GAF vs Owens Corning vs CertainTeed Shingles

Every roofing bid you collect names a brand. One roofer quotes GAF Timberline HDZ. Another offers Owens Corning Duration. A third is a CertainTeed shop and talks about Landmark. They all say their shingle is the best. So which of the asphalt shingle brands should you actually pick?

This guide compares GAF vs Owens Corning vs CertainTeed, the three biggest names in California residential roofing, plus Malarkey, IKO and Atlas. You will learn how their main shingle lines line up, how their warranties really work, and why the certification of the roofer installing them matters more than the logo on the bundle.

What are the best asphalt shingle brands?

Three manufacturers dominate the US market for architectural shingles:

• GAF, which describes itself as North America's largest roofing manufacturer. Its flagship is the Timberline line: Timberline HDZ, Timberline UHDZ and Timberline AS II.
• Owens Corning, known for the Duration series (Duration, Duration FLEX, Duration STORM) and the TruDefinition color lines, plus Oakridge as a value option.
• CertainTeed, part of Saint-Gobain, with the Landmark series (Landmark, Landmark PRO, Landmark Premium, Landmark TL) and luxury lines like Presidential Shake and Grand Manor.

Other brands worth knowing: Malarkey, a West Coast maker whose Vista and Legacy shingles use rubberized (SBS modified) asphalt and some recycled content; IKO, with Cambridge and Dynasty; and Atlas, with the Pinnacle and StormMaster lines.

GAF vs Owens Corning: which shingle is better?

Honestly, at the architectural shingle level they are close. Both make Class A fire rated, algae resistant laminated shingles with lifetime limited warranties for the original homeowner. The differences are in details:

• Nailing zone. GAF Timberline HDZ uses a wide LayerLock nailing area meant to make correct nailing easier. Owens Corning Duration uses SureNail Technology, a woven strip in the nailing zone.
• Wind ratings. GAF's standard wind coverage is 130 mph with special installation. Timberline HDZ can qualify for WindProven coverage with no maximum wind speed when installed with required GAF accessories. Owens Corning rates Duration up to 130 mph with its own installation rules.
• Look. Color and shadow line are personal. Look at real roofs, not brochure photos.

In most cases the better shingle is the one your roofer installs every day and installs correctly. A perfect shingle nailed wrong will fail before a decent shingle nailed right.

Source: GAF Timberline HDZ product page and GAF residential warranty comparison; Owens Corning Duration product information (2026). Confirm current terms on the manufacturer site.

How does CertainTeed compare?

CertainTeed Landmark is a heavier laminated shingle, and the Landmark line carries a lifetime limited warranty with 10 years of SureStart protection. Landmark PRO, Landmark Premium and Landmark TL carry up to 160 mph wind coverage with the required CertainTeed starter and hip and ridge products. CertainTeed also makes the Presidential Shake line, the best known luxury asphalt shingle in the country.

Source: CertainTeed shingle limited warranty, Table 1 (current edition on BuildSite).

Do shingle warranties really cover labor?

This is the part most homeowners miss. Every brand advertises a "lifetime" warranty, but the basic warranty mostly covers manufacturing defects in the shingles. "Lifetime" usually means as long as the original owner owns a single-family home. Labor, tear-off and installation mistakes are limited or excluded.

The stronger system warranties, which can add workmanship coverage, are only available when the job is installed by a roofer the manufacturer has certified. That is where certifications come in.

What do Master Elite, Platinum Preferred and ShingleMaster mean?

Brand	Top contractor tier	Top warranty it unlocks
GAF	Master Elite (fewer than 2% of roofers, per GAF)	Golden Pledge, up to 30 years of workmanship coverage
Owens Corning	Platinum Preferred (invitation only)	Platinum Protection
CertainTeed	ShingleMaster PREMIER (formerly SELECT ShingleMaster)	SureStart PLUS extended coverage

Source: GAF, 2025 President's Club blog and residential warranty guide; Owens Corning Roofing Contractor Network program sheet; The Roofing Brief, 2026 Roofing Contractor Industry Report.

GAF also notes that certified contractors are independent businesses, not GAF employees. A badge tells you the manufacturer approved them. It does not tell you their license is active, their insurance is current or their complaint history is clean.

Which asphalt shingle brands are common in California?

Walk any California neighborhood and you will see all three big brands. GAF Timberline HDZ is probably the most common architectural shingle on new bids. Owens Corning Duration and Oakridge are widely stocked by suppliers. CertainTeed Landmark is a favorite of many established roofing companies, and Malarkey has a strong following on the West Coast.

Two California details matter for every brand. First, fire: most fiberglass architectural shingles from GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed and Malarkey are Class A rated, which is what many fire hazard areas require. Second, heat and energy rules: when you replace half or more of a roof, Title 24 may require a cool rated color in your climate zone. Lines like GAF Timberline CS and CertainTeed Landmark Solaris exist for this reason. Ask your roofer which colors in your chosen line meet the code at your address, and get the product and color written into the contract.

Supply also matters. A brand your local supplier stocks deeply is easier to match later for repairs. Ask the roofer where they buy and whether matching ridge caps and starter strips are in stock, since system warranties usually require same-brand accessories.

How do you choose a shingle brand and a roofer?

1. Pick two or three shingle lines you like the look of. Timberline HDZ, Duration and Landmark are all solid choices.
2. Ask each roofer which brand they install most and which certification they hold.
3. Ask for the exact warranty name in writing, and confirm the roofer can register it.
4. Compare bids on the full system: underlayment, starter, ridge cap and ventilation. Our guide to comparing roofing bids helps here.
5. Verify the roofer before you sign.

How do you verify a certified roofer in California?

Look the roofer up on the manufacturer's own contractor locator to confirm the certification is current. Then check the California contractor license with the CSLB: an active C-39 roofing license, a current bond, and workers' comp if they have employees. A licensed and insured roofer is the floor, not the ceiling. Our guides on checking a contractor's license and questions to ask a roofer cover the rest.

A ConFacts report pulls the license, bond, workers' comp and public record checks into one Trust Score, and ConFacts never takes money from contractors, so no roofer can pay for a better grade.

Frequently asked questions

Is GAF or Owens Corning better?

Both make high quality architectural shingles. The installer and the warranty you can get usually matter more than the brand.

Is CertainTeed a good shingle brand?

Yes. CertainTeed Landmark is widely used, and CertainTeed's Presidential line is a leading luxury shingle.

What does GAF Master Elite mean?

It is GAF's top contractor certification. GAF says fewer than 2% of roofers hold it, and only Master Elite contractors can offer the Golden Pledge warranty.

Does a certified roofer need a California contractor license?

Yes. Manufacturer certification does not replace a CSLB license. Any roofing job over $1,000 in California requires one.

Are Malarkey shingles good?

Malarkey is a respected West Coast brand with SBS modified shingles. Ask your roofer whether they are certified with Malarkey, since the same warranty rules apply.