History


Our journey to become North America’s largest roofing manufacturer is built upon sustained innovation, a never-ending focus on our customers and our commitment to protect what matters most.

1886
Standard Paint Company Founded
The Standard Paint Company was founded in a remodeled sawmill in Bound Brook, N.J. Among its 18 employees was a young chemist named William Griscom, who focused his creativity on developing new ideas for asphalt compounds.
1892
Introducing RU-BER-OID
In 1892, Griscom and Standard Paint created ready-to-lay asphalt roofing and changed the roofing business. Since it was similar to rubber, Standard Paint called their easy-to-use asphalt rolls RU-BER-OID roofing.
1904
Embedded Color Granule Technology
Standard Paint perfected the embedding of colored granules in its asphalt coating, a method still used today.
1912
First Individually Cut Asphalt Shingles
Griscom and Standard Paint introduced easy to install, inexpensive, and weatherproof individual asphalt shingles. They’re made from rag felt, hand-dipped in asphalt.
1921
Standard Paint becomes The RUBEROID Co.
Based on the success of its roofing line, Standard Paint changed its name to The RUBEROID Co. in 1921.
1933
The First Interlocking Asphalt Shingles
In 1933 The RUBEROID Co. introduced Tite-On shingles, an inexpensive, attractive alternative to older roofing methods and became the model for the success of asphalt shingles to this day.
1967

Today's most popular shingle: Timberline®

In 1967, RUBEROID engineer, Phil Bottoli laminated two strip shingles together to create a shingle of extraordinary strength and aesthetics. The Timberline® Shingle became North America’s best-selling shingle. The same year, RUBEROID merged with GAF and adopted the GAF name.
The '70s and '80s
The Entertainment Years
For a period in the 1970s and '80s, GAF was a leading provider of film and cameras, becoming the official film of Walt Disney World and Disneyland, as well as the manufacturer of the famous View-Master.
1983
The Sam Heyman Era
Sam Heyman was elected Chairman & CEO of GAF in 1983. His vision included heavy investment in the company's manufacturing network and attracting the best employees. With a seven-fold sales increase in three decades, his leadership helped GAF become the industry's largest roofing manufacturer.
1991
High Definition® Shingles
A new proprietary granule application technique enabled GAF to create unique shadow and color patterns on the upper and lower shingle layers, which results in a shingle with exceptional depth, dimension, and color.
2003
Self-Adhered TPO Membranes

To help reduce commercial roof installation costs, GAF introduced the industry's first self-adhered thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) membranes. They install quickly and eliminate the need for messy adhesives or hot asphalt.

2005
Energy-Efficient Asphalt Shingles
Advances in granule coloration technology allowed GAF to create energy efficient shingles that reflect sunlight to reduce unwanted attic heat build-up.
2007
GAF Acquires ElkCorp
GAF acquired ElkCorp, a leading residential roofing manufacturer, and soon introduced Advanced Protection® Shingles — a technology that maximizes durability while eliminating unnecessary materials overall. The new shingles were the first in the industry to pass two key wind uplift tests and a new long-term performance test.
2010
Solar-Grade TPO Membranes
EverGuard Extreme® became the first TPO membrane that could withstand the high temperatures of peel and stick solar panels and soon found wider use for any demanding application.
2011
Lifetime Limited Warranty on All Laminated Shingles
GAF became the first roofing manufacturer to offer a Lifetime ltd. warranty on all of its laminated shingles. The following year, GAF offered a Lifetime ltd. warranty on the entire GAF roofing system.
2015
GAF Acquires Quest
In 2015, GAF completed the acquisition of Quest Construction Products, including United Coatings™ and HydroStop® Coating Technologies and StreetBond® Pavement Coatings — making GAF the leading supplier of liquid-applied roof products in the USA.
2016
Timberline HD® Reflector Series™ Shingles
The introduction of Timberline HD® Reflector Series™ Shingles offered California homeowners a wider variety of rich color options to comply with Title 24 cool roof requirements.
2019

Energy From Every Roof™

GAF solar efforts grew into GAF Energy. GAF Energy works in partnership with GAF, offering affordable integrated rooftop solar options to residential and commercial customers.
LATEST FROM GAF ROOF VIEWS
IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Roof Raisers: JF Lopez's 100 Roof Pledge with Habitat for Humanity
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You can change the world by helping your neighbor, and the folks at JF Lopez Roofing are living proof. In partnership with the GAF Habitat for Humanity Contractor program, the company — based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin — pledged what it calls the Legacy 100: the goal of installing 100 roofs on Habitat for Humanity homes over 10 years. With roof number 55 completed by the close of 2022 and more slated for 2023, these roofing heroes are already more than halfway there.
By Annie Crawford
02-01-2023
IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Helping to Mitigate Urban Heat Islands with GAF StreetBond® Pavement Coatings
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Around the globe, excess heat collects in urban areas and can contribute to increased heat-related death and illness, diminished quality of life, and reduced economic opportunities. Such areas are known as "urban heat islands." Fortunately, cooling strategies are now available and being used in initiatives like the GAF Cool Community project to help mitigate urban heat island effects. Such cooling strategies are supported by products such as such as GAF StreetBond® pavement coatings with Invisible Shade™ — named by TIME magazine as one of its Best Inventions of 2022.
By Annie Crawford
01-13-2023
IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Helping Stillman College Breathe New Life into a Historic Building
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The GAF manufacturing plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama sits just a half mile away from Stillman College, a historically Black university with a rich history in the area. The school was first formed as the Tuscaloosa Institute in 1875 by the Presbyterian Church to serve as a ministerial training academy for Black men. It was renamed in 1899 — after the director whose idea it was to found the academy — Rev. Dr. Charles Allen Stillman.
By Karen L Edwards
01-05-2023
IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Roof Raiser Anthony Mackie: A Superhero Helps Rebuild Gulf Region Communities
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Critically acclaimed actor — with a roofing industry background — Anthony Mackie has teamed up with GAF and their Community Matters initiative to help rebuild Gulf Region roofs hit by extreme weather.
By Annie Crawford
01-04-2023