GAF contractor certification tiers — GAF Certified vs GAF Certified Plus vs GAF Master Elite

GAF's contractor program has three tiers. GAF Certified contractors must be state-licensed where required and carry $1 million in liability insurance (GAF's eligibility table). They can offer the System Plus Limited Warranty, which GAF says provides a 50 year non-prorated coverage period for single family detached homes. GAF Certified Plus has the same eligibility rows as GAF Certified in GAF's table; GAF may also weigh years of roofing experience and customer reviews, and this tier can offer the Silver Pledge Limited Warranty. They can offer both the System Plus and the Silver Pledge Limited Warranties, and GAF says the Silver Pledge provides 10 years of workmanship coverage on qualifying roofing systems. GAF Master Elite is the top tier, held by about 2% of North American roofers, GAF says. Master Elite contractors can offer all three enhanced warranties (System Plus, Silver Pledge and Golden Pledge), and Master Elite is the only tier that unlocks the Golden Pledge warranty, which GAF says includes 25 to 30 years of workmanship coverage on qualifying roofing systems. The practical consequence: when a contractor advertises they are "GAF Certified" without specifying the tier, the warranty ceiling depends on the tier: GAF says a contractor may only offer the enhanced warranties for its certification — GAF Certified the System Plus, GAF Certified Plus the System Plus and the Silver Pledge, and only GAF Master Elite the Golden Pledge. Homeowners who care about the enhanced warranty typically ask which tier the contractor holds and request the warranty document in writing before signing the roofing contract. GAF says contractors must remain in good standing and continue to participate, and that meeting the criteria does not guarantee Master Elite status. A contractor's current GAF certification shows as a badge on GAF's own contractor locator (gaf.com, residential roofing contractors). [Source: GAF contractor certification program; GAF Master Elite program]