Some Responses Surprise When People Answer What They Treasure Most

How would you respond if someone were to ask what you treasure the most in your house? Weigh in on the Facebook conversation as roofing manufacturer GAF holds weekly giveaways and contests for participating homeowners.

What do you treasure most under your roof?

The query is meant to give you some pause, but the question, along with tons of heartfelt answers and comedic photos, is making laps on Facebook as more homeowners join the conversation. Some answers are pretty telling of certain American values, like the emphasis on family and pets. Some of the other responses, however, were surprising, and all were revealing.

S.J. Williams of Vail, Ariz., named his '69 Chevrolet Longbed Stepside truck as his most treasured item. "It's been in my family for 25 years and is the last of a 24-car collection."

For Lori Magelky of West Fargo, N.D., her most prized possession is a baseball signed by New York Yankee legends Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. "I met both when I was in high school, and I graduated from the same high school as Maris."

Troy Alringer from Tonawanda, N.Y., says his collection of Star Wars models, which he built himself, ranks highest among his beloved belongings.

The myriad answers are part of an effort to get people to change the way they think about their roofs, a campaign called "Protect What You Treasure Most" by GAF, North America's largest roofing manufacturer.

"It's not just a functional piece of the home that keeps out weather and the elements," says Alyssa Hall, GAF's marketing communications manager. "It's also a structure that protects everything people value inside their houses."

To make that point clearer, anyone who uses GAF's social app to upload their own photos or videos will be entered in weekly giveaways of $100 Home Depot gift cards. In October, one lucky grand prize winner will be selected to win a $2,000 Home Depot shopping spree.

A separate contest for homeowners who currently have a GAF roof gives entrants the chance to star in a documentary webisode directed by the well-known photographer-filmmaker James Michin III, who's worked with celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Adam Levine. Official contest rules are available at www.gaf.com.

Meanwhile, a few Facebook "before" and "after" photos first showed roofs destroyed by recent storms and then showed the repaired roofs — this time rebuilt with GAF products. But, in keeping with the campaign's theme, you too would probably treasure your roof above all else if you literally didn't have one over your head for a while.