Fortified roof using GAF roofing materials

GAF products and a FORTIFIED Roof™

a contractor working with GAF roofing  products that can be used to comply with FORTIFIED ROOF requirements.

What is a FORTIFIED™ Roof?

  • A FORTIFIED™ Roof is one designation of the FORTIFIED program focused on helping to protect roofs from severe weather like high winds, hail and hurricanes1

  • A FORTIFIED Roof designation may help you qualify for financial incentives2

  • Certain GAF products are FORTIFIED-compliant3
1 Eligibility criteria, terms, and restrictions apply. See current FORTIFIED Home™ Standard available at fortifiedhome.org for details. U.S. only.

2 Insurance discounts, grants, and other incentives are not guaranteed and may vary, if available. For more information, visit fortifiedhome.org/incentives.

3 Even if GAF products meet certain FORTIFIED requirements or are used in a FORTIFIED designated roof, GAF products are covered by GAF’s limited warranties, which provide your sole and exclusive remedy for any covered issues arising out of or related to qualifying GAF products. See gaf.com/Warranties for details.

Are you a contractor looking to become FORTIFIED™ Certified?

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Two homeowners speak with a GAF Master Elite Contractor who is FORTIFIED Certified about getting a FORTIFIED Roof for their house.

How to get a FORTIFIED Roof

Talk to a GAF Master Elite® Contractor4 who is also IBHS Certified Fortified™5. These contractors are familiar with FORTIFIED™ Roof requirements and can offer some of GAF's strongest warranties on qualifying roofing systems.6
4 Contractors enrolled in GAF certification programs are not employees or agents of GAF, and GAF does not control or otherwise supervise these independent businesses. Contractors may receive benefits, such as loyalty rewards points and discounts on marketing tools from GAF for participating in the program and offering GAF enhanced warranties, which require the use of a minimum amount of GAF products. Your dealings with a Contractor, and any services they provide to you, are subject to the Contractor Terms of Use. Visit gaf.com/gaf-contractor-terms-of-use for details. Always verify that your contractor is certified by GAF by visiting gaf.com/roofing-contractors.

5 FORTIFIED™ certified is a program of IBHS. Always verify that your contractor is FORTIFIED Certified with IBHS by visiting fortifiedproviders.com.

6 Eligibility requirements, terms and restrictions apply. Visit gaf.com/warranties for information.
A diagram illustration of a FORTIFIED roof showing its components, including ridge cap shingles, attic ventilation, shingles, roof deck protection, seam tape, a leak barrier and starter strip shingles

FORTIFIED roofing requirements¹

  • Must be installed by a FORTIFIED certified roofer
  • Products and installation must meet FORTIFIED standards.
  • Must be verified by a Certified FORTIFIED Evaluator
1 Eligibility criteria, terms, and restrictions apply. See current FORTIFIED Home™ Standard available at fortifiedhome.org for details. U.S. only.

Warranties and financial benefits

Check Mark in Badge Icon

Exclusive limited warranty coverage

A FORTIFIED Roof installed by a GAF Master Elite® Contractor may be eligible for a Golden Pledge® or President’s Club Limited Warranty as well as benefits from the FORTIFIED warranty addendum.7
Limited warranty details
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Potential savings and incentives

Insurance discounts, grants and other incentives may be available in certain states.2
Financial Incentives
2 Insurance discounts, grants, and other incentives are not guaranteed and may vary if available. For more information, visit fortifiedhome.org/incentives

7 See Golden Pledge Limited Warranty and President's Club Limited Warranty and Limited Fortified Addendum for complete coverage and restrictions. 

Want more information about roofing restoration after a storm?

Homeowner storm hub

GAF Products that comply with certain FORTIFIED requirements⁸

FORTIFIED Roof™ Leak Barrier Requirement:

  • Must comply with ASTM D1970 standards.
  • 1-ply self-adhering leak barrier.

FORTIFIED Roof™ Peel & Stick Starter Strip Requirement:

  • Must comply with ASTM D1970 standards.
  • Either embed the starter strip in roofing cement or use self-adhering starter strips.

FORTIFIED Roof™ Sealed Roof Deck Requirement:

  • Must comply with ASTM D8257 standards.
  • Use a 2-ply synthetic underlayment.

Self-adhering, polymer-modified bitumen tape:

  • Meets or exceeds the physical requirements of ASTM D1970
  • 4" wide

FORTIFIED Roof™ Standard Shingle Requirement:

  • Must be Class F (ASTM D3161) or Class H (ASTM D7158) rated asphalt shingles.

9Testing performed under controlled laboratory conditions. GAF makes no express or implied warranty about the impact performance of these products against hail. Hail damage is not covered under the limited warranty. See GAF Shingle and Accessory Limited Warranty available at gaf.com/warranties for details.

If seeking the optional hail supplement under the FORTIFIED Home - High Wind designation, asphalt shingles must be rated Good or Excellent in the IBHS Hail Impact Standard Ratings.9

9Testing performed under controlled laboratory conditions. GAF makes no express or implied warranty about the impact performance of these products against hail. Hail damage is not covered under the limited warranty. See GAF Shingle and Accessory Limited Warranty available at gaf.com/warranties for details.

