Do GAF Timberline lifetime shingles really last a lifetime?
How the lifetime term works
- Who qualifies: individual owners of a single-family detached home. For other owners and buildings, such as HOAs, condos or businesses, GAF's term has been 40 years.
- Smart Choice period: the first years, typically 10 on the standard warranty, when GAF covers defective material and labor without proration. After that, coverage is prorated.
- Transfer: coverage can generally transfer once, and the new owner has to notify GAF within a set time. In past versions a transfer after the Smart Choice period cut coverage sharply, so read the version that applies to your roof.
What it does not cover
Normal weathering, hail, wind beyond the warranty's terms, damage from poor attic ventilation, and installation errors fall outside the shingle warranty. Storm damage is an insurance matter. Installation errors fall on the roofer, which is why the contractor's own workmanship warranty matters as much as the shingle warranty.
Why Georgia roofs fall short of a lifetime
Summer sun drives the shingle surface far hotter than the air, and a hot, poorly vented attic bakes the deck side too. Over the years the asphalt loses its oils, granules shed, and shingles stiffen and crack. Good ventilation, correct nailing, and the matching GAF starter, ridge cap and underlayment push a roof toward the top of its range.
Enhanced warranties
GAF offers stronger system warranties when a GAF certified contractor installs qualifying accessories and registers the roof. Ask which warranty you will get, in writing. See roofing warranties explained and how long a roof lasts in Georgia.