GAF Timberline HDZ Shingles vs. UHDZ: What’s the Difference?

In the roughly 140 years since its founding, GAF has established itself as the gold standard in quality roofing materials. In fact, GAF’s Timberline HDZ shingle is the top-selling shingle in America. And with GAF’s new Timberline UHDZ shingle now on the market, there’s a lot of buzz about these two shingle roofing options.

We’re Classic Roofing & Construction, and we’ve been installing new roofs across Florida for 20 years. Today, we’re going to review GAF’s Timberline HDZ shingles vs. UHDZ shingles to help you make the best possible decision for your structure’s new roof.

GAF Timberline HDZ Shingles

Since entering the market in 2020, GAF Timerbline HDZ shingles have skyrocketed in popularity and become America’s best-selling shingle. But what’s all the hype about, and is it deserved?

HDZ shingles are architectural shingles, meaning that they’re designed to create visual interest for a structure. They accomplish this with bold, intense colors that stand up well to time, as well as with unique designs to create multi-dimensional shadow lines that add depth and texture to a roof. In short, if you want to increase the curb appeal of your property with a wood-shake look, GAF Timberline HDZ shingles are an excellent choice.

But these aren’t America’s favorite shingles just because they’re pretty. They also come with high safety and quality standards, including:

• Fire Resistance: GAF Timberline HDZ shingles have Class A fire resistance—the best classification. This means that even in the event of a lightning strike, it’s highly unlikely that your roof will catch fire.
• Durability: These GAF shingles are installed using patented LayerLock technology, which helps adhere the layers of shingles together so you know that they aren’t going anywhere. Additionally, they also use Dura Grip Sealant, which locks the shingles together to ensure that no wind can get under the shingle and remove it.
• Algae Protection: Algae is a huge problem for Florida roofs. But these shingles remove that issue with StainGuard Plus technology, which is time-released and prevents algae from developing on and under your new shingles. This works by slowly releasing copper and zinc, which stops algae from growing on your roof.

As you can see, there are a lot of great features to the GAF Timberline HDZ line. But the UHDZ shingles have made a few noteworthy improvements on this roofing material.

GAF Timberline UHDZ Shingles

In 2023, GAF released the reinvention of their HDZ shingles, the Timberline UHDZ shingles. And in addition to all of the features in the HDZ line, UHDZ shingles offer several key improvements.

First, UHDZ shingles use Dual Shadow Line technology. This helps create that beautiful shadow line that most buildings only have at sunset, but it keeps that look all day long. The overall effect is a thicker shadow and a more textured look for your roof, which can refresh the look of your home and greatly increase curb appeal.

But the improvements in GAF’s Timberline UHDZ shingles aren’t just cosmetic. There are also several new features—for example, Timberline UHDZ shingles come with 10% more zinc and copper to protect against algae. This means that your roof will be algae-resistant for even longer than with HDZ’s algae protection.

Additionally, Timberline UHDZ shingles are 20% thicker than GAF’s HDZ product. This makes them hardier and more difficult for the wind to uplift—important features when living in a state like Florida that regularly experiences hurricanes.

But whether you choose UHDZ or HDZ shingles from GAF, there’s another important factor to consider: the warranties. GAF offers some of the strongest warranties in the roofing industry, but you do have to meet a few qualifications for these excellent protections.

The Benefits of a GAF Master Elite-Certified Roofer

There are two main factors that allow GAF to extend their strongest warranties on their products. First, they must be installed by a roofing company with GAF Master Elite certification. This is a qualification that requires a yearly demonstration of following both safety and workmanship practices so that GAF can trust that their products will be installed the proper way. And while only two percent of American roofing companies have this certification, Classic is proud to be a GAF-certified Master Elite roofing company.

In addition to picking skilled roofers, GAF also requires that you choose four of their roofing accessories for your new roof (things like leak barriers, ventilation systems, etc.). This is because GAF knows that its products work, and by installing several of them at once, they know you’ll have a secure roof that’s unlikely to run into issues. But if problems do arise, you’ll be glad to have GAF warranties for their UHDZ or HDZ shingles.

Perhaps the best GAF warranty for these shingles is their WindProven Limited Wind Warranty. This is a 15-year warranty on any shingles that may come loose in a tropical storm or hurricane. Sounds pretty standard, right? But what makes this warranty so exciting is that there is no maximum wind limit. Whereas many other companies’ wind warranties only cover winds of up to 130mph, GAF will cover the cost to replace your shingles no matter how fast the winds were. And Hurricane Ian first hit Florida with sustained 150mph winds, so this is a great piece of protection to have!

Moreover, you can also get a lifetime manufacturer warranty on your shingles, which means that they will be covered for up to 50 years—more than double the lifespan of most shingle roofing systems. In this way, if you’re willing to invest in your roof and get quality GAF products, you can save money in the long term through GAF’s industry-leading warranties.

Get Your New GAF Timberline Roof Installed

Whether you choose GAF Timberline UHDZ or HDZ shingles, you’re getting a quality roofing product. And as Master Elite-certified roofers, we know how to properly install GAF shingles and get you the best warranties on your roof.

If you want to see what the in-house crew at Classic Roofing & Construction can do for you, then all you need to do is schedule your free roofing estimate online. One of our roofing experts will come to your property and help you pick the best shingles and warranties for your roof. And with our 100% happiness guarantee, we know we’ll be able to find the perfect solution for you!

Video – HDZ Shingles vs. UHDZ