GAF Timberline HDZ Charcoal Shingles
The blackest shingle in the catalog. Reads as one solid plane in any light.
See Charcoal on your house.
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Pure depth, no equivocation. Charcoal is the color you choose when you want the roof to define the silhouette of the house rather than blend into it. On a Florida elevation it absorbs heat aggressively, so attic ventilation matters more than with lighter shingles.
The granule blend is built on a deep carbon base with a faint slate accent that prevents the surface from going dead flat. Up close you can see the dimensional shadow line that gives the Timberline HDZ profile its premium feel; from the street it reads as one solid color.
Cools the rest of the elevation visually and makes warm wood and stone accents look richer. The one place it disagrees: yellow-toned bricks or very saturated terracotta walls, where the contrast can read harsh.
| Type | Asphalt Fiberglass-mat, granule-coated, dimensional architectural shingle |
| Grade | Architectural Laminated profile with dimensional shadow line |
| Warranty | 30 years Manufacturer limited; transferable terms vary |
| Wind rating | Up to 150 mph WindProven Limited Wind Warranty has no maximum wind-speed cap when installed with four qualifying GAF accessories. ASTM D3161 Class F. |
| Hail / impact | Class 3 UL 2218 Impact-Resistance Test rating. Class 4 is the highest grade; some Florida insurers offer a small discount on hail-rated roofs. |
| Fire rating | Class A ASTM E108 / UL 790 |
| Weight per square | 240 lbs Standard architectural asphalt |
| Algae resistance | StainGuard Plus 25-year algae warranty |
| Manufacturer | GAF Parsippany, NJ · made in the USA |
| Pieces / square | 64 Coverage: 100 sq ft per square |
| Exposure | 5 5/8" Manufacturer-specified shingle exposure per course |
Materials-per-square pulled from retailer scrape (Lowe's/Home Depot Florida zips).
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Questions homeowners ask before they commit. Answered without sales spin.
A true deep black with no visible blue, brown, or red undertone. In bright Florida sun it stays black; in shade it reads as pure shadow. The granule blend is a tight mix of carbon and charcoal granules that gives the surface dimensional texture without lifting the perceived color.
Yes, somewhat. A dark asphalt roof can raise attic temperatures by 5 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit at peak summer compared to a light gray. In Florida that translates to roughly 10 to 20 dollars per month in additional cooling cost on a typical 2,500 sq ft home if attic ventilation is adequate. Proper soffit-to-ridge ventilation and a modern radiant barrier under the deck close most of the gap.
Minimally. GAF's ceramic granule coating is engineered to hold color for 25 plus years in Florida UV. Expect a subtle shift toward a slightly warmer tone over the first 5 years, then visual stability. The full warranty covers premature fading. Source: GAF product warranty document and NRCA field-aging guidance.
Across GAF, GAF, CertainTeed, IKO, and Owens Corning, the true-black SKUs read nearly identical in daylight from street distance. The granule blend differs slightly (some have a hint of warm undertone, others stay cooler) but unless you place two roofs side by side most homeowners cannot tell them apart.
It can, but it is less traditional than a terracotta tile look. The black asphalt + cream-stucco combination reads as contemporary Mediterranean rather than historical. If you want the historical look, a multi-tone weathered-wood or warm brown reads closer.
Asphalt shingles in this family typically show their first granule loss (visible as small gritty deposits in gutters) at year 8 to 12. Color stability is excellent over the same window. Most Charcoal roofs reach year 15 looking visually identical to year 1 unless the house had a serious algae or moss episode.