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.
The numbers
CertainTeed vs GAF: full spec comparison
Want the whole matchup in one place? This is 19 years of installing both brands boiled down to one table — real roofs, not brochures.
| CertainTeed | GAF | |
|---|---|---|
| Flagship architectural line | Landmark / Landmark Pro | Timberline HDZ |
| Weight per square | 235 lbs (Landmark); 270 lbs (Landmark Pro) | 220 lbs (Timberline HDZ) |
| Typical Twin Cities roof | $14K–$18K | $14K–$18K — runs slightly under CertainTeed |
| Material warranty | Lifetime limited | Lifetime limited |
| Class 4 hail line | NorthGate — earns the impact discount | Timberline AS II — earns the same discount |
| Wind warranty upgrade | 130 MPH for the life of the warranty (Landmark) | Unlimited-wind upgrade holds 15 years, then drops to standard |
| Warranty transfer | Free to the next owner | One-time transfer |
| Top warranty tier | SureStart Plus / 5-Star — requires ShingleMaster | Golden Pledge — requires Master Elite |
| Class-action history | Hasn't fought suits over premature failure | Has fought multiple class-action suits over premature failure |
| Typical Minnesota lifespan | 25–30 years installed right | 25–30 years installed right |
| Who installs it here | Modex — ShingleMaster certified | Modex on request (Golden Pledge tier requires Master Elite) |
| Our take for Minnesota | Heavier shingle, a wind rating that lasts, easier claims — it's why we switched | Solid shingle; we'll install it on request, but for the Golden Pledge warranty you'd want Master Elite |
Costs reflect typical Twin Cities installed pricing, 2026. Your quote is line-itemed against your actual roof — call 952-206-6339.
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're not GAF 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. If you specifically want a new GAF roof, we'll install it on request — we just don't promote it. One honest caveat: the Golden Pledge warranty requires a Master Elite contractor, so if that top-tier warranty is the point, hire Master Elite.
The verdict
So which shingle brand should you actually pick?
Both make good shingles, and on a typical Twin Cities roof they price within a few hundred dollars of each other. We hung GAF for years, then switched to CertainTeed for the heavier shingle, the wind rating that doesn't expire, and easier warranty claims. If you want GAF, you want Master Elite — and I'll point you to one.
Strongest long-term warranty
CertainTeed
SureStart Plus covers 100% of material and labor up front with no proration, the transfer to a new owner is free, and Landmark's 130 MPH wind upgrade holds for the life of the warranty — not just the first 15 years.
Hail is the main worry
Either Class 4 line
CertainTeed NorthGate and GAF Timberline AS II perform nearly identically in hail testing, and both earn the insurance impact discount. Pick by installer quality, not brand.
You specifically want GAF
GAF — we'll install it on request
We'll install GAF on homeowner request — we just don't promote it or lead with it. One caveat: the Golden Pledge warranty requires a Master Elite contractor, so if that top-tier warranty is the priority, a Master Elite crew is the right hire.
Honest estimate either way — and if GAF is the right call for your roof, I'll say so and refer you.
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
