The wind speed on a shingle warranty is a conditional number, and the conditions are not the same from brand to brand. This shingle wind warranty comparison covers seven brands (GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, Malarkey, IKO, TAMKO and Atlas), pulling the base MPH, the upgraded MPH and the exact installation requirements straight from each manufacturer’s published warranty document. The spread on what you must buy and install to earn the headline figure is far wider than the spread on the figure itself.
By The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed: August 2026.
Shingle wind warranty comparison: every major brand
Base wind coverage clusters at 110 mph across almost every architectural shingle sold in North America. The upgraded tier is where brands separate, ranging from 130 mph to 160 mph to no stated maximum. Every brand in this table caps wind coverage at the first 15 years, no matter how long the defect warranty runs.
| Brand and product | Base wind warranty | Top wind warranty | What the top number requires | Wind coverage length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GAF Timberline HDZ | 110 mph | 130 mph (Special Installation), or no maximum wind speed (WindProven) | 130 mph: 4 nails per shingle plus GAF starter strip at eaves and rakes. WindProven: a LayerLock shingle plus at least four qualifying GAF accessories | 15 years |
| CertainTeed Landmark and Landmark PRO | 110 mph | 160 mph | No roof-over, CertainTeed hip and ridge products used as cap, CertainTeed starter shingles at eaves and rakes | 15 years |
| Owens Corning Duration Series | 130 mph | 130 mph | Nothing beyond standard application | 15 years |
| Owens Corning Oakridge | 110 mph (4 nails) | 130 mph | 6 nail application plus Owens Corning starter shingles along eaves and rakes | 15 years |
| Malarkey Highlander, Vista, Legacy | 110 mph | 130 mph | 4 nails plus Malarkey starter and hip and ridge shingles | 15 years |
| Malarkey Windsor | 110 mph | 140 mph | 5 nails plus Malarkey starter and hip and ridge shingles | 15 years |
| IKO Cambridge | 110 mph | 130 mph | Two additional nails (6 total), IKO starter strip shingles at eaves and rakes, shingles sealed or hand sealed | 15 years |
| IKO Dynasty and Nordic | 130 mph | 130 mph | No separate upgrade tier listed | 15 years |
| TAMKO Heritage and Heritage Vintage | 110 mph | 130 mph | High Wind fastening pattern (6 fasteners) plus TAMKO starter shingles at eaves and rakes. Tear-off or new construction only | 15 years |
| TAMKO Proline Titan XT and StormFighter | 110 mph | 160 mph | Same High Wind Application requirements | 15 years |
| Atlas Pinnacle Pristine, Sun and Impact | 130 mph with 4 nails | 130 mph | Nothing beyond 4 nail application | 15 years |
| Atlas StormMaster Shake | 150 mph with 4 nails | 150 mph | Nothing beyond 4 nail application | 15 years |
Sources: Owens Corning Standard Product Limited Lifetime Warranty, Pub. No. 10023873-H, January 2026; CertainTeed Asphalt Shingle Residential Products 2026 Limited Warranty, doc 00-02-5540-NA-EN, and wind upgrade sell sheet 00-04-5812-NA-EN; Malarkey Standard Shingle and Accessory Warranty summary, Rev. 04/26; IKO Limited Warranty Information for Asphalt Shingles (US); TAMKO Fiberglass Asphalt Shingle Limited Warranty effective March 31, 2024, plus Heritage application instructions Rev. 07/31/2024; Atlas Roofing Limited Shingle Warranty product table.
One caveat on GAF: gaf.com blocks automated document retrieval, so the GAF terms above come from GAF-authored warranty documents (doc codes RESWT163L and RESWT216) dated 2021 to 2023 and retrieved through distributor mirrors. Treat them as directionally correct and confirm the current version with GAF or the distributor before writing them into a contract.
The CertainTeed number most of the web still gets wrong
CertainTeed raised its wind warranty upgrade from 130 mph to 160 mph in 2026, and most published comparisons have not caught up. The manufacturer’s own sell sheet states it plainly: “CertainTeed has increased its 15-year wind warranty upgrade from 130 mph to 160 mph.” Any source quoting 130 mph for a Landmark family shingle is now out of date.
The 160 mph upgrade applies to Landmark, Landmark PRO, Landmark Premium, Landmark TL, Landmark ClimateFlex, Northgate ClimateFlex and the Solaris versions of those products. Confusingly, several CertainTeed technical data sheets still in circulation, including the Landmark PRO sheet dated 10/23, print the older 130 mph figure.
The practical effect: a CertainTeed roof correctly installed with matching starter and hip and ridge now carries the highest published conditional wind number of any mainstream asphalt shingle, tied with TAMKO’s Proline series, while asking for fewer accessory categories than GAF’s top tier.
