What’s included in a Gunner roof installation?
A Gunner roof installation is a complete system, not just shingles on top of old decking. Every job in New York and Connecticut includes six layers working together: a solid deck, metal drip edge, ice-and-water barrier at the eaves and valleys, synthetic underlayment across the field, properly flashed penetrations and walls, and a ridge cap to seal the top. The shingles — typically GAF Timberline HDZ architectural asphalt — go on last. That layered approach is what backs the manufacturer’s warranty and protects the home through Northeast winters.
Layer by layer: what goes on your roof
1. Roof deck
Everything starts with the deck. Before any new material is applied, Gunner crews inspect the plywood or OSB sheathing and replace any sections that are soft, rotted, or structurally compromised. A sound deck is the foundation of a watertight installation; damaged sheathing left under new shingles will cause early failure and void the warranty.
2. Metal drip edge
Drip edge is an aluminum or galvanized steel strip that runs along the eaves and rake edges. It directs water off the edge of the roof and away from the fascia, preventing the rot and staining that happens when water wicks back under the edge. Per the GAF field guide, drip edge at the eaves goes on before underlayment; drip edge at the rakes goes over it. On Golden Pledge and Silver Pledge warranty installations, drip edge must have at least a 3-inch flange, and nailing is every 8–10 inches (4 inches in high-wind zones).
3. Ice-and-water barrier (leak barrier)
This is the most important layer for NY and CT homes. An ice-and-water barrier — also called a self-adhered leak barrier — is a rubberized asphalt membrane that bonds directly to the deck and seals around nails. It’s the primary defense against ice dams.
In cold climates like ours, the GAF field guide requires installing leak barrier at the eaves at least 24 inches inside the warm wall (the interior heated space), which typically means running it 36 to 48 inches up from the eave. It also goes in all valleys, around dormers, chimneys, plumbing vents, and skylights — everywhere water tends to concentrate or back up. The IRC (International Residential Code, Section R905) requires this same ice-barrier coverage at eaves in regions where the average daily temperature in January is 25°F or below, which covers virtually all of Westchester County and Fairfield County.
GAF makes two leak barrier products used on Gunner jobs: WeatherWatch® (mineral-surfaced, fiberglass-reinforced, good traction and UV exposure up to 60 days) and StormGuard® (film-surfaced, also fiberglass-reinforced). The specific product used depends on the application and warranty tier.
4. Synthetic underlayment
Over the leak barrier and across the rest of the roof field goes synthetic underlayment — a woven polypropylene sheet that provides a second layer of water resistance and a slip-resistant surface for installers. Synthetic underlayment replaced traditional felt (tar paper) in modern installations; it’s lighter, tear-resistant, and holds up better when exposed during a multi-day job. GAF products used on Gunner jobs include FeltBuster®, Tiger Paw™, and Deck-Armor™, depending on the warranty level.
5. Flashing
Flashing is sheet metal — typically aluminum or galvanized steel — installed at every joint where the roof meets something else: chimneys, dormers, skylights, plumbing vents, and where a roof slope meets a vertical wall. Without proper flashing, these junctions are where roofs leak first.
The standard method at walls is step flashing: individual L-shaped metal pieces woven in with each course of shingles, so that any water that gets behind the siding is directed out over the shingles. Continuous “apron” flashing goes at the base of chimneys; counter flashing is set into mortar joints above. Valleys — the V where two roof planes meet — are flashed open (exposed metal) or closed-cut (shingles cut tight to the valley) depending on the home and the homeowner’s preference.
Gunner replaces all flashing as a standard part of a full roof replacement. Reusing old flashing is common among cut-rate contractors and is one of the most frequent sources of callbacks.
6. Starter strip shingles
Before the first full course of shingles, a starter strip — a shingle product with a pre-applied adhesive sealant — is installed along the eaves and rakes. It seals the bottom edge of the first shingle course and closes the gaps at the butt joints. Without a starter strip, wind can lift the first course and drive rain under it. GAF Starter Strip Shingles count as a qualifying accessory product for the GAF system warranty.
7. Architectural shingles
Gunner primarily installs GAF Timberline HDZ architectural (laminated) shingles. Architectural shingles are heavier and more dimensional than 3-tab shingles, with a layered construction that gives them greater wind resistance and a longer service life. The HDZ line uses GAF’s LayerLock® technology — a proprietary bonding process that fuses the two laminated layers into a single unit and is required for the WindProven™ Limited Wind Warranty (no upper wind speed limit with qualifying accessories and 4 nails per shingle).
