Fortified roof using GAF roofing materials

FORTIFIED Roof™ and GAF products

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

Weather has become increasingly severe year after year. After decades of studying weather-related damage, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) developed the FORTIFIED Roof™ program—a voluntary construction and re-roofing program designed to help protect homes against specific types of severe weather, such as high winds, hail, and hurricanes. 

At GAF, we are committed to helping you protect your home, so we are happy to introduce customers to the FORTIFIED Roof™ Program.
Fortified roof using GAF roofing materials

What is a FORTIFIED Roof™?

FORTIFIED Roof™ is the first designation level in the FORTIFIED program and focuses on strengthening the roof.  To be eligible for a FORTIFIED™ Roof designation1, 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 designation. A designation is valid for 5 years and an inspection is required to renew it.
The information on this page provides a brief overview of the FORTIFIED Roof designations. Eligibility criteria, requirements and restrictions apply. See 2020 FORTIFIED Home™ Standard available at fortifiedhome.org or the then current FORTIFIED Home™ Standard for details.

How GAF can help

GAF offers a variety of roofing products that meet the criteria of the FORTIFIED Roof™ Program2. Whether you’re getting a new roof because of an insurance event, a remodel, or new construction, talk to a GAF Master Elite® Roofing Contractor3 who can install a roof that qualifies for both the GAF Golden Pledge® Limited Warranty4 and FORTIFIED Roof™ designation.

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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.5
Financial Incentives
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2 Notwithstanding any FORTIFIED designation, GAF products are covered by GAF’s limited warranties, which are your sole and exclusive remedy for any covered issues arising out of or related to qualifying GAF products. For copies of GAF Llimited warranties see https://www.gaf.com/en-us/resources/warranties/residential
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 www.gaf.com/gaf-contractor-terms-of-use for details. To verify whether a contractor is a GAF Master Elite contractor visit www.gaf.com/contractor
4 To be eligible for a GAF Golden Pledge® Limited Warranty, a GAF Master Elite® Contractor must install a qualifying GAF roofing system, which consists of qualifying GAF asphaltic shingles and 5 qualifying GAF accessory products. Qualifying GAF accessory products include: (1) Ridge Cap Shingles; (2) Attic Ventilation; (3) Starter Strip Shingles; (4) Roof Deck Protection; and (5) Leak Barrier. See gaf.com/LRS for a list of qualifying products. See GAF Golden Pledge® Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions. Notwithstanding any Fortified designation, GAF products are covered by GAF’s limited warranties, which are your sole and exclusive remedy for any covered issues arising out of or related to qualifying GAF products. For copies of GAF Limited warranties visit gaf.com/en-us/resources/warranties/residential
5 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™ Program

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

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.
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.