Wind coverage stops at year 15 on a lifetime warranty
Every brand reviewed here limits wind coverage to the first 15 years from installation, even where the defect warranty is labelled Limited Lifetime. Owens Corning states it in capitals: coverage against blow-offs or wind damage “is in effect for a period of 15 years from the original date of installation.” IKO, Malarkey, TAMKO, Atlas, CertainTeed and GAF all use the same 15 year window.
This is the single most misread term in asphalt roofing. A homeowner told they bought a lifetime roof reasonably assumes wind is covered for life. In year 16, a 90 mph gust that strips 40 shingles is a defect claim or it is nothing, and blow-off caused by wind is generally not a manufacturing defect.
Economy three tab lines are worse still. Owens Corning Supreme carries 60 mph for 5 years, TAMKO Elite Glass-Seal carries 60 mph for 5 years, and Atlas GlassMaster carries 60 mph for 5 years. If a builder specified a three tab shingle to hit a price, the wind protection is roughly a third of the speed and a third of the duration of the architectural product next to it in the same catalogue.
What each brand actually demands for the upgraded number
GAF gates its best tier on buying four accessories
GAF runs three levels. Base Timberline HDZ is 110 mph. Special Installation reaches 130 mph and requires, in GAF’s wording, installation “using 4 nails per shingle” with “GAF Starter Strip Products installed at the eaves and rakes.” The nail count splits by product: LayerLock labelled shingles including HDZ need 4 nails, while Special Installation for all other GAF shingles requires 6 nails per shingle.
The WindProven tier carries no maximum wind speed for 15 years, and it is the most demanding qualification in the category. It requires a LayerLock shingle plus at least four qualifying GAF accessories: ridge cap, starter strip, roof deck protection, and either a leak barrier or an attic ventilation product. Proof of purchase for those accessories is required at claim time. This is a purchasing requirement dressed as a performance tier.
CertainTeed asks for three conditions and no nail count
CertainTeed’s 160 mph upgrade requires exactly three things: the shingles are not applied over existing roof shingles, specified CertainTeed hip and ridge products are used as cap shingles, and specified CertainTeed starter shingles run along both eaves and rakes. In Florida the rake starter requirement is waived if shingles are embedded in a 4 inch wide bed of asphalt roofing cement along the rake edges.
Notably absent from that list: any nail count, any leak barrier, any ventilation product, any credentialed contractor. CertainTeed also prints a heading in the 2026 warranty reading “Warranty Registration (not required).”
Owens Corning gives 130 mph with no strings on Duration
Owens Corning is the outlier that removes the upgrade step entirely on its volume product. The Duration Series carries 130 mph as the standard figure with no special installation clause attached, which the company attributes to its SureNail nailing strip. Oakridge behaves conventionally: 110 mph with 4 nail application, 130 mph only with 6 nail application plus Owens Corning starter shingles along eaves and rakes.
One trap sits in the footnotes. Owens Corning Supreme shingles used as hip and ridge or as starter “reduce the wind warranty to 60 mph for those areas.” A crew that saves money by cutting up three tab shingles for starter can drop the perimeter of an otherwise 130 mph roof to 60 mph coverage.
Malarkey, IKO, TAMKO and Atlas
Malarkey requires only 4 nails for its enhanced tier (5 for Windsor) but insists on both Malarkey starter and Malarkey hip and ridge shingles. Windsor reaches 140 mph, a figure no other brand here publishes. Our Malarkey shingles review covers the wider product line.
IKO takes the nail heavy route: two additional nails (6 total) for Cambridge and Royal Estate, three additional (8 total) for Crowne Slate, one additional (6 total) for Armourshake, plus IKO starter strip at eaves and rakes. IKO also requires that shingles were installed with nails rather than staples and were hand sealed or given the opportunity to seal, with manual sealing excused in Florida. See the IKO shingles review for product detail.
TAMKO’s High Wind Application means the 6 fastener pattern plus TAMKO starter shingles including sealant strip at eaves and rakes. TAMKO adds a condition nobody else states this bluntly: “High Wind Application is offered on new construction or complete tear-off applications only. It is not offered for re-cover applications.” Miss any requirement and the figure reverts to the standard 110 mph. The TAMKO shingles review has more on the Heritage and Proline lines.
Atlas publishes the loosest terms in the group. Pinnacle Pristine, Pinnacle Sun and Pinnacle Impact are listed at “130 mph w/4 nails” with no accessory conditions attached in the warranty table, and StormMaster Shake at “150 mph w/4 nails.” Only ProLam uses a two step structure, at 110 mph with 4 nails and 130 mph with 6.
Two conditions that quietly cancel the number you were sold
Most buyers compare MPH figures and never read the clauses that switch them off. Two stand out because they are easy to trip and expensive to discover late.
- The GAF accessory gate. WindProven’s no maximum wind speed tier is unavailable unless four separate GAF accessory categories were purchased and installed, with proof of purchase retained. A roof can be flawlessly installed with a competitor’s underlayment and still fail to qualify.
