GAF System Plus Limited Warranty — What It Covers and How to Get It

The three tiers of GAF warranty coverage

GAF offers three levels of warranty protection, and understanding the difference matters before you choose a contractor. The chart below shows exactly what each tier covers — pay particular attention to the difference between the basic Shingle & Accessory warranty (which any homeowner gets automatically) and the System Plus warranty (which requires certified installation).

GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty

This is the baseline warranty that comes automatically with any GAF shingle purchase, regardless of who installs it. It covers manufacturing defects in the shingles themselves. It does not cover installation errors, labor costs, or other system components. If a shingle fails due to a manufacturing defect, GAF replaces the materials. If the shingles were installed incorrectly, you're on your own.

GAF Roofing System Limited Warranty

A step up — this requires installation of GAF Lifetime Shingles plus at least three qualifying accessory products (starter strip, ridge cap, underlayment, etc.). Like the basic warranty, it covers material defects but still does not require certified installation — any contractor can potentially offer this if the right products are used together.

GAF System Plus Limited Warranty

The System Plus is the warranty that matters. It requires installation of Timberline shingles plus at least three qualifying accessory products AND must be installed by a GAF Certified, Certified Plus, or Master Elite contractor. The critical difference is that the System Plus covers both material defects AND workmanship — meaning if the contractor made an installation error that causes a failure, the warranty covers it. This is the warranty Atlas Roofing & Restoration offers on qualifying installations.

What does the System Plus warranty actually cover?

The System Plus covers manufacturing defects in qualifying GAF products and installation workmanship errors for the coverage period. The specific terms — duration, coverage amounts, transferability — vary by product and are detailed in the full warranty document. Atlas Roofing provides the warranty documentation with every qualifying installation so you have the exact terms in writing.

Is the warranty transferable?

GAF System Plus warranties are transferable to a subsequent homeowner within the coverage period, typically for a nominal transfer fee. This is a meaningful selling point when listing your home — a documented, transferable manufacturer warranty is something buyers' agents and home inspectors recognize.