CertainTeed vs GAF shingles: which performs better in Minneapolis?
I've installed both — thousands of squares of each over 19 years. We used to hang GAF, then we switched to CertainTeed and got ShingleMaster certified. Pick up a Landmark next to a Timberline HDZ and you'll feel it: 235 lbs per square versus 220. Both carry Class 4 lines that earn the Minneapolis hail-discount, and they price within a few hundred dollars of each other on a typical roof. Here's where they actually differ — and why we landed where we did.
Why I wrote this
Most CertainTeed vs GAF comparisons are biased
Most comparison content is written by contractors who sell one brand or the other. I'm a CertainTeed ShingleMaster who deliberately chose not to pursue GAF Master Elite. That means I can tell you honestly: both brands make good shingles. The differences are real but smaller than marketing suggests. Here's what actually matters when you're choosing.
Products
CertainTeed shingle lines
Entry through luxury architectural options
CertainTeed
Landmark and Landmark Pro
This is what we put on most Twin Cities homes. Landmark runs 235 lbs per square; Landmark Pro jumps to 270 — that's 50 lbs more material per square than a Timberline HDZ. In a state that swings from -20 to 95, that extra mass holds granules and shrugs off hail better. Both carry the lifetime limited warranty and ShingleMaster 5-Star registration.
CertainTeed
Presidential Shake TL and NorthGate
When a homeowner wants the roof to be a design element, this is where CertainTeed pulls ahead. Presidential Shake TL gives you cedar-shake depth without the cedar headaches, and NorthGate is Class 4 hail-rated for impact-discount roofs. The color blends in these lines have a dimension you just don't get from a standard architectural shingle. Both carry lifetime limited warranties.
Warranties
Coverage that backs your investment
Both run limited lifetime warranties on paper. The differences show up in the fine print — wind ratings that expire, transfer rules, and how each company actually handles a claim.
CertainTeed
SureStart Plus and 5-Star integrity
SureStart covers 100% of material and labor up front — no proration during the initial period. The transfer to a new homeowner is free, which is a real selling point if you ever sell. Landmark can be upgraded to a 130 MPH wind rating that lasts the life of the warranty — and we get straight-line winds up here that surprise people. As a ShingleMaster crew, we register you for CertainTeed's strongest tier.
GAF
Golden Pledge and Silver Pledge tiers
GAF's Golden Pledge through Master Elite contractors is solid — I won't pretend otherwise. Two things to read closely: the Timberline's unlimited-wind upgrade only holds for 15 years before dropping back to standard, and the warranty transfer is a one-time deal. I'd rather have a 130 MPH rating that's good in year 20, not just year 5.
Certification
How installer certification affects your warranty
Both manufacturers tie their strongest warranties to installer credentials. CertainTeed requires ShingleMaster certification for 5-Star integrity coverage. GAF requires Master Elite for Golden Pledge. Neither is easier or harder—they're parallel paths.
CertainTeed
ShingleMaster installation requirements
ShingleMaster isn't a sticker you buy — it takes ongoing training, crew inspection, and installs done to CertainTeed's spec. We carry it, which is what lets us register your roof for the 5-Star integrity warranty — the tier that covers material and labor instead of leaving you to fight over proration down the road.
GAF
Master Elite installation requirements
Master Elite is GAF's version of the same idea — training, inspection, and a contractor who can offer the Golden Pledge. We didn't pursue it, so we're not Master Elite. If GAF is what you want, you want a Master Elite contractor standing behind that install — and I'll point you to one.
Cost
CertainTeed vs GAF
I won't pretend CertainTeed is cheaper — it isn't. On a typical Twin Cities roof the difference works out to a few hundred dollars across the whole job, not the thousands people expect.
Basic plan
CertainTeed Landmark
$14K–$18K
Includes
3-tab architectural shingle
SureStart Plus 5-year warranty
Lifetime limited material coverage
Full Twin Cities installation
ShingleMaster certification included
My choice
Why I went CertainTeed ShingleMaster
We used to install GAF. We switched. The CertainTeed shingle is heavier and more durable, the color quality is better, and the legal history is cleaner — GAF has fought multiple class-action suits over premature shingle failure; CertainTeed hasn't. Most of all, when a warranty claim came up — and eventually one always does — CertainTeed was just easier to deal with. Read my honest CertainTeed vs GAF comparison for the full breakdown.
Heavier shingle — 235 to 270 lbs per square
Free warranty transfer and cleaner legal history
Easier to deal with when a claim comes up
What this means for you
We don't install GAF, and we're not Master Elite certified — I'm not going to pretend otherwise. If your GAF roof is performing well, there's no reason to panic; a properly installed one lasts a long time. But if you specifically want a new GAF roof, I'll refer you to a Master Elite contractor who can stand behind that work. That's the honest answer.
FAQs
Questions about CertainTeed and GAF shingles answered directly
Need more guidance?
Call me directly at 952-206-6339 and we'll talk through what fits your home
Ready to choose the right shingle?
We install CertainTeed. We're ShingleMaster certified. We'll give you an honest estimate and answer any questions about your roof. More on CertainTeed shingles.
Author
About the person behind this comparison
I'm Joe Dvorak, and I've been installing roofs in the Twin Cities for 19 years — thousands of squares of both CertainTeed and GAF. This comparison is what I've seen on real roofs through real Minnesota winters, not what either manufacturer prints in a brochure.
CertainTeed ShingleMaster certified installer
Women-owned business in Eden Prairie
BBB A+ rated with NRCA membership