- The CertainTeed ventilation void. CertainTeed’s 2026 warranty drops inadequately ventilated decks to a 10 year warranty and lists the wind warranty for that case as not applicable. Ventilation is not a reduction in wind coverage, it removes wind coverage entirely, and attic ventilation is not something a homeowner can inspect from the driveway.
Both are worth checking before the crew leaves. Neither shows up on the sample board.
A wind warranty is not the same as a wind rating
The ASTM classification printed on a shingle wrapper and the wind figure in the warranty are different things. GAF Timberline HDZ and CertainTeed Landmark both carry ASTM D7158 Class H, which corresponds to a 150 mph test condition, and ASTM D3161 Class F. Neither brand warrants 150 mph as a matter of course.
The classification describes laboratory performance of the product. The warranty describes what the manufacturer will pay for, on your roof, given your installation, within a defined window. A shingle can hold Class H and still carry a 110 mph warranty because the crew used 4 nails instead of 6, or skipped branded starter at the rakes.
When a contractor quotes a wind number, ask which of the two they mean. For context on how often the difference matters, see our wind damage roof statistics by region.
How to lock in the upgraded wind warranty on your job
- Pick the shingle first, then read its row. The upgrade conditions are product specific, not brand specific. Owens Corning Oakridge and Owens Corning Duration sit in the same catalogue with completely different requirements.
- Write the accessory list into the contract. Name the starter, hip and ridge, underlayment and ventilation products by manufacturer and model, because every brand except Atlas ties its top number to specific branded components.
- Specify the nail count in writing. Six nails where the warranty requires six, four where four is enough. This is the most common silent downgrade on a roof.
- Confirm starter runs at rakes, not just eaves. GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning Oakridge, IKO and TAMKO all name rakes explicitly. Rake starter is routinely skipped.
- Rule out a roof-over. CertainTeed voids the 160 mph upgrade for roof-overs and TAMKO excludes re-cover applications from High Wind Application entirely.
- Get proof of purchase for accessories. GAF requires it for WindProven claims. Ask the contractor for supplier invoices at closeout.
- Verify ventilation before final payment. Inadequate ventilation can eliminate CertainTeed wind coverage and shorten the warranty to 10 years.
Shingle choice drives cost as well as coverage. Our best asphalt shingles roundup ranks the products themselves on performance and value, where this page deliberately stays on warranty terms.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest shingle wind warranty available?
GAF’s WindProven tier states no maximum wind speed for 15 years, though it requires a LayerLock shingle plus four qualifying GAF accessories. Among brands publishing a specific figure, CertainTeed and TAMKO both reach 160 mph, Atlas StormMaster Shake reaches 150 mph with 4 nails, and Malarkey Windsor reaches 140 mph.
Does a lifetime shingle warranty cover wind damage for life?
No. Every brand reviewed here limits wind coverage to the first 15 years from installation, separate from the Limited Lifetime defect coverage. Owens Corning states the 15 year wind period in capitals in its January 2026 warranty. After year 15, blow-off from wind is generally outside the warranty unless it traces to a covered manufacturing defect.
Do you need six nails per shingle for a high wind warranty?
It depends on the product. IKO Cambridge, TAMKO Heritage and Owens Corning Oakridge all require six fasteners for their upgraded figure. GAF requires only four on LayerLock shingles including Timberline HDZ, but six on other GAF shingles. Malarkey requires four, five on Windsor. CertainTeed states no nail count in its 160 mph conditions.
Is a 130 mph wind rating the same as a 130 mph wind warranty?
No. ASTM D7158 and ASTM D3161 classifications describe laboratory wind performance of the shingle itself. The warranty describes what the manufacturer will pay for on your roof, subject to installation conditions and a time limit. Products classified ASTM D7158 Class H, a 150 mph test condition, commonly carry a 110 mph base warranty.
Do you have to register a shingle warranty to get wind coverage?
Generally no for the standard manufacturer warranty. CertainTeed’s 2026 warranty includes a heading reading “Warranty Registration (not required),” and no registration deadline appears in the GAF Roofing System Limited Warranty documents reviewed. Claim deadlines are a different matter: GAF and Owens Corning both require claims within 30 days of noticing a problem.
Can poor attic ventilation void a shingle wind warranty?
Yes, with CertainTeed. Its 2026 warranty reduces coverage on inadequately ventilated decks to 10 years and lists the wind warranty as not applicable in that case, so ventilation failure removes wind coverage rather than trimming it. Ventilation also appears as one of the four qualifying accessory categories a homeowner may use toward GAF’s WindProven tier.
Does using a certified contractor change the wind warranty?
Not for these standard product warranties. GAF’s matrix lists contractor certification as not applicable for the Roofing System Limited Warranty, and CertainTeed states no credentialed installer requirement among its 160 mph conditions. Certification matters for extended workmanship packages such as GAF’s System Plus, Silver Pledge and Golden Pledge tiers, which are separate products.