What is the wind rating of GAF Timberline shingles?
Short answer. GAF Timberline HDZ shingles are listed to ASTM D3161 Class F and ASTM D7158 Class H, the top wind classes for asphalt shingles. GAF's standard wind coverage is 110 mph, rising to 130 mph with its special installation using GAF starter strips, and the WindProven limited wind warranty removes the wind speed cap when the shingles go on with four qualifying GAF accessories.
What the test classes mean
- ASTM D3161 Class F: the shingles stayed in place in a fan-driven wind test at 110 mph.
- ASTM D7158 Class H: an uplift test of the sealed shingle, rated for locations with design wind speeds up to 150 mph.
These are lab classifications, not promises that shingles survive any storm. Real-world performance depends on nailing, sealing and how the roof edges are built.
The warranty tiers
- Standard installation: wind coverage up to 110 mph.
- Special installation: up to 130 mph, which calls for GAF starter strip shingles at the eaves and rakes.
- WindProven: a 15-year limited wind warranty with no maximum wind speed for GAF shingles with LayerLock technology, such as Timberline HDZ, when installed with at least four qualifying GAF accessories: starter strips, roof deck protection, ridge cap shingles, and either leak barrier or attic ventilation.
Warranty terms change over time and the written warranty controls, so read the current version for your exact product.
What this means in Georgia
Most wind damage on North Georgia roofs starts at edges, ridges and shingles that never sealed, not in the middle of a slope. Starter strips installed correctly, nails in the nailing zone and shingles that have sealed in warm weather matter as much as the rating on the wrapper. See wind damage to roofs in Georgia and roofing warranties explained.