What "GAF-certified" means for your roof
GAF is one of the largest roofing manufacturers in North America, and its shingles are on homes all over New Jersey and Pennsylvania. GAF doesn't let just anyone call themselves certified. It certifies contractors who meet its requirements, including being properly licensed and insured.
Allabaugh Construction is GAF-certified. In plain terms, the crew putting on your roof knows GAF's products and how GAF expects them to be installed.
Why installation matters as much as the shingle
A roof is a system, not just a layer of shingles. Most early roof failures aren't caused by bad shingles. They come from shortcuts during installation:
- Nails in the wrong spot or driven at the wrong depth, which leads to blow-offs
- Missing starter strips at the eaves and rakes, where wind uplift starts
- No ice and water barrier at the eaves and valleys, which invites ice dam leaks
- Reused or poorly installed flashing around chimneys and walls
- Blocked or unbalanced ventilation that cooks shingles from underneath
Manufacturers publish detailed installation instructions for their shingles, and those instructions generally tie into their warranties. As a GAF-certified contractor, we install to those standards on every roof.
The roof system we install
On a typical roof replacement, we tear the old roof off down to the deck, replace any bad wood, then install:
- Ice and water barrier along the eaves, valleys and other vulnerable areas, where code and the manufacturer call for it
- Underlayment over the rest of the deck
- Drip edge along the roof edges
- Starter shingles at the eaves and rakes
- Architectural asphalt shingles
- Ridge cap shingles along the hips and ridges
- New flashing at chimneys, walls, skylights and vents
- Balanced roof ventilation, with intake at the soffits and exhaust at the ridge
Why architectural shingles
Architectural shingles are thicker and layered compared with old flat three-tab shingles. That gives the roof more depth and a better look. They also stand up better to wind and weather, and they come in a wide range of colors to fit colonials, Capes, ranches and split-levels alike. For most homes in our area, they're the best balance of durability, looks and cost.
What to expect when you hire a GAF-certified contractor
Hiring a certified contractor should mean a better experience from start to finish, not just a logo on the truck. Here's what you can expect from us:
- A real inspection of the roof, the attic and the gutters before we price anything
- A clear written estimate that spells out what's included, from tear-off to ridge cap
- Help choosing a shingle color that works with your house
- Permits pulled by us where the town requires one
- Deck repair as needed after tear-off, explained before it's done
- Installation to the manufacturer's standards, including ice and water barrier, underlayment, starter, flashing and ventilation
- A clean site and a final walkthrough with you
Questions to ask any roofer
Whoever you hire, ask these questions before you sign:
- Are you licensed in my state, and can I see the license number?
- Are you insured?
- Will you tear off the old roof or lay over it?
- What goes under the shingles at the eaves and valleys?
- How will you handle ventilation?
- What warranty comes with the roof, and what does the workmanship warranty cover?
Our answers: we're licensed in both New Jersey (NJ HIC #13VH09734600) and Pennsylvania (PA HIC #PA162561), we recommend a full tear-off, and we'll walk you through every item on the list.
What certification doesn't replace
A certification is a good sign, but it's not the whole story. Any roofer's work should still be judged on the basics: a clear written scope, licensing in your state, a willingness to show you photos of what they find, and reviews from homeowners who hired them. We encourage you to ask for all of it, from us and from anyone else you're talking to. Our 5.0-star rating from 233 Google reviews is a good place to see what homeowners say about working with us.
Warranty
Our roofs come with a lifetime manufacturer's warranty and a 10-year workmanship warranty. We walk you through the warranty paperwork before we start.
Financing
Financing is available, so you don't have to put off a roof that needs replacing. Ask about it during your free estimate. For a ballpark figure first, try our Instant Roof Quote.
More reasons homeowners choose Allabaugh
- 20+ years of experience, led by owner Jared Allabaugh
- Licensed in both states: NJ HIC #13VH09734600 and PA HIC #PA162561
- 5.0 stars from 233 Google reviews
- Honest recommendations. If a roof repair will do the job, we'll tell you.
- After a storm, we document damage with photos and can meet your adjuster on site. See storm damage roof repair.
Free estimates, straight answers
Every job starts with a visit to your home. We look at the actual conditions and explain what we see in plain language, with photos. Then you get a free, written estimate with the scope and price spelled out. Nothing is done without your approval. If a new roof isn't what your home needs, or a smaller fix will do, we'll tell you. We'd rather earn your trust on a small job than oversell you on a big one. Financing is available on larger projects.
Where we install GAF roofs
In New Jersey, we serve Mercer County, including Hamilton, Princeton, West Windsor and Pennington. In Pennsylvania, we serve Luzerne County and Lackawanna County, including Wilkes-Barre, Kingston and Scranton.
In New Jersey, call (609) 477-0487. In Pennsylvania, call (814) 330-4897.
