The three tiers of GAF contractor certification

GAF has three levels of contractor certification, each with different requirements and warranty eligibility:

GAF Certified™ Contractor

The baseline GAF certification. Requirements include: valid roofing license in states that require it, adequate liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage, completion of GAF training requirements, and acceptance of GAF's terms of use. GAF Certified contractors can offer the GAF System Plus Limited Warranty on qualifying installations — which covers both materials AND workmanship. Atlas Roofing & Restoration holds GAF Certified status (ID: 1148301) as of 2026.

GAF Certified Plus™ Contractor

A step between Certified and Master Elite. Additional requirements include enhanced insurance coverage and demonstrated performance standards. Can offer the System Plus warranty and in some cases the Silver Pledge warranty.

GAF Master Elite® Contractor

The top tier — approximately 3% of all roofing contractors nationally. Requirements include: Certified Plus requirements plus additional training and ongoing performance standards. Master Elite contractors can offer the GAF Golden Pledge® Limited Warranty, which provides the broadest coverage available — longer coverage periods and full non-prorated coverage. This is the certification held by Feazel, the largest competitor in the Cleveland market.

What this means practically: Both GAF Certified and Master Elite contractors install quality roofs using GAF products. The difference is in warranty tier. For most homeowners, the GAF System Plus Limited Warranty (available from Atlas Roofing as a Certified contractor) provides strong, meaningful protection. The Golden Pledge (Master Elite only) adds broader coverage and a longer non-prorated period — worth asking about if long-term maximum warranty coverage is your primary priority.

Why Atlas Roofing is GAF Certified, not Master Elite

Atlas Roofing & Restoration was established in 2023 and achieved GAF Certified status. The path to Master Elite requires demonstrated performance history over time — it's not a designation that can be purchased or achieved immediately. We are working toward that tier. In the meantime, our GAF Certified status means every Atlas Roofing installation qualifies for the GAF System Plus Limited Warranty — which covers both materials and workmanship.

The warranty that matters for most homeowners

For the vast majority of homeowners, the GAF System Plus Limited Warranty from a Certified contractor provides meaningful, real-world protection. It covers the two things that actually fail: defective materials and installation errors. The Golden Pledge adds a longer non-prorated period and broader coverage, which matters most for high-end homes where maximum warranty depth is a priority. For standard replacements, System Plus is a strong warranty that should give you confidence in the installation.