Roof Warranty Explained

The two warranties on every roof

CertainTeed puts the split plainly: contractors warrant their workmanship, and manufacturers warrant the roofing material against defects in manufacturing. The two are separate documents from separate companies, and a problem is only covered if it falls under the right one.

• The manufacturer warranty covers the shingles and, depending on the warranty, the accessories from the same brand. It pays when the product itself is defective.
• The workmanship warranty covers mistakes in how the roof was put on. According to CertainTeed, contractor workmanship warranties typically run one to five years. Some manufacturers will also cover installation errors, but only through their own enhanced warranties and certified contractors.

Ask for a copy of both before the job starts, as CertainTeed advises. CertainTeed also points out that the first few years after installation are when problems caused by defects are most likely to show up, which is why the early full-coverage period matters more than the headline length of the warranty.

What “lifetime” actually means

A lifetime shingle warranty does not last forever, and it does not follow the roof. GAF defines lifetime as the time the original owner, or a second owner who transferred it correctly, owns the property. Owens Corning uses the same idea: coverage lasts as long as you own your single-family detached home.

The house type matters. GAF’s lifetime term applies only to a single-family detached home owned by individuals. For any other owner or building, including a condominium, a homeowners association or an apartment building, the term is 40 years. Owens Corning says only that coverage is reduced for buildings that are not single-family homes.

The non-prorated period is the part that matters

Every lifetime shingle warranty starts with a period of full coverage, and each brand gives it its own name. GAF calls it the Smart Choice Protection Period, Owens Corning the TRU PROtection period, and CertainTeed SureStart. During it, a defective shingle is replaced and the labor to install the replacement is paid. CertainTeed describes SureStart as covering 100 percent of material and labor costs, not prorated or otherwise reduced.

After it ends, two things change. Labor is no longer covered, and the value of the replacement material is cut to reflect the years of use you have already had. GAF publishes exactly how: it divides the months since installation by 600 for years 11 to 40 of a lifetime warranty, and from year 41 its contribution is 20 percent. GAF’s own example is a claim at 25 years, or 300 months, which is reduced by 300 / 600, or 50 percent.

That arithmetic is what the tool at the top of this page applies. On a 15-year-old roof under GAF’s standard warranty, the reduction is 180 / 600, or 30 percent, so GAF provides 70 percent of the replacement shingles and you pay for the labor to put them on.

Standard and enhanced warranties compared

Each brand offers a standard warranty that comes with its shingles automatically, and enhanced warranties that require a set of the brand’s own accessories and a contractor it has certified. The enhanced tiers mainly buy three things: a longer non-prorated period, tear-off and disposal costs, and cover for installation errors.

GAF

Owens Corning

Owens Corning notes that its Platinum and Preferred contractors are authorized, but not obligated, to provide an extended warranty. If you want one, agree it with the contractor before the job starts.

CertainTeed

CertainTeed’s shingle warranties run from 20 years to lifetime limited. Its Landmark shingles carry a lifetime limited transferable warranty with 10 years of SureStart protection. Contractors with CertainTeed’s ShingleMaster PRO or ShingleMaster PREMIER designation can offer SureStart PLUS 4-Star or 5-Star coverage, under which CertainTeed covers their workmanship for 25 years. CertainTeed also says it warrants its shingles against manufacturing defects whether or not they cause a leak, and that most other brands cover only defects that cause leaks or affect performance. That is CertainTeed’s description of its competitors, so check the wording of any warranty you are offered.

Wind and algae coverage

Wind and algae staining are covered separately from the main defect warranty, and for much shorter terms.

Algae coverage is also regional at Owens Corning and not available on every product. GAF’s algae remedy is the cost of commercially cleaning the shingles or, at its option, replacing the stained ones.

What a shingle warranty does not cover

• Anything that is not a manufacturing defect. GAF states that conditions resulting from anything other than an inherent manufacturing defect are not covered, unless installation errors are covered by a Silver or Golden Pledge warranty.
• Poor ventilation. GAF names a failure to install adequate ventilation as an example of what is not covered, and advises discussing ventilation with your contractor before the roof goes on.
• Storm and impact damage. Hail, a fallen tree or a hurricane is not a defect in the shingle. That is a homeowners insurance question, covered in our guide on whether insurance covers roof replacement.
• Installation mistakes on a standard warranty. Unless your warranty explicitly includes workmanship or misapplication, installation errors fall to the contractor’s own warranty.
• Labor after the non-prorated period. From that point, you pay to install the replacement material yourself.

Registering and transferring a roof warranty

Registration. GAF’s Shingle & Accessory and Roofing System warranties need no registration; keep your proof of purchase, such as the contract or invoice, for any claim. Its enhanced warranties do need registration, which the certified contractor handles, and GAF asks you to contact it if you have not received a copy within 60 days of installation. Owens Corning offers online registration so the warranty can be found easily if you ever need it.

Transfer when you sell. At GAF, a second owner keeps lifetime coverage only if the warranty is transferred during the Smart Choice Protection Period, with proof of the date the property changed hands. At Owens Corning, the new owner must contact the company within 60 days of the real estate transfer, and some warranties charge a transfer fee, which Owens Corning’s warranty page puts at upwards of $100 depending on the warranty terms. CertainTeed says SureStart protection transfers to the next owner at no cost during the SureStart period.

Which terms apply. Owens Corning states that coverage is based on the warranty in effect when the shingles were installed, and will supply a copy of an older warranty on request. Keep the document you were given at installation with the house paperwork.

Questions to ask before you sign

1. Which manufacturer warranty, by name, does this price include, and who registers it?
2. Does your company hold the certification that warranty requires?
3. Which of the manufacturer’s accessories are you installing, and do they meet the warranty’s component requirements?
4. How long is your own workmanship warranty, and what does it cover? Can I have it in writing?
5. If I sell the house, how is the warranty transferred, and is there a fee?

The Federal Trade Commission’s advice on any warranty applies here too: check how long it lasts, what it covers and who pays for labor, get any spoken promise in writing, and keep your receipts and warranty documents together. If a warranty dispute is not resolved, the FTC points consumers to ReportFraud.ftc.gov or their state attorney general.

Sources used on this page

• GAF residential roof warranty comparison guide, checked September 15, 2026. Warranty tiers, the lifetime definition, the Smart Choice Protection Period and proration formula, workmanship, wind and algae coverage, exclusions, registration and transfer.
• Owens Corning roofing warranties, checked September 15, 2026. Warranty overview table for single-family homes, lifetime definition, TRU PROtection period, contractor authorization, registration, transfer and transfer fee.
• CertainTeed, Roofing 101: Worry-Free Warranties and CertainTeed Landmark shingles, checked September 15, 2026. SureStart and SureStart PLUS coverage, workmanship warranty length, and Landmark warranty, wind and algae terms.
• Federal Trade Commission, Warranties, July 2023. What to check in a written warranty and where to report unresolved disputes.

Warranty terms change. We summarise the current published terms and link each source so you can check them; the warranty you received at installation is the one that applies to your roof. The methodology page explains how sources are used and how often pages are reviewed.