GAF kicked off the 2020 International Roofing Expo (IRE) by launching its Timberline HDZ shingles, providing roofing contractors with a shingle that is not only easier to install, but carries an innovative wind warranty.

“We invented the laminate shingle about 50 years ago, and this is the next generation, the newest generation,” said Dave Ellis, vice president of residential marketing and new product development at GAF. “It was designed to address the biggest issues for our contractors, that’s labor, labor, labor.”

After two years of development and testing, GAF has combined all the benefits of one of its top-selling shingles with its LayerLock technology. This process mechanically fuses the common bond in Timberline HDZ shingles to offer a new StrikeZone nailing area — a nearly two-inch zone that is 600% larger versus Timberline HD shingles.

GAF tested HDZ installation times at Home Innovation Research Labs in Maryland. Using time motion studies, the lab concluded that by increasing the StrikeZone nailing area, the HDZ was 30% faster to install than HD, with only three nails missed out of 3,000 during the installation test.

By increasing the nailing accuracy and ease of installation, GAF believes this leaves more time on a job to address other aspects like cleanup and flashing, and helps crews not be on a roof for longer than needed. For example, when testing the product, a GAF Master Elite contractor shingled a multi-family apartment with HD in three days, but when doing an identical building with HDZ, they saved half a day.

“Roofing contractors have been asking for new ways to help accelerate and grow their business, and we’re excited to introduce technology that can make their jobs faster and easier with Timberline HDZ shingles,” said Jim Schnepper, president of GAF. “This represents some of the most exciting innovation in the roofing industry today, backed by the quality and reliability homeowners have trusted for more than 130 years with GAF.”

No-Limit Wind Warranty

The LayerLock technology features a dual-phase, shingle-to-shingle seal with GAF’s Dura Grip sealant and StrikeZone nailing area. The technology provides an asphalt-to-asphalt monolithic bond that enhances its durability, strength and wind uplift performance.

GAF is so confident in the wind performance that it’s offering a GAF WindProven limited wind warranty. GAF said this is the first wind warranty for roofing shingles with no maximum wind speed limit with a four nail per shingle application. By comparison, Timberline HD has a 130 mph wind capacity with enhanced nailing (six nails per shingle).

“Nobody else in the industry offers that level of coverage today on a product warranty,” Ellis said.

The WindProven coverage is available to everyone. To gain the warranty, a contractor (or even a DIYer) must install GAF shingles that use LayerLock technology and four qualifying GAF accessories. For information on qualifying GAF roofing accessories, visit www.gaf.com/LRS.

“We know from all of our market research that homeowners care about if it looks good and does it have strength and durability, and we’re just raising the bar…in terms of wind coverage with HDZ and LayerLock,” Ellis said.

Ellis assured contractors that, if they’ve installed Timberline HD shingles, they know how to install an HDZ shingle, so no further training is required to use them. The HDZ shingles are also compatible with Timberline HD roofing shingles.

GAF Timberline HDZ shingles will be on display for a national audience for the first time at the 2020 International Roofing Expo from Feb. 4-6 in Dallas. Conference attendees can visit GAF at booth 4404 and the neighboring GAF CARE Corner for live demonstrations.

Go online at www.gaf.com/layerlock to learn more.