WAYNE, NJ (1/2011) – GAF, North America’s largest roofing and ventilation manufacturer, is announcing groundbreaking changes to its laminated shingle warranties. Effective January 1, 2011, every GAF laminated shingle, including all Timberline®shingles—the #1-selling shingles in North America—will be covered by a lifetime ltd. warranty when installed on single family residences (see ltd. warranty for complete coverage and restrictions). GAF will no longer offer any laminated shingles with just a 30-year or 40-year warranty, a first for any roofing manufacturer.
This revolutionary change has been made possible by GAF’s Advanced Protection™ technology, which was first introduced in 2007. This innovative shingle technology has resulted in shingles that offer improved performance, including superior durability and wind resistance. GAF is so confident in the performance of its Advanced Protection™ shingles that it has decided to make this unprecedented improvement in its warranties.
“As a company, we are committed to advanced quality, industry-leading expertise, and solutions that make our customers’ lives simple — which is what this warranty upgrade is all about,” stated Bob Tafaro, President and CEO of GAF. “Contractors will benefit from knowing that they can stand with confidence behind every installation of GAF laminated shingles. Homeowners will benefit from knowing that their installed shingles are warranted for a lifetime, adding significant value to their home.”
GAF has also upgraded the coverage of its Golden Pledge® and System Plus limited warranties, which are offered exclusively by its GAF-certified contractors.
“We are especially excited to announce this warranty upgrade, given that 2011 is GAF’s 125th anniversary as a company. At a time when Americans are facing so much uncertainty about the future, you can be sure that GAF will be there decades from now to stand by the performance of our roofing products. This warranty upgrade will reinforce both our leadership position in the industry and our promise of excellence to our customers,” said Tafaro.
Complete details about these changes, including certificates confirming coverage and explaining the new terms which contractors can use with homeowners, can be found at www.gaf.com/upgrade.
*See www.gaf.com for specific warranty terms and conditions
Unfortunately, your roof won’t usually pick warm and clear days to break, obviously it is much more common for your roof to develop leaks and problems when the rain is beating down and the wind is blowing a gale. Even if the roof does get damaged on a calm day it is really quite unlikely that you will notice until the weather changes. At least without regular maintenance it will be. If you find it absolutely essential when installing roofing shingles in cold weather there are certain things you need to be aware of, although it is always better to fix your roof on a calm day; it may not seem necessary at the time but it is safer for you and your roof.
Going up on your roof in cold weather, especially when there is ice or snow is potentially very dangerous indeed. Any traffic on your roof should be avoided wherever possible because a slippery roof is likely to result in a very serious fall. If you do have to go on the roof to conduct repairs you should always ensure that the roof itself, ladders and any equipment you will be using is dry and safely secured.
You can damage material if installing Shawnee roofing shingles in cold weather. Removing ice or snow from the roof can cause serious and irreparable damage to the roof. Scarping away at anything on your roof can easily lead to you removing the protective surface on the shingles, and this surface is the best protection you can get against the elements. It prevents damage to the material itself and ensures that any water will run smoothly off your roof surface without collecting. Removing it means your roof is more prone to leakage. Also, the slightest knock to a freezing cold shingle is likely to break it very easily.
The most important thing to remember in the event that you need to install roofing shingles in cold weather is your personal safety. Traversing a sloping roof in icy conditions is near suicidal and should be avoided at all costs. There is a reason that you can’t get a Shawnee roofing contractor to come out and fix your roof in these conditions and it isn’t because it’s too cold to work. Snow is no better and even early morning dew can create a very slippery surface that is potentially lethal to anyone trying to walk on the roof. However, if you do need to replace a shingle try to remain on the ladder and be sure to handle the shingles with as much care as possible so that you donít break them. You will have to manually seal the tabs of the shingles down yourself, because the warmth of the sun normally activates the adhesive strips, but this obviously will not be possible in cold weather.