CertainTeed Announces FORTIFIED™ Roof Certification And Two New Products For Enhanced Performance And Durability
MALVERN, PA (May 22, 2025)– CertainTeed®, a leading North American manufacturer of sustainable building materials, has announced a new collaborative effort with the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), reinforcing its commitment to resilient and durable construction. As a result of this initiative, CertainTeed now offers a complete roofing system that meets the rigorous standards of the IBHS FORTIFIED™ Roof program.
FORTIFIED Roof is a nationally recognized standard designed to strengthen homes against severe weather, including high winds, hail, and heavy rains, and goes beyond typical building codes, providing a unified system of products and installation methods proven to increase a home’s resilience and reduce potential damage.
As part of its commitment to innovation and home resilience, CertainTeed is also introducing two new roofing components engineered to meet FORTIFIED Roof standards:
- CertaSeam™ Roof Tape: A roof deck joint tape designed to seal deck seams and prevent water intrusion during high-wind events. This critical component plays a key role in a FORTIFIED Roof designation.
- SwiftStart® SA Starter Shingle: A self-adhering, water-resistant rolled starter that offers fast installation and dependable protection. It enhances the overall weather-tight integrity of CertainTeed’s roofing systems.
A broad range of CertainTeed roofing products meet the FORTIFIED Roof criteria. Each component is engineered to work together, providing a layered defense and high-performance protection in any climate. This comprehensive system includes the newly introduced CertaSeam™ Roof Tape for sealing roof deck joints, along with a variety of waterproofing underlayments such as WinterGuard® PRO, WinterGuard® Sand/Granular, and water-resistant options like Grace Vycor™ Ice and Water Shield®, Grace Vycor™ Ice and Water Shield® HT, RoofRunner®, and DiamondDeck®. To ensure optimal edge protection, the SwiftStart® SA Starter Shingle adds another layer of defense.
A range of shingles can be used to meet the FORTIFIED Roof Hurricane or High Wind criteria as well, including Landmark® TL, Landmark® TL Solaris®, Landmark® Premium, Landmark® PRO, Landmark®, Belmont® IR, Grand Manor®, Carriage House®, and Presidential® Shake® IR. The Landmark® ClimateFlex®, NorthGate® ClimateFlex® meet the criteria for an additional Hail supplement to a FORTIFIED designation. For proper attic ventilation, CertainTeed offers 12″ filtered and unfiltered ridge vents, as well as rolled ridge vents. To complete the system, compatible hip and ridge caps such as Shangle® Ridge, Shadow Ridge ClimateFlex®, and Cedar Crest® IR help ensure lasting performance and resilience.
“CertainTeed is proud to align with the IBHS FORTIFIED standards, ensuring our roofing systems deliver long-term durability and unmatched performance for all homeowners,” said James White, Senior Product Manager, Residential Roofing at CertainTeed. “Our expanding portfolio of FORTIFIED-compliant products reflects our commitment to preventing avoidable storm-related losses and supporting homeowners in building more resilient homes to achieve our goal of making the world a better home.”
FORTIFIED homes are scientifically proven to be more resilient than those built to standard codes. In addition to peace of mind, homeowners in more than a dozen states may also benefit from financial incentives, including insurance discounts, grants, and tax credits. These benefits are currently available in Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. In other states—including Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas—similar incentives may be available for homes with qualifying upgrades. Beginning November 1, 2025, contractors must be FORTIFIED Certified to complete eligible installations in participating programs.
Whether building new, re-roofing, or retrofitting, the FORTIFIED Roof standard helps ensure homes are better protected against both everyday weather and extreme storms. CertainTeed’s high-performance products make it easier for contractors and homeowners to meet these standards and build stronger, safer homes.
Source: https://www.certainteed.com/about/newsroom/certainteed-announces-fortified-roof-certification
Beth Gentry is an American author and writer based in Boulder, Colorado. Her novels, which often explore themes of nature, family, and personal journeys, have received critical acclaim and won prestigious awards. Gentry’s short stories have been published in renowned literary journals, and she has also taught creative writing courses at the university level. Gentry holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Colorado Boulder.
