A GAF Certified contractor has met GAF's baseline certification standards, which include passing GAF training, carrying the required insurance, and maintaining a clean state license record. This tier authorizes the contractor to register the GAF System Plus Limited Warranty, which covers manufacturing defects in the GAF products for 50 years and includes the cost of tearing off the old roof, but does not cover any errors in how the roof was installed.
In practical terms, if a shingle proves defective the homeowner is protected, but if a leak develops because of a workmanship mistake, that is not covered at this tier. It is a meaningful step above the standard warranty any uncertified installer can provide, since GAF stands behind a vetted contractor, but it remains a materials-focused warranty.
