GAF, RCAT, BBB – OMG What Do They Mean?

When you’re in the market for a new roof, you might find yourself faced with new terms that you’d never heard of before. Worse yet, some of the new terminology might just be abbreviations, like GAF, RCAT, or BBB. These abbreviations are well-known to those in the industry, and maybe even to those who have had a roof replacement before. But they can be daunting to those who are trying to research or purchase their new or replacement roof for the first time.

Knowing what these terms mean for your roof and your roofing company can help you make the choice for the best home. In today’s blog, let’s demystify these terms by breaking down the meanings so you can make a more informed roof replacement purchase.

GAF Roofers

GAF Roofers is one of the most trusted, proven roofing manufacturers in the country. They’ve been in business since 1886. Throughout their history, GAF (General Aniline & Film) has focused on the manufacturing of residential and commercial roofs. With nearly 150 years of experience and top notch products, GAF sets the standard for roofs around the country.

They offer Timberline HD® fiberglass shingle roofs with LayerLock technology, innovative and secure enough to earn the Good Housekeeping Seal. But their roofing systems go so much deeper than just the shingles. Everything from the roof decking to the gutters and protection from rain and hail are all up to the very high GAF standard.

The same can be said for the roofing companies they choose to work with. GAF offers the distinction of GAF Master Elite Roofer to 3% of roofers, and Houston Roofing is one of them. This means we’ve been trusted by one of the most proven roof manufacturers to install their products with care, professionalism, and expertise. Our high quality of work has earned us the ability to offer the GAF Golden Pledge, including a lifetime warranty on installation labor and a 50-year warranty on shingle defects. It’s the best roofing warranty available.

RCAT Licensing

Texas requires no licenses or certifications to become a roofer. Anyone can set up shop and call themselves a roofer, regardless of their experience or education. This can obviously be disconcerting for some homeowners as it can be hard to tell what kind of work to expect from a roofing company. You can also run the risk of falling prey to a fly-by-night roofer: someone who offers a free inspection after a storm, emphasizes the urgency of repairing your roof now, demands a payment upfront for the repair, and then disappears.

So how do you sift through all the sham roofers and find someone you can actually trust? One sure way is with RCAT licensing.

RCAT stands for the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas. RCAT is open to all roofers throughout Texas, but not all choose to apply for the license. While there might be a variety of reasons, it’s certainly more of a vote of confidence to see a roofer that does have RCAT licensing. This shows that the roofer has proven themselves to be legitimate and trustworthy. Any roofer applying for a license must show:

• That they are financially responsible and stable
• Proof of proper insurance for their work, including adequate Workers Compensation
• Business and safety knowledge by passing an exam
• A roofing exam with a qualifying score — at least 70% or higher

RCAT licenses are voluntary in the state of Texas, and many roofers won’t bother to apply for one, whether because they know their business won’t hold up or because they don’t want to go through the trouble. At Houston Roofing, we want to show our customers that we go above and beyond, which is why we have not only taken the initial RCAT licensing procedures but we go through annual training every year in order to keep our license.

BBB Certified Roofers

You may see the letters “BBB” on the websites for any number of businesses, not just roofers and other contractors. BBB stands for Better Business Bureau. Founded in 1912, Better Business Bureau keeps a directory of businesses of all kinds along with a rating from F to A+ based on 13 different categories. They also offer space for customers to review a business so that those researching them can look at firsthand accounts of what it was like to work for that business. Some of the criteria the BBB uses to rate businesses includes: truth in advertising, responsiveness, transparent business practices, and more.

An A+ is the highest rating you can have with Better Business Bureau. By their standards, an A+ falls between a score of 97 and 100. And that’s exactly the score that Houston Roofing has received from Better Business Bureau. We are a BBB certified roofer, in addition to our up-to-date RCAT licensing and our GAF Master Elite roofer distinction. This rating with the BBB tells our customers not only that we’re legitimate, but that we can be trusted and that many satisfied customers have trusted us over the years. We’re known for our integrity, our clear communication with customers, and our professionalism on the job, not just the top notch products we use.

When you’re looking for a new roof, it can feel as though you have to learn a whole new language in order to understand what kind of roof you need. However, with a little research and the right roofer to help you, you can soon use these abbreviations to your advantage to help you find the perfect roofer and the perfect roof for your home. Need more information on what you can expect from Houston Roofing? No problem! Contact us today to learn more or to get started with a free roof assessment, no high pressure sales involved.