8. Ridge cap shingles
The ridge — the peak of the roof — is covered with ridge cap shingles, which are heavier, pre-bent pieces designed to shed water over the top edge and seal the ridge line. A properly capped ridge also works with attic ventilation: when a ridge vent is installed beneath the cap shingles, it exhausts warm, moist air from the attic continuously. GAF Ridge Cap Shingles are a qualifying accessory for the enhanced system warranty.
9. Ventilation
Attic ventilation is a roofing component, not an afterthought. Inadequate ventilation is a leading cause of ice dams in Westchester and Fairfield County winters: when warm attic air escapes through the roof deck, it melts snow from below, which refreezes at the cold eaves as an ice dam. The fix is continuous airflow — cool air in at the soffits, warm air out at the ridge. Gunner evaluates the attic on every project; where ventilation is deficient, correcting it is part of the scope. The FHA/HUD minimum ventilation standard — the baseline Gunner follows — is net free area of at least 1 sq. ft. per 150 sq. ft. of attic floor (reducible to 1:300 with balanced intake and exhaust).
What warranty comes with a Gunner roof?
Gunner is a GAF Master Elite® Contractor — a designation GAF awards only to the top tier of its certified network, requiring documented installation training and ongoing quality standards. Master Elite status is what unlocks GAF’s enhanced system warranties, which are not available from non-certified installers.
The three GAF system warranty tiers, as documented in the GAF Pro Field Guide:
| Warranty | Workmanship coverage | Material defect coverage |
|---|---|---|
| System Plus | None (material only) | Up to 50 years, non-prorated |
| Silver Pledge™ | 10 years | Up to 50 years, non-prorated |
| Golden Pledge® | 20–30 years (varies by shingle) | Up to 50 years, non-prorated |
All three require GAF shingles with a Lifetime limited warranty term plus at least three qualifying GAF accessory products. Golden Pledge also requires GAF Leak Barriers and GAF Roof Deck Protection, which is why it mandates a full tear-off — a lay-over installation can’t guarantee the condition of the underlying deck or that all required components are in place.
Gunner will discuss which warranty tier applies to your specific project; the level depends on the shingle line selected and the full system spec.
Frequently asked questions
What is an ice-and-water barrier, and do I need one in NY or CT? An ice-and-water barrier is a self-adhered rubberized asphalt membrane that bonds directly to the roof deck and seals around fasteners. It’s the primary protection against ice dams and wind-driven rain. In New York and Connecticut, the IRC and local codes require it at eaves in cold-climate regions — and virtually all of Westchester and Fairfield County qualifies. GAF’s field guide calls for it to run at least 24 inches inside the warm wall, typically 36–48 inches up from the eave, and in all valleys.
What’s the difference between underlayment and ice-and-water barrier? Both are installed under the shingles, but they serve different roles. Ice-and-water barrier is self-adhered and seals around nails; it goes at the eaves, valleys, and other leak-prone areas. Synthetic underlayment covers the rest of the roof field; it’s mechanically fastened and provides a secondary water-resistant layer but does not self-seal. A complete installation uses both.
Why does Gunner replace all the flashing on a re-roof? Old flashing is bent, corroded, and no longer forms a tight seal against the new shingles. Reusing it saves a small amount of labor cost but is one of the most common reasons a new roof leaks within a few years. Replacing all flashing is standard practice on every Gunner job.
What is a GAF Master Elite Contractor and why does it matter? GAF Master Elite is the top tier in GAF’s contractor certification program — fewer than 3% of roofing contractors nationally qualify. It requires passing technical training, maintaining insurance, and meeting ongoing quality standards. The designation unlocks GAF’s enhanced system warranties (Silver Pledge™ and Golden Pledge®), which cover workmanship in addition to material defects. A non-certified installer cannot offer these warranties regardless of which GAF products they use.
Does Gunner pull the building permit? Yes. In both New York and Connecticut, roof replacement requires a building permit in most municipalities, and a proper inspection covers the deck, flashing, and ventilation — not just the shingles. Gunner handles the permit as part of the job. The specific process and fees vary by town, but permit-pulling is included in every Gunner project, not an add-on.
How long does a GAF Timberline HDZ roof last in the Northeast? GAF publishes a Lifetime limited warranty on Timberline HDZ shingles under normal conditions. In the Northeast — with Westchester and Fairfield County’s freeze-thaw cycles, ice loads, and Nor’easters — a realistically planned replacement horizon is 25–35 years for a well-ventilated installation. That’s still meaningfully longer than older 3-tab shingles (typically 15–20 years in this climate), and the gap widens with proper ice-barrier and ventilation details.