GAF Solar Shingles have a 25-year warranty that covers manufacturing defects that cause leaks. GAF Solar Shingles are also called Timberline Solar™ Shingles.
Do you want to know the endurance of GAF’s Timberline Solar™ Shingles? Keep reading to see our helpful breakdown of the warranty options and the incredible guarantees available to GAF Energy’s customers.
In this article, we will demystify the warranty terms from GAF Energy and provide readers with accessible information about warranty options.
Standard Warranty Terms for GAF Solar Shingles
The great news is that GAF’s Solar Shingles have a great warranty at no additional cost to the customer!
No need to register the product for these coverage options. These warranties are for the shingles themselves, but there are more coverage options that we will discuss later.
Manufacturing Defects
GAF’s Solar Shingles warranty protects customers from manufacturing defects that cause roof leaks for 25 years. That’s comparable to the warranty for standard asphalt shingles!
Wind Damage
GAF’s Solar Shingles have a warranty that covers wind damage. This protection lasts 15 years for winds up to 130 mph with proper installation.
For reference, a Category 3 hurricane can have wind speeds of up to 129 mph. A Category 3 hurricane is a major hurricane, according to National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Proper Installation
GAF Solar Shingles must be installed with at least six nails per shingle and GAF Starter Strip Products. GAF Starter Strip Products must be correctly used at the eaves and rakes.
Solar Output
GAF’s Timberline Solar ES™ Shingles have a 25-year warranty on solar output. We will explain the fine print on this warranty term.
This warranty term isn’t the amount of energy produced by the solar system. Instead, it means that the individual shingle can produce the same amount of power under ideal conditions.
Solar Output in actual conditions is affected by sunlight access and temperature conditions. Access to sunlight is impacted by surrounding trees and buildings, the direction the roof faces, and the angle of the roof.
Additional Warranties Available
When the Timberline Solar ES™ Shingles by GAF are installed by a GAF-certified contractor, customers have three extended warranty options. These warranties cover the entire roof.
- System Plus Limited Warranty
- Silver Pledge Limited Warranty
- Golden Pledge Limited Warranty
Qualifications
Each Warranty level has different qualifications to access the specific benefits offered at each tier. We will break those down.
| System Plus | Silver Pledge | Golden Pledge | |
| GAF Products Installed | GAF Shingles and 3+ Qualifying Accessory Products | GAF Shingles and 4+ Qualifying Accessory Products | GAF Shingles and 5+ Qualifying Accessory Products |
| Installed By | GAF Certified or Master Elite Roofing Contractor | GAF Master Elite Roofing Contractor | GAF Master Elite Roofing Contractor |
Warranty Tier Similarities
The warranty tiers for GAF Solar Shingles share the following terms:
- Stain Guard Plus™ for 25 years
- Stain Guard® for 10 years
- 15-Year Wind Warranty with proper installation
- Tear-off covered when necessary
- Lifetime Warranty and 50-Year Smart Choice Protection Period
- This means that the warranty terms on a residential, single-family home roof are non-prorated for 50 years.
Warranty Tier Differences
There are two categories where the three warranty tiers offered by GAF differ. We’ll take a closer look at each one.
Disposal
Whether or not disposal is covered under the GAF Solar Shingle warranty depends on the tier selected. Proper disposal of construction products can be a hassle and sometimes expensive, depending on local guidelines.
| System Plus | Silver Pledge | Golden Pledge | |
| Disposal | Not Covered | When Necessary | When Necessary |
Workmanship
The largest difference between these three warranty tiers on GAF Solar Shingles is their workmanship coverage. Make sure your new roof has the workmanship guarantee you’re looking for.
| System Plus | Silver Pledge | Golden Pledge | |
| Workmanship | Not Covered | 15-Year Workmanship Coverage | 25-Year Workmanship Coverage |
Choosing the Golden Pledge Limited Warranty means that your roof’s workmanship is covered for as long as the warranty on the GAF Solar Shingles.
Solar Addendums
As long as Timberline Solar ES™ Shingles have been installed by a certified GAF contractor or Master Elite Roofing Contractor, customers can choose between two Solar Addendums.
Solar Plus Addendum
Solar Max Addendum
Both Solar Addendums have the same basic coverage offered in the warranty.
- 15-Year Wind Damage
- 25-Year Solar Output
We will explore how these two different Solar Addendums stack up against each other in other coverage areas.
Electrical Workmanship
Depending on whether you opt for the Solar Plus Addendum or the Solar Max Addendum, the electrical workmanship is guaranteed for different periods.
| Solar Plus Addendum | Solar Max Addendum |
| 1-Year Electrical Workmanship Warranty | 10-Year Electrical Workmanship Warranty |
Solar Power Generation
Solar Power Generation refers to the amount of energy delivered to your home in Kilowatt-Hours(kWh). This is energy produced by Timberline Solar™ System Components, Rooftop Power Electronics, and Inverter all working together.
Since the 25-Year Solar Output warranty only covers the shingle under ideal conditions, having the system as a whole protected is a big deal. Here’s how the two addendums compare.
| Solar Plus Addendum | Solar Max Addendum |
| No Coverage for Solar Generation | 25 Years of Solar Power Generation Covered |
Third Party Electrical Components
In addition to the outstanding products manufactured by GAF, some products are made by other companies. These include Inverters and Rooftop Power Electronics. These are still quality elements and have warranty coverage options under both addendums.
| Solar Plus Addendum | Solar Max Addendum |
| 3rd Party Components Covered for 10 Years | 3rd Party Components Covered for 25 Years |
Warranty & Solar Addendum Conclusion
GAF’s Timberline Solar ES™ Shingles and related components have excellent warranty coverage options. The installation process by a GAF-certified or Master Elite Roofing Contractor will provide customers with a warranty coverage option that fits their needs.
Check out our article on the differences between conventional and integrated solar panels here.
