GAF Golden Pledge Warranty: 50 Years, Up to 30 on Workmanship

Martin Exteriors is a GAF Master Elite® roofing contractor, a status GAF gives to fewer than 2% of roofers. That lets us offer GAF’s Golden Pledge® Limited Warranty on qualifying roofs: 50 years of non-prorated coverage for manufacturing defects and up to 30 years on workmanship (25 years standard, 30 on Timberline UHDZ®), backed by GAF. GAF eligibility rules apply. Questions? Call (815) 624-6278 any hour.

Not every roofer can offer Golden Pledge. GAF limits it to Master Elite contractors, fewer than 2% of roofers, and Martin Exteriors is one of them.

The Short Version

50 years, non-prorated. If a GAF shingle or qualifying GAF accessory has a manufacturing defect, GAF covers replacement materials, installation labor, and tear-off and disposal when needed.
Up to 30 years on workmanship. If something goes wrong because of how the roof was installed, GAF covers the repair. It’s 25 years standard and 30 years on Timberline UHDZ shingles.
Backed by GAF, not just the roofer. GAF Warranty Company stands behind the coverage.
Only from Master Elite contractors. GAF limits Golden Pledge to its Master Elite contractors.
GAF eligibility rules apply. The full 50/25 terms are for single-family detached homes owned by individuals and need a full GAF roofing system.

New shingle roof installed by Martin Exteriors on a Rockford-area ranch home

GAF Warranties Compared, in Plain English

Every GAF shingle comes with a warranty. The difference is how long the full, non-prorated coverage lasts and whether installation mistakes are covered at all. Here’s how GAF’s warranties compare for Timberline® shingles on a single-family home, based on GAF’s residential warranty guide.

Warranty	Who can offer it	Non-prorated coverage for defects	Tear-off and disposal	Workmanship coverage
GAF Shingle & Accessory	Comes with GAF shingles	10 years	Not covered	Not covered
GAF Roofing System	Any installer, with 3 qualifying GAF accessories	10 years	Not covered	Not covered
System Plus	GAF Certified, Certified Plus™ or Master Elite contractors	50 years	Covered when needed	Not covered
Silver Pledge™	Certified Plus or Master Elite contractors	50 years	Covered when needed	10 years (15 on Timberline UHDZ and AS II)
Golden Pledge®	Master Elite contractors only	50 years	Covered when needed	25 years (30 on Timberline UHDZ and AS II)

The big jump is workmanship. The standard warranties and System Plus cover the products only. Silver Pledge adds installation coverage, and Golden Pledge stretches it to 25 or 30 years.

GAF’s Official Warranty Comparison Chart

This chart comes straight from GAF. It’s GAF’s comparison guide for Master Elite contractors and shows GAF’s shingle warranties side by side. Tap the button to load GAF’s chart. On a phone, swipe sideways inside it to see every column, or open GAF’s chart in a new tab.

What Golden Pledge Covers

Manufacturing defects across the whole roof system

Golden Pledge covers GAF shingles, ridge cap shingles, starter strips, leak barrier, roof deck protection and GAF attic ventilation if any of them has a manufacturing defect. For the first 50 years, GAF pays for replacement materials and the reasonable cost of labor to install them, plus tear-off and disposal when the repair needs it. After year 50 the coverage is prorated, and GAF’s share from year 51 on is 20%.

Workmanship (GAF calls it “misapplication”)

If a GAF product, or the flashing at a valley, dormer, chimney, sidewall or plumbing vent, was installed wrong and it hurts how the roof performs, GAF will arrange the repair or pay for it. That coverage is non-prorated for 25 years on Timberline HDZ® and 30 years on Timberline UHDZ®. During the first two years, fixing an installation problem is our job as your Master Elite contractor, and GAF steps in if a contractor can’t or won’t.

