Fortified roof using GAF roofing materials

GAF products and a FORTIFIED Roof™

A FORTIFIED Roof™ designation and GAF products — a perfect combination

After decades of studying weather-related damage, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) developed the FORTIFIED program—a voluntary construction and re-roofing program designed to help protect homes against severe weather. In line with our commitment to help protect your home, GAF has established an alliance with IBHS.
a contractor working with GAF roofing  products that can be used to comply with FORTIFIED ROOF requirements.

What is a FORTIFIED Roof™?

FORTIFIED Roof is the first designation level in the FORTIFIED program1 and focuses on strengthening the roof. To be eligible for a FORTIFIED Roof designation, a roofing contractor must use products that meet specific standards and install the roof in accordance with the applicable FORTIFIED Standard and manufacturer’s installation instructions. A Certified FORTIFIED Evaluator must then independently verify that all requirements are satisfied before IBHS will award a 5-year designation. A designation is valid for 5 years and an inspection is required to renew it.
Eligibility criteria, terms, and restrictions apply. See current FORTIFIED Home Standard available at fortifiedhome.org for details. U.S. only.
A representative wearing a shirt with the FORTIFIED ROOF logo demonstrating how certain GAF products comply with requirements.

The GAF & IBHS alliance

Through this alliance, GAF and IBHS are working together to help make FORTIFIED Roofs more accessible to homeowners nationwide. GAF is deploying its training expertise to help GAF Master Elite® Contractors2 meet the requirements to become FORTIFIED Certified with IBHS3 and easily identify GAF products that meet FORTIFIED Standards4.

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 www.gaf.com/gaf-contractor-terms-of-use for details.


3 Eligibility criteria, terms, and restrictions apply. Visit fortifiedhome.org for details. U.S. only.


4 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.

How GAF can help

GAF offers a variety of roofing products that meet the criteria of the FORTIFIED Roof Program.4 In addition, homeowners who have a designated FORTIFIED Roof1 installed by a GAF Master Elite® Contractor2 and purchase a Golden Pledge® Limited Warranty, are eligible for additional benefits provided by the FORTIFIED Addendum to the Golden Pledge Limited Warranty5.

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Potential Savings and Incentives

In some states, homeowners with a FORTIFIED Roof designation may be eligible for insurance discounts, grants, or other incentives.6
Financial Incentives
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GAF Contractor Locator

Find a GAF Master Elite® Contractor2 in your area.
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1 Eligibility criteria, terms, and restrictions apply. See current FORTIFIED Home Standard available at fortifiedhome.org for details. U.S. only.

2 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 www.gaf.com/gaf-contractor-terms-of-use for details.

4 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.

5 Eligibility requirements, terms and restrictions apply to Golden Pledge Limited Warranty and FORTIFIED addendum. See gaf.com/warranties for details.

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

Know when to contact your insurance company with a roof claim

Roof Damage Insurance Claims

How to become a Certified FORTIFIED Roofing Contractor

Learn More

GAF Products that meet the criteria of the FORTIFIED™ Program⁴

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.

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. Our Timberline® AS II shingles, made with proprietary SBS-modified asphalt formulation, pass UL’s toughest impact-resistance test (UL 2218 Class 4)6.

6 GAF makes no express or implied warranty about the impact performance of this product against hail. Hail damage is not covered under the limited warranty. See GAF Shingle and Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.

  • 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.

  • Asphalt shingles must have an IBHS Roof Shingle Hail Impact Rating of “Excellent” or “Good”

Note: Availability varies by region. See gaf.com/RidgeCapAvailability for regional availability.

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

All ridge and off-ridge roof vents must be tested in accordance with TAS 100 (A) and/or have Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance (NOA).

Master Flow™ off ridge attic ventilation products

Electric & Solar Power Attic Vents - Roof Mount

Wind Turbines

Aluminum Ridge Vent

Rooftop Accessories

4 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.
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety

About IBHS

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. Learn more at ibhs.org.

FAQs about FORTIFIED Roof™

A FORTIFIED Roof can help protect against severe weather and may be eligible for insurance discounts, grants and other incentives in certain states.6

The FORTIFIED Roof program is a voluntary construction and re-roofing program designed to help protect against severe weather.

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 home or business's current designation level.

6 Insurance discounts, grants, and other incentives are not guaranteed and may vary if available. For more information visit fortifiedhome.org/incentives.
GAF instructor providing information to roofing contractors

About GAF

More homes and businesses in the U.S. are protected by a GAF roof than by any other product. We are the leading roofing manufacturer in North America, with plants strategically located across the U.S. Our Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence (GAF CARE) and GAF Roofing Academy have trained more than a quarter-million roofers throughout North America.