So I’m reading some information on GAF Timberline Shingles and I see they offer a Limited Lifetime Warranty on the Ultras that is transferable. While I’m going to ask on of our roofers for an explanation of just what that means next week are there any roofers out there tonight that can explain just how that “Lifetime” warranty works.
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Without reading it or being a roofer I can guess what types of terms that it covers.
Guaranteed not to crack or blow off as long as they are "servicable" and that being defined by the amount of "gravel" left on them.
Or something of that sort.
Well I finally found the Warranty: Great Protection–The GAF Smart Choice®Shingle Limited Warranty (pdf) and reading through the stuff I found online so far I think the protection you get with the Timberline Ultra over the Timberline Select 40 and Timberline 30 it's a pretty good deal. I'll have to crunch the numbers a little more for my client but when you include the installation labor the cost per year for an Ultra installation is impressively better than the cost per year for the Select 40s which are then again better than the cost per year of the 30s.
I like how under the Smart Choice Protection Plan the Ultra are covered for Materials and replacement LABOR for 10 years! That surprised me. And after that period they prorate the material (shingle) cost if their shingle fail.
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personally, I have always liked GAF
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
To me the Timberline 30s are kind of like the default shingle for all the client projects we've been on for a decade now. So I specified them for a client his past month and and it's turned out they want to upgrade their installation. You hear no complaints from me on that.
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Jerrald,
If you are the sort of guy who likes to read the fine print-----------
You MAY find that the 50 year warranty from a company like Certainteed or Elk is actally a better warranty than a " Lifetime Warranty"
however-----I wouldn't hold my breath while waiting to collect on ANY of them.
Stephen
It my own opinion that 95% of the time when there is a problem with a roof it not the shingles but an improper installation that was the problem anyway. Properly installed roofs generally exceed their warranty periods. I'm researching this for clarification because our client was asking for specifics regarding the warranty.
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When I was roofing, you know - back in the dawn of time, I taught Noah all he needed to know about pitch for the ark - Many of the roofing companies would make it possible for the customer to purchase a special extended warrantee when - and only when - th eproduct was installed to their specs by a roofer who was certified by them as a *whatever program name they had* intaller.
since I used product from three major brands about equally and the certification was something akin to a franchise committment along with a week schooling, I never won admission to the club. The caqrrot they held out to approved contractors was that the referrals would let you justify increased rates.
But I'm guessing that this deal is similar - installed by an approved contractor gets you the upgraded warrantee.
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Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
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"But I'm guessing that this deal is similar - installed by an approved contractor gets you the upgraded warrantee."There is another reason. IF you used a certified installer they can't disallow a claim becuase it was not properly installed. That is one of the things that they warantee.
GAF keeps a stable of hitmen. If you ask for warranty service they go out and kill you. Better put those shingles in your wives name.
My experience with GAF warranties is it doesn't matter how long they are. They don't honor them anyway. I've had several problems and in all but one case the rep wouldn't even show up to look at the problems. The one time he did show, there was a problem with the shingles sealing. He looked until he found a nail slightly out of place and said they were improperly installed- no warranty. Things may have changed - this was 10 + years ago and I haven't had much to do with them since then. I did recently over hear my shingle dealer telling someone else he'd call the GAF rep, but not to expect much.
I get great service from Certainteed. I heard from people in other areas that their service sucks, so it must be a regional thing. GAF may operate differently in your area.
Hey Mister Sushi, you forgot to cook my fish.
"Am I dead or alive? What's this? Linoleum? I must be in hell." -The Salton Sea
I wonder if they focus on better serving the larger and authorized installers' roofs.I know of several times that they totally paid for full replacements.I had the exact same experience yuou describe with some Bird shingles. Weren't they bought out by Certanteed?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I had the exact same experience yuou describe with some Bird shingles. Weren't they bought out by Certanteed?
I don't know - we've not had Bird here, at least during my career.
I've had several minor problems with Certainteed and they just told me to fix it and send them a bill.
The general consensus around here is to avoid GAF - may be different elsewhere. Hey Mister Sushi, you forgot to cook my fish.
"Am I dead or alive? What's this? Linoleum? I must be in hell." -The Salton Sea
Bird, and anotrher brand - Fry were pretty popular in the south about the time I started out.I know guys here who seem to hate GAF so it is not a common one to see. most of my experience with it was out west so it would have been from a different factory.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
The determining factor here is labor is only covered for 10 years and materials are then pro-rated.
I have a GAF roof. It's 15 years old. It had a 30 year warrenty. It needs replacing and my out of pocket will be $12,500. I wish I'd have installed 20 year 3 tab crap, it would have lasted longer. So I'll be paying for the original roof for another 15 years (life of the loan) while investing another 12 grand now. What a bargin!!!
Do a search on class action law suits against GAF. They produced a proven defective product for about 15 years.
Lifetime warrenty is meaningless.