GAF’s CertifiedTM Weather Stopper® Roofing Contractor program is a steep-slope program that screens residential roofers and trains them. Only 6% of roofing contractors are in this program, as many roofers are unwilling to go through the process.
GAF Certified Weather Stopper Roofing Contractor (Steep Slope) Logo
Caldwell’s Roofing is excited to be a GAF Certified Weather Stopper Roofing Contractor. We have learned a lot from the program, and it has helped us improve our roofing installation.
What this program means for you as a homeowner is that your roof system can be installed exactly as the manufacturer intends and warranties it. One of the first presentations Caldwell’s Roofing went through was on the ten most common residential roofing errors. Believe it or not, most roofers are still making a lot of unnecessary mistakes that can adversely affect your home, the longevity of your roof’s lifespan, or even your family’s health. Studies have even found that lack of proper attic ventilation (9 out of 10 attics are significantly less than properly and adequately ventilated) is correlated to 58% of childhood asthma. The average family generates some 4 gallons of water vapor which can lead to microbial growth in the attic if the humid air is not circulated out via natural convection currents in the attic.
Factory-certified contractors also learn about the process of shingle manufacturing by touring live manufacturing plants in action. This connection with the factory can only help roofers better know their materials and better utilize common sense and proper procedures in installing them.
An Asphalt Shingle Manufacturing Factory, Atlanta, GA
Factory-certified contractors will probably be able to offer you financing for your roof project with assistance from GAF’s banking partnerships.
Factory-certified contractors are trained in GAF’s Pro Field Guides, and pass corresponding exams.
Factory-certified roofers have access to conventional, expert opinions/judgments on roofing matters – this eliminates the “guess-work” that would otherwise transpire when roofers run into situations outside the scope of their knowledge. For example, if an attic has some soffit vents and ridge vents, but it’s not working well enough, the untrained roofer would get a power turbine and install it close to the roof’s ridge – not realizing that he’s probably worsening the situation! Now, air will be sucked in through the ridge vent, and pushed out through the power turbine; effectively “short-circuiting” the attic’s ventilation and making the air even more stagnant! There’s just something to be said for the wisdom of convention. It represents the “head-butting” of lots of different ideas, such that only the truest and most accurate ideas are able to rise to the level of acceptance because nothing can be said against them. While many roofers may care nothing for FHA, HUD, code, code amendments, manufacturer instructions, CSI specs; nevertheless, rarely will they be smarter than the wisdom of convention (majority) embodied in these documents.
Factory-certified roofers have real-time access to getting questions answered. If a customer’s roof has a peculiar issue, the roofer can call their rep for a solid answer.
Factory-certified roofers also have access to GAF’s “CARE” program, which provides live job-training for roofing workers, such as seen below.
GAF CARE Training Event at Alabama Roofing Supply in Montgomery, AL
A roof might seem to be something that requires little training, but we know that, like a lot of things, there’s more than meets the eye. Why not use a GAF Factory-CertifiedTM Roofer for your next roofing project?
Our GAF Steep-Slope Certification
