GAF Timberline Reviews – Popular Dimensional Shingles
- BROAD color palette across many lines of this shingle
- GAF earned "Good Housekeeping" seal of approval for their total roof system package
- Popular look and feel.
- Excellent Wind Ratings up to 130mph!
- Less educated consumers can become confused about different types of "Timberline" shingles.
- Although "Lifetime" warranty unless installed by a GAF Master Elite contractor, warranty is pro-rated after 10 years and only for material.
- Some contractors have complained about GAF taking weight out of the shingle in recent years(GAF claims this as a positive with less and better technology doing more)
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Many versions of the Timberline shingle from GAF all pretty good.
Popular Architectural Shingle for all tastes: Given the wide range of options apparent in the Timberline line of shingles homeowners have a large variety of options and features throughout this shingle. Much like the Landmark Series from Certainteed many “models” of Timberline exist depending on what you are looking for. However they all share the new Lifetime Warranty and same dimensional look. Perhaps the most common shingle on homes in North America based on production volume the Timberline HD(formerly Prestique 30). Being the biggest has its advantages including easy to find qualified installers and a financially stable company to stand behind warranty claims. Although all the shingles in this line have GAFs(new for 2012) lifetime warranty they are not all created equal. While not changing the product on previous 30 year versions but increasing the warranty you are not suddenly getting a better product – we believe some marketing is at play here. Nonetheless you do now have that assured protection as long as you meet warranty stipulations such as proper installation, ventilation and environmental factors.
Here’s all old versions of this shingle and our old ratings through it’s history.
| Manufacturer | Shingle Brand | Features | Our Rating 5 Nails Max |
| GAF | Timberline HD(Prestique 30) | Most common shingle in America- proven value performance. |  |
| GAF | Timberline Ultra HD(Prestique Lifetime) | The previous Lifetime version of Timberlines – now with same warrantybut still a much better product – thicker and longer lasting/ | |
| GAF | Timberline Natural Shadow | Claiming to be a “wood shake look” we don’t see it, this is the same profile as otherTimberline shingle but with different color gradients resulting in deeper shadow. A good shingle. | |
| GAF | Timberline American Harvest | The truly unique color blends here cannot be found anywhere else. | |
| GAF | Timberline Cool Series | Energy Star qualified roofing product with reflective granules-generallylimited color options and all light spectrum offerings. | |
| GAF | Timberline Armor Shield II | Class 4 Impact Resistance may qualify you for lower insurancepremiums and protects your roof during hail storms. | |
I’ve been using this shingle for over a decade. I’ve been master elite for 4 years and has only seen a rep 3 times. This company needs to be boycotted by roofers to show that they do need us. They are also undercutting the suppliers that’s sold their shingle the entire time with Home Depot and Lowe’s now. This company could give 2 f____ about a customer that’s spent millions of dollars with them. They are the most expensive and not near the best. They have the better look but that’s it. Not all the time do they have the best look. They don’t give any deals but all other manufacturers do. They never show that they value you as a customer. It’s all about the dollar with them. Roofers and suppliers should boycott this company. I’m warning everyone. This company is selfish and doesn’t care about nothing but major dollars.
What’s a guy to do? You read reviews, the more you read the more confused you get. Should I buy or shouldn’t I buy? Did this review tell the whole story? How do I know the negatives are true? And the positives aren’t fixed!
NOT happy at all ! ! ! I purchased the Timberline Dimensional shingles with the “lifetime” warranty in 2014. I had replaced the roof for damage due to moss growing on it. NOW only after 5 yrs there is MOSS growing on the new lifetime warranty shingles. The old outdated ones took 15 yrs for this to happen AND I have had ALL the trees around the perimeter of the house cut down BEFORE the shingle replacement. How on earth can you say we do not cover moss growth but will cover the life of the shingle, what do you think will happen to the shingles when the moss creeps up under the shingle ??? for $8,000 I would certainly expect the shingles to last more than 5 yrs ! ! ! NOT HAPPY IN NJ ! ! !
NOT happy at all ! ! ! I purchased the Timberline Dimensional shingles with the “lifetime” warranty in 2014. I had replaced the roof for damage due to moss growing on it. NOW only after 5 yrs there is MOSS growing on the new lifetime warranty shingles. The old outdated ones took 15 yrs for this to happen AND I have had ALL the trees around the perimeter of the house cut down BEFORE the shingle replacement. How on earth can you say we do not cover moss growth but will cover the life of the shingle, what do you think will happen to the shingles when the moss creeps up under the shingle ??? for $8,000 I would certainly expect the shingles to last more than 5 yrs ! ! ! NOT HAPPY IN NJ ! ! !
I’ve just replaced my 25 yr old shingles with Timberland HD.
When the contractor ripped off the old shingles just about all of them had the plastic covering the tar strip still attached.
I told the contractor to please tear off each plastic strip before installing them and he insisted that it is meant to stay on.
I don’t know if he just wanted to save time from his men tearing them off or if it really is meant to stay attached to the new shingle.
Does anyone know the answer to this because I’ve had a number of old shingles blow off my roof in the past and they all had the plastic still intacted over the tar strip.
Yes they are supposed to stay on. Probably a good idea to stay in your lane bud.
