2 Main Types of Roofing Warranties & What They Mean for You
Time for a new roof? If you’ve done your homework then you already know that you have many important decisions to make. You may be researching roofing materials and deciding what color roof will look best. However, when it comes to roofing warranties these decisions get a little more complicated. While the world of roofing warranties may seem vast, there are essentially two types of warranties that you need to know:
Standard manufacturer’s warranty
Workmanship warranty
But what do these warranties cover? Keep reading to find out.
Standard Manufacturer’s Warranty
The manufacturer’s warranty is the primary industry standard for new roofs and the most common type of roof warranty. Most roofing materials come with a basic limited lifetime warranty which can mean a few different things depending on the definition of the word “limited.” Limited can mean that your roof is covered for the duration you live in the house, or for the life of the product. With GAF and CertainTeed manufacturer’s warranties, you are allowed to transfer the roof warranty if you sell the property. Keep in mind that this transfer is only permitted one time.
If your roof fails prematurely due to defective materials, it should be covered by your manufacturer’s warranty. However, there are a few important caveats to keep in mind. Roof failure due to manufacturing defects will warrant coverage, but not issues caused by improper installation. In addition, the coverage typically extends to replace the material, leaving you to pay for the labor fees and additional roofing materials needed such as underlayments, flashings, ice/water shields or ventilation parts.
It is possible for your coverage to change as time goes on, which is why you’ll want to find out if your warranty is prorated or not. If you have a prorated roof warranty, as the time left in your warranty period or the value of your roof decreases, so does your coverage. With a non-prorated warranty, time doesn’t impact the protection provided by your manufacturer’s warranty.
Workmanship Warranty
Workmanship Warranties are obtained from the contractor who installs your roof and varies depending on who you work with. Workmanship warranties protect you from roof failure attributed to errors made during installation. The cost of labor, necessary materials, and damage caused to your home and belongings are all normally covered by a contractor workmanship warranty. Here at Elite Roofing and Restoration, our workmanship warranty ranges 2-5 years which is very typical.
While the workmanship warranty does cover some additional aspects left out of the manufacturer’s warranty, there are still some issues that are excluded from coverage. These potential problems include:
Storm damage
Impact damage
Issues caused by foot traffic
Wind damage
Registering Your Warranty
Once you’ve narrowed down what type of material you want, what color looks best on your home and which warranty (or warranties if you want both) works best for you, it’s critical to check for the manufacturer’s requirements concerning registering your warranty. You may have to register your warranty in a specific time frame to ensure it is active. Making sure you check all the boxes now can save you a big headache in the future.
If you have any unanswered questions regarding your