GAF Roofing in Arkansas

GAF Timberline is the shingle you see on more roofs in Little Rock, Conway, Benton, and Jonesboro than any other, and it is one of the five brands Rumble Roofing installs. This page covers the Timberline HDZ line, the Class 4 UHDZ version, what the GAF warranty covers and what it does not, how the product handles Arkansas weather, and what Rumble does on your roof when we install it. Everything here was checked against GAF's own website.

The GAF shingles we install

The flagship is Timberline HDZ, which GAF calls its number one selling shingle. The main technology is LayerLock, which powers the StrikeZone nailing area, the widest nailing area in the industry according to GAF, with up to 99.9 percent nailing accuracy. A wider nail zone matters because a shingle nailed in the wrong spot is the shingle that blows off in a spring storm.

For hail-prone areas there is Timberline UHDZ with UltraMat, a high-performance fiberglass mat that GAF says achieves a UL 2218 Class 4 impact-resistance rating, the highest rating available. UHDZ also has a patented Dual Shadow Line that gives the roof a deeper, more dimensional look, and a longer 30 year StainGuard Plus PRO algae warranty. GAF also makes Timberline HDZ RS, a Class 3 reflective version that is mainly a California cool-roof product, so it is rarely the right fit for Arkansas.

Timberline HDZ colors in the High Definition collection include Weathered Wood, Charcoal, Pewter Gray, Barkwood, and Shakewood. The Bold Definition collection adds names like Chestnut Valley, Cliffside, Midnight Mesa, and Sierra Sand. Weathered Wood and Charcoal are the two colors that dominate Central Arkansas subdivisions because they pair with almost any brick and siding.

What the GAF warranty actually covers

Timberline HDZ and UHDZ come with a Lifetime Limited Warranty against manufacturing defects, a 25 year StainGuard Plus limited warranty against blue-green algae discoloration on HDZ, and the 15 year WindProven Limited Wind Warranty. WindProven is the part homeowners hear about most. GAF calls it the industry's first wind warranty for shingles with no maximum wind speed limitation and no named storm exclusion. The catch is that it requires GAF Starter Strips, Roof Deck Protection, Ridge Cap Shingles, and either Leak Barrier or Attic Ventilation from GAF on the same roof. Rumble installs those components when a homeowner wants the WindProven coverage.

Here is the straight talk. A manufacturer warranty, GAF's included, covers defects in the shingle. It does not cover hail damage, storm wind damage, or a tree through the roof. That is what homeowners insurance is for, and our roof insurance claims in Arkansas page explains how Rumble helps with that process.

Rumble Roofing is not enrolled in any GAF contractor program. You receive GAF's standard limited warranty, the same one that comes with the shingles, and we register it with GAF after installation so it is in your name. We do not offer, and will not imply, any enhanced or extended GAF warranty that requires a credentialed installer.

How GAF fits Arkansas weather

Hail. Standard Timberline HDZ is a good architectural shingle but it is not impact rated. If your roof is coming off because of hail in Cabot, Bryant, or Jonesboro, Timberline UHDZ with its Class 4 rating is the GAF product to price. Ask your insurance agent whether a Class 4 roof earns a premium discount, because in Arkansas it often does.

Wind. The WindProven warranty with no maximum wind speed is the strongest wind language in the industry on paper. Nothing survives a direct tornado hit like the March 31, 2023 storm in west Little Rock, but for the straight-line winds that hit Central Arkansas every spring, a properly nailed LayerLock shingle with sealed starter and ridge is about as good as asphalt gets.

Heat and humidity. Arkansas summers push attic temperatures well past 120 degrees. GAF's WindProven requirement for either Leak Barrier or Attic Ventilation is a reminder that ventilation is part of the system. We size intake and exhaust on every roof so the shingles are not cooking from below.

Algae. Black streaks are a fact of life in the humid South. HDZ's 25 year StainGuard Plus warranty and UHDZ's 30 year StainGuard Plus PRO warranty are among the longest algae terms of the five brands we carry.

GAF compared to the other brands we install

We install five brands and each has a lane. Owens Corning Duration has the SureNail strip and a 130 mph wind warranty, with Duration FLEX as its Class 4 option. CertainTeed Landmark is a heavier dual-layer shingle with a 25 year algae warranty and a Class 4 ClimateFlex version. IKO Cambridge and Dynasty usually come in a bit lower on price. TAMKO Heritage and Titan XT are made in Joplin, Missouri, close to home, with a 160 mph wind warranty on Titan XT. GAF's advantages are availability at every supply house in the state, the widest nail zone, the no-limit wind warranty when the full accessory set is used, and the fact that it is easy to match on a partial repair because so many Arkansas roofs already have it.

What Rumble does on a GAF install

We tear the old roof off to the deck, never layer over, and replace any soft or rotted decking. We run ice and water shield in valleys, around chimneys and pipe boots, and along eaves where ice storms cause backup, then synthetic underlayment across the rest. Shingles are nailed in the StrikeZone with the correct nail count, and if you have chosen the WindProven package we use GAF starter, ridge cap, and deck protection to meet the warranty terms. We confirm attic ventilation is balanced, clean up with magnets for nails, and then register your warranty with GAF and hand you the paperwork. Rumble is registered with the Arkansas Residential Contractors Committee, and we never waive or absorb deductibles on insurance work.

GAF Roofing in Arkansas FAQ

Is GAF Timberline HDZ impact resistant?
Standard HDZ is not a Class 4 product. Timberline UHDZ carries the UL 2218 Class 4 rating, and it is the GAF shingle we recommend for hail-prone Arkansas neighborhoods.

Do I get the WindProven warranty on any GAF roof?
Only when the roof includes GAF Starter Strips, Roof Deck Protection, Ridge Cap Shingles, and either Leak Barrier or Attic Ventilation from GAF. Tell us up front and we will build the estimate to include those components.

Is Rumble a GAF approved contractor?
No, and we will not tell you otherwise. We install GAF shingles per the manufacturer's instructions, you get GAF's standard limited warranty, and we register it for you.

Does the GAF warranty pay for hail damage?
No. Manufacturer warranties cover defects. Hail and wind damage are insurance claims, and Rumble helps you document the damage and meets the adjuster on site.