I wonder, how to stop a leak while the home owner is going through the issue of asking GAF and the contractor to fix a roof installed just few years before. it seems a nightmare and the only quick solution would be to call someone to find the leak, which it can be further from where the leak shows up…..hummmm I am just a new home owner and got a brand new roof installed. When I read these bad reviews I get very nervous. Water leak is probably the worst nightmare a homeowner can have.
GAF ceramic granuals and their Cobra Ventilation system are important in protecting your roof.
Shingles dont fail for the most part. Its the installation thats the problem. In a rainy state such as Oregon we have some of the shortest lifespan roofs. When installed wrong, without the full system working together there are no gaurantees that are enforcable. Every warranty says “when insyalled up to manufacturers specs and in proper conditions” your warranty is good. When roofers felt in the rain or use a 3 tab for ridge shingles and starter strip that is “improper use of materials” and no warranty covers this.
Additionally workmanship warranty covers improper installation. When this runs out the roofer comes back to fix their problem asking you for more money. Roofing is a fly by night industry in Oregon. Make sure contractor is using proper materials, installation tecniques and in proper conditions.
Also felt paper is useless. Use GAF Tiger Paw or other waterproof/breathable underlayment. Find a GAF Master Elite contractor and GAF holds your warranty, not the contractor. They gaurantee 25 years workmanship and a 50 year system warranty, non prorated and transferrable for 20 years. The best and only factory trained and held warranty on the market, this is the only way to protect yourself for the long haul.
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amazing color selection
no issues
great warranty offering, reliable shingle, great quality and durability.
We had Hunter Green gaf shingles installed and they had dark streaks in them. After 9 months the streaks are still visible. GAF will not replace them!
I had GAF Timberline material put on in 2012. I have water dripping off all the fascia boards. Water is getting under the material. I made a CAD model, based on thickness measurements of the material and have concluded the rainwater is pooling around the nails and seeping under the material. New nails poking through in the attic are rusty. Not all of them, but 90%. I filed a claim with GAF and asked them for a CAD model of how their material lays on a 4/12 pitch roof. They have declined my claim (saying the material is not defective) and not supplied a CAD model. I would suggest looking at a different supplier and avoiding GAF.
Hey Greg! Have you checked your insulation levels? This sounds like it could be a condensation issue due to heat loss through your attic space! If it leaks when it rains then obviously not the issue but if it’s around those 0 degree freeze/thaw temperatures then it could be your insulation levels or something possible allowing large volume of heat into your attic! Just a thought!
I had a new 30 year GAF timberline roof installed. It started leaking in several locations within 2 years. I contacted GAF. All I got was forms to fill out and requests for pictures that I did send them. After I submitted the pictures GAF wanted me to take of the roof and send it to them! In my opinion, The roof is worthless, so is the warranty and GAF!
So I know it’s really frustrating when a roof leaks. From experience on average MOST roof failures are workmanship related not the actual shingle or products. There are so many “roofers” who are not up to date on the proper way to install shingles that the overwhelming majority of the time it was a problem with the installation. Not saying that was the case here, but in general GAF does a nice job with warranty replacement of their products if someone can prove or show it was actually their product…
How many years of warranty has the ultra HD Gaf timberline
How many years of warranty has the HD gaf shingle and the ultra Hd which is thicker?
Cary this shingle has a lifetime warranty. So as long as you own your own.
The most popular roofing shingles for our customers is the GAF Timberline. These dimensional asphalt roofing shingles are an economical choice and come in a wide range of colors with a lifetime warranty.
These are a great looking shingle but in my opinion have a fundamental flaw. When we installed them in November we noticed that around 10pct of the shingles have a bend upward. When these shingles are installed they essentially have a sail in the wind. Over two windstorms within 6 weeks of installation I have lost better than 60 shingles. GAF acknowledges this flaw and even has a tech bulletin explaining why they occur and that they will settle down with 4-6weeks. Problem is that you need hot sunshine for this to happen since they are a heavy shingle therefore if you install them in the fall, winter or early spring you may not get this sunshine to lay your shingles down. Because of this I really could not recommend these shingle for cold weather installation.
Harold
This is a great shingle if INstalled properly, Mandy these wont fly off your roof unless your contractor did something wrong, sounds like high nailing to me. …
After looking at Home Depot, Lowes and Menards and with a little research including here we settles on buying these. There is a reason they are the most popular they look good and don’t kill the pocket book either.
Maybe it was our roofer but we just had to have these replaced after 5 years. A wind storm cams about and we had them all laying in our yard it wasn’t that bad either maybe 60 miles an hour or so.
your roofer …definitely not the shingle
I roof 80+ houses a ear as a contractor here in Missouri and this is just about the only shingle we use…a color for everyone – great looks, long lasting and every accesory you could think of!
I got the old Prestique 30 of these in 2000 and they are already showing some wear….
We love the design. I really don’t but that Lifetime warranty line they are feeding everyone. My last shingles were “25” year and I just replaced them after about 20 so we will see.
Great bang for the buck and the different colors in the granules look amazing. My wife and I could actually agree on them. I installed them myself and they were not too heavy either.
We’ve had so many positive comments on our roof it’s amazing. We were told this is a lifetime shingle only time will tell but so far so problems. Amazing warranty from our Master Elite contractor as well. Lifetime non pro-rated!