Wind and algae

Golden Pledge includes GAF’s 15-year wind coverage: if shingles blow off or fail to seal, GAF pays the reasonable cost of replacing the blown-off or damaged shingles and hand-sealing any that didn’t seal. With LayerLock®-labeled Timberline shingles and the required GAF accessories, that’s GAF’s WindProven™ Limited Wind Warranty, with no maximum wind speed. Algae coverage against blue-green streaking is 25 years on StainGuard Plus™ shingles and 30 years on StainGuard Plus PRO™, and with an enhanced GAF warranty those shingles can get a 15-year non-prorated period instead of 10.

What Golden Pledge Doesn’t Cover

Storm damage. Hail, fire and falling objects aren’t covered, and wind is covered only as described above: replacing blown-off shingles under GAF’s 15-year wind coverage. Other storm damage is a homeowners insurance matter.
Poor attic ventilation. GAF does not treat inadequate ventilation as an installation error under any warranty, so we check intake and exhaust at every inspection. See attic ventilation.
Ice dams, except leaks in the area covered by GAF leak barrier caused by a defect or an installation error. That’s one reason every Martin roof gets ice and water shield along every eave, as code requires.
The house itself. Settling, structural problems, damage to the inside of the home, mold, and siding or wall work needed for flashing.
Non-GAF products and rooftop add-ons such as skylights, satellite dishes and air-conditioning units.
Normal color differences between original and replacement shingles.

This is a summary. The full terms are in the Golden Pledge Limited Warranty on gaf.com, and we’ll walk through them with you before you sign.

Who Qualifies for Golden Pledge

The home. The lifetime term with 50 years non-prorated and up to 30 years on workmanship (25 years standard, 30 on Timberline UHDZ) applies to single-family detached homes owned by individuals. Condos, associations, apartment buildings, churches and homes owned by a company fall under GAF’s version for commercial and multi-family properties, with a 40-year term and 25 years non-prorated.
The shingle. Any Timberline shingle except Timberline NS, or a GAF Designer shingle.
The system. At least 5 qualifying GAF accessories: ridge cap shingles, attic ventilation, starter strip shingles, roof deck protection and leak barrier.
The installer. A current GAF Master Elite contractor.
The paperwork. The warranty has to be registered with GAF, and it takes effect once the roof is paid in full.

How Martin Registers Your Warranty

At the inspection. We check the roof and attic and tell you which GAF warranty your roof can qualify for.
In your estimate. The warranty is named in writing, along with the shingle line and every GAF accessory that goes on.
On install day. We build the full GAF system to GAF’s instructions, with ice and water shield at every eave. Most roofs are done in a day.
After the job. GAF requires your contractor to register the warranty within 45 days of installation. We handle that for you.
Your copy. GAF sends your warranty. If it hasn’t arrived within 60 days, contact GAF or call us and we’ll check on it.

If you ever need to make a claim, GAF asks you to report it within 30 days of noticing the problem at gaf.com/claims. Notice to your contractor doesn’t count as notice to GAF, so call GAF and call us too.

Questions to Ask Any Roofer About Their Warranty

When you have quotes side by side, ask each contractor:

Which GAF warranty, by name, is included? “Lifetime” alone doesn’t tell you.
Does it cover workmanship, and who backs it: the contractor alone, or GAF?
Is it a full tear-off to the deck?
Is leak barrier included at the eaves and valleys?
How is the attic ventilated?
Will you register the warranty, and when will I get the paperwork?
Can I look you up on GAF’s contractor locator?

A lower quote often comes with a lower warranty tier. That isn’t always a deal breaker, but you should know which one you’re getting.

Why Homeowners Choose Martin for a GAF Roof

GAF is the shingle we install as our standard. Owens Corning is available if you ask for it or when we need to match existing shingles. We’re a GAF Master Elite contractor with GAF 2-Star President’s Club recognition, and we have been voted What Rocks Rockford Best Roofer, 7 years running (2020 to 2026). You can check our status on our GAF contractor profile. Read more about why homeowners choose Martin, our asphalt shingle roofing and our residential roofing work.

“Couldn’t ask for a better experience. Very professional. Never felt like they were trying to over sell us and took the time to explain everything about the roof materials and why they did things the way they do.”
Alexis K.