  • Asphalt shingles must meet ASTM D3161 (Class F) or ASTM D7158 (Class H)
Note: Availability varies by region. See gaf.com/RidgeCapAvailability for regional availability.

  • All ridge and off-ridge roof vents must be tested in accordance with TAS 100 (A).

A broad line of ridge and off-ridge ventilation products for residential roof systems.

Master Flow™ off ridge attic ventilation products

Electric & Solar Power Attic Vents - Roof Mount

Wind Turbines

Aluminum Ridge Vent

Rooftop Accessories

FORTIFIED Roof™ Roll Roofing Requirement:

  • Roof slope must be less than 2:12.
  • Low-slope roof system attachments must be installed in compliance with the requirements of the certified design pressure report and building code requirements.

8Eligibility criteria, terms, and restrictions apply. See current FORTIFIED Home™ Standard available at fortifiedhome.org for details. U.S. only. Even if GAF products meet certain FORTIFIED requirements or are used in a FORTIFIED designated roof, GAF products are covered by GAF’s limited warranties, which provide your sole and exclusive remedy for any covered issues arising out of or related to qualifying GAF products. See gaf.com/warranties for details.

Video thumbnail of GAF products that can be used as part of a FORTIFIED roof.

The GAF and IBHS Alliance

GAF has joined IBHS in a first-of-its-kind alliance. GAF offers GAF Master Elite® contractors4 training to help them meet the requirements to become FORTIFIED Certified.6 Once certified, these contractors can offer an additional limited warranty addendum.
4 Contractors enrolled in GAF certification programs are not employees or agents of GAF, and GAF does not control or otherwise supervise these independent businesses. Contractors may 
receive benefits, such as loyalty rewards points and discounts on marketing tools from GAF for participating in the program and offering GAF enhanced warranties, which require the use of 𠊊 minimum amount of GAF products. Your dealings with a Contractor, and any services they provide to you, are subject to the Contractor Terms of Use. Visit gaf.com/gaf-contractor-terms-of use for details. Always verify that your contractor is certified by GAF by visiting gaf.com/roofing-contractors.

6 FORTIFIED™ certified is a program of IBHS. Eligibility requirements, terms, and restrictions apply. For details, visit fortifiedhome.org/how-to-become-fortified-certified. Always verify that your contractor is FORTIFIED Certified with IBHS by visiting fortifiedproviders.com.
Joe Singh Headshot

Hear from a contractor

“A FORTIFIED Roof has so many benefits for property owners, from mitigating the inside damage from major storms ... to sustaining much stronger wind lifts.”

Joe Singh,
First United Roofing & Construction

FORTIFIED roofing FAQs⁷

GAF has manufactured high-quality roofing products for over 135 years. More homes and businesses in the U.S. are protected by a GAF roof than by any other product. GAF manufacturers certain products that can comply with FORTIFIED requirements.7 GAF also offers contractor training to meet the requirements to become FORTIFIED Certified with IBHS.6

Initial FORTIFIED designation certificates expire five years from the date they were issued. At the end of that period, a redesignation inspection is required to maintain the designation.

The FORTIFIED Standard requires roofs to be sealed in a particular manner to help reduce the risk of water passing through gaps if wind removes the roof covering.

A FORTIFIED Certified contractor can provide an itemized cost breakdown as part of your roofing estimate. Consider connecting with local GAF Master Elite® Contractors3 who are FORTIFIED Certified.

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is an independent, nonprofit, scientific research and communications organization supported solely by property insurers and reinsurers. IBHS’s building safety research leads to real-world solutions for home and business owners, helping to create more resilient communities.

As North America's largest roofing manufacturer, more homes and businesses in the U.S. are protected by a GAF roof than by any other product. Over 135 years in business, we've maintained a sustained focus on our customers.

3 Contractors enrolled in GAF certification programs are not employees or agents of GAF, and GAF does not control or otherwise supervise these independent businesses. Contractors may receive benefits, such as loyalty rewards points and discounts on marketing tools from GAF for participating in the program and offering GAF enhanced warranties, which require the use of a minimum amount of GAF products. Your dealings with a Contractor, and any services they provide to you, are subject to the Contractor Terms of Use. Visit gaf.com/gaf-contractor-terms-of-use for details.

6 FORTIFIED™ certified is a program of IBHS. Eligibility requirements, terms, and restrictions apply. For details, visit fortifiedhome.org/how-to-become-fortified-certified. Always verify that your contractor is FORTIFIED Certified with IBHS by visiting fortifiedproviders.com.

7 Eligibility criteria, terms, and restrictions apply. See current FORTIFIED Home™ Standard available at fortifiedhome.org for details. U.S. only. Even if GAF products meet certain FORTIFIED requirements or are used in a FORTIFIED designated roof, GAF products are covered by GAF’s limited warranties, which provide your sole and exclusive remedy for any covered issues arising out of or related to qualifying GAF products. See gaf.com/warranties for details.