search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
      • Enter Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
      • Enter the Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Interactive Spotlights
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor Newsletters
    • Techos y Más Advisory Board
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!

Damato of the Day Is ... "125 Years of Innovations"

By Rick Damato
July 18, 2011
GAF is celebrating 125 years in business and cites “innovation” as the hallmark of their success. I must agree. GAF boasts a long list of innovations that have continuously moved their position in the roofing industry forward.

GAF is celebrating 125 years in business and cites “innovation” as the hallmark of their success. I must agree. GAF boasts a long list of innovations that have continuously moved their position in the roofing industry forward.

Being the first to offer “ready-to-lay” asphalt roofing and the first to use colored granules in roofing material were a few of their earlier successes. Many of us in the business today will not remember all the way back to 1967 when GAF introduced their Timberline laminated shingle. But many have witnessed the growth of this product segment into the commanding market position it enjoys today.

Thirty years after that GAF introduced the first popular certified contractor program. Their contractor programs, as well as those operated by other manufacturers, have doubtless raised the level of professionalism in the roofing industry.

These are just a few of the innovations the people of GAF have brought to the roofing industry. The rest of the lesson will not be touted by GAF, but they would acknowledge that every new product or system they ever introduced was not a huge success. But they have continued to innovate, and that is the most valuable lesson of all. And if staying in business 125 years does not prove it, I do not know what will.

P.S. - Chris King presents the full picture of GAF’s storied history in a feature appearing in the July 2011 issue of Roofing Contractor. Check it out here.

Share This Story

Rick damato update
Rick Damato is the editorial director of Roofing Contractor. He has held a number of posts in the roofing industry since 1974 and has contributed to the magazine since its inception in 1981. He can be reached at 770-331-7858 or on Twitter @RoofsByRick.
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Blog Topics

Damato of the Day

Guest Blog

Recent Comments

Para quienes buscan nuevas oportunidades profesionales en regiones...

Para quienes buscan piezas de alta joyería que...

If you want to enjoy your favorite videos...

How random game systems work in modern digital entertainment

How random game systems work in modern digital entertainment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the Newsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • A house protected during a hailstorm
    Sponsored byTAMKO®

    Rethinking Roof Resilience: How HailGuard™ Shingles Aim to Shift the Conversation on Hail Protection

  • A residential roof with GAF Timberline shingles in Chestnut
    Sponsored byGAF Residential

    Selling Shingles on Beauty and Performance

  • Female standing in home kitchen doing accounting work from home calculates company financial statement, use calculator fill data results on laptop application, housewife manage family budget
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Paying for a New Roof: What Homeowners Consider and What Contractors Should Know

Popular Stories

Six young roofing professionals standing on stairs

How Roofing’s Next Generation Is Shaping the Industry’s Future

cyclone and house

Monster Hail Pounds Midwest as Tornadoes Reported

QXO logo and New York Stock Exchange

QXO Earnings In Line as Investors Eye Next Deal

Events

April 23, 2026

Homeowners Survey: A Roofing Customer’s Journey in 2026

Join the experts as they break down the data on another set of questions aimed at gaining insights into the rapidly changing home roofing and restoration market. Roofing contractors can use this data and insight to better understand what factors influence a homeowner's contractor selection process. 

View All Submit An Event
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing