst color change beyond normal weathering
  • HailWorks alongside your homeowner’s insurance

Terms vary by product line, so we hand you the current warranty for the exact siding on your house. Read our siding warranty guide, or check details with CertainTeed.

5 ways warranties get voided

  1. Wrong or missing accessoriesGAF system tiers require qualifying accessories. Skip them and you fall back to basic coverage.
  2. Unregistered warrantiesMany enhanced plans must be registered after the job. If no one registers it, it may not exist.
  3. Painting or coating sidingPainting over a vinyl siding finish without approval can void the siding warranty.
  4. Improper installationManufacturers exclude damage caused by installation errors, which is why workmanship coverage matters.
  5. Skipping maintenanceClogged gutters, trapped moisture and neglected damage can all be grounds for a denied claim.

Want the full list? Read why warranty claims get denied.

The Warranty Library

Open the file on any warranty

Deeper guides for the coverage we register most, plus the claim mistakes to avoid.

Warranty FAQ

Warranty questions, answered in plain English

The six we hear most at the kitchen table.

What's the difference between a material warranty and a workmanship warranty?

A material warranty covers defects in the product itself, like a shingle that fails early. A workmanship warranty covers mistakes in how it was installed. Most leaks come from installation details, so workmanship coverage is often the more valuable of the two.

Do GAF warranties cover labor?

It depends on the tier. GAF's basic shingle warranty and Roofing System warranty don't cover workmanship. Silver Pledge adds 10 to 15 years of workmanship coverage, and Golden Pledge adds lifetime workmanship coverage, with the first 25 to 30 years non-prorated.

Are roofing warranties transferable?

GAF's residential coverage can transfer to a new owner during the Smart Choice Protection period. CertainTeed vinyl siding coverage also transfers, but on a prorated basis. Check the transfer rules before you sell.

What voids a roofing or siding warranty?

The most common causes are missing accessories, unregistered warranties, painting over siding without approval, improper installation and neglected maintenance. Ask your contractor how each one is handled before work starts.

Who registers my warranty?

Enhanced warranties are usually registered by the contractor after the job is done. Ask for your registration confirmation and keep it with your contract and invoice.

How do I know which warranty my roof will get?

Ask before you sign. We put the exact GAF warranty, the required accessories and the coverage terms in writing on every roofing proposal.

Get your warranty in writing, before you sign

We’ll inspect your roof or siding and give you a written proposal that names the exact coverage, the accessories it requires and who registers them. No guessing, no fine-print surprises later.

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