The beginning
The Standard Paint Company began with 18 employees in a remodeled sawmill in Bound Brook, New Jersey. Chemist William Griscom worked there on new asphalt compounds.
The story behind your materials
The GAF roofing story began in 1886.
From an 18-person company in a New Jersey sawmill to modern asphalt roofing systems, the GAF story runs through generations of roofing development.
See Why We Use GAFLicensed stock imagery · illustrative
A roofing story since 1886
History gives context. Your home still decides the plan.
A long history does not choose the right roof for you, and it does not replace careful installation. It does show that GAF has spent generations developing asphalt roofing products and systems.
Ready-to-lay asphalt roofing
The company introduced RU-BER-OID, a ready-to-lay asphalt roll roofing product named for its rubber-like qualities.
Embedded color granules
Standard Paint developed a method for embedding colored granules into asphalt coating—a concept that remains part of modern asphalt-shingle construction.
Individually cut asphalt shingles
The company introduced individual asphalt shingles, moving roofing further toward the modular form homeowners recognize today.
A name shaped by roofing
Reflecting the success of its roofing line, Standard Paint became The RUBEROID Co.
Timberline® Shingles and the GAF name
RUBEROID engineer Phil Bottoli laminated two shingle strips to create dimensional Timberline® Shingles. That same year, RUBEROID merged with GAF and adopted the GAF name.
A coordinated residential roofing system
GAF residential product categories span roof deck protection, leak barriers, starter strips, asphalt shingles, ventilation, rooftop accessories, and ridge protection.
This timeline is based on the official GAF company history. Wolfy's Roofing recommendations remain based on your home, the selected components, current product documents, local requirements, and the official warranty terms.
From history to my home
See what GAF makes, why we use it, and what fits my roof.
Each portal opens a complete page with the information, visuals, and next steps for that part of your roofing decision.
My Roofing System
See every layer protecting my home.
Explore leak barriers, underlayment, shingles, ventilation, flashing, and ridge protection in plain homeowner language.Open page →
Why GAF
Understand why we use GAF materials.
See how coordinated components, installation-focused features, ventilation, and conditional warranties fit together.Open page →
My Consultation
Start with my home and my questions.
Share what you have noticed, what matters most, and how Alex and Rai should continue the conversation.Open page →Licensed stock imagery · illustrative
My home. My questions. My next step.
Put that product history to work for your home.
Let’s choose the roofing components that fit your roof, your priorities, and your questions.
Plan My Consultation