Golden Pledge Roofs Across Our Service Area

We install GAF roofs from our offices in Roscoe and Rockford. Start with our roof replacement page, or see the page for your town:

GAF Warranty FAQs

Is the Golden Pledge warranty really 50 years?

Golden Pledge has a lifetime term on a single-family detached home owned by individuals. For the first 50 years, coverage for manufacturing defects is non-prorated, which means GAF covers replacement materials, installation labor and, when needed, tear-off and disposal. After year 50 the coverage is prorated. Other property types, such as condos, rentals owned by a company and commercial buildings, get a 40-year term with 25 years non-prorated. GAF eligibility rules apply.

What does up to 30 years on workmanship mean?

GAF calls it misapplication coverage. If a problem comes from how the GAF products or the flashings at valleys, dormers, chimneys, sidewalls and plumbing vents were installed, Golden Pledge covers the repair at no prorating for 25 years as standard, including Timberline HDZ shingles, and 30 years on Timberline UHDZ. GAF itself backs that coverage, not just the roofer.

Who can offer the Golden Pledge warranty?

Only GAF Master Elite contractors, according to GAF. GAF gives Master Elite status to fewer than 2% of roofing contractors, and Martin Exteriors is one of them. Certified Plus contractors can offer Silver Pledge, and GAF Certified contractors can offer System Plus.

What’s the difference between Golden Pledge and Silver Pledge?

Both add GAF-backed coverage for installation mistakes. Silver Pledge can be offered by GAF Certified Plus or Master Elite contractors, needs at least 4 qualifying GAF accessories and covers installation mistakes for 10 years (15 on Timberline UHDZ and AS II). Golden Pledge is only available from Master Elite contractors, needs at least 5 qualifying GAF accessories and covers installation mistakes for 25 years non-prorated (30 on Timberline UHDZ and AS II). GAF eligibility rules apply.

Does every Martin roof qualify for Golden Pledge?

Not automatically. The home and the roof have to meet GAF’s rules: a qualifying GAF shingle, at least 5 qualifying GAF accessories and installation by a Master Elite contractor, among others. At your free inspection we tell you which GAF warranty your roof can qualify for and write that warranty into your estimate.

Does Golden Pledge cover hail or storm damage?

No. Like every GAF limited warranty, Golden Pledge does not cover damage from hail, fire, falling objects or winds above the covered wind speed. Storm damage is usually a homeowners insurance claim. Golden Pledge covers manufacturing defects and installation mistakes.

Can I transfer the warranty if I sell my house?

Yes, once. The new owner has to notify GAF in writing within one year of buying the home. If the transfer happens within the first 20 years after installation, the second owner gets the same coverage as the original owner. After 20 years, the second owner’s coverage is limited to two years. GAF takes transfer requests by email at ccp@gaf.com with proof of the sale date.

How is the warranty registered?

Your contractor registers it. GAF requires registration within 45 days of installation, and the warranty takes effect once the roof is registered and paid in full. Martin handles the registration for you. If you have not received your warranty from GAF within 60 days, contact GAF or call us and we will check on it.

How do I check that a roofer is GAF Master Elite?

Look the contractor up on GAF’s contractor locator at gaf.com/contractor. It shows each contractor’s current GAF certification. You can see ours on our GAF contractor profile. Ask for the warranty by name, in writing, in your estimate.

Find Out Which GAF Warranty Your Roof Qualifies For

Book a free roof inspection and we’ll tell you which GAF warranty fits your roof, in writing. Call (815) 624-6278. Someone answers 24/7. Financing is available.

GAF®, Golden Pledge®, Silver Pledge™, Master Elite®, Certified Plus™, Timberline®, Timberline HDZ®, Timberline UHDZ®, LayerLock®, WindProven™ and StainGuard Plus™ are trademarks of GAF. Warranty terms are summarized from GAF’s published limited warranties; see gaf.com for complete coverage and restrictions. GAF eligibility rules apply. Contractors enrolled in GAF certification programs are independent businesses, not employees or agents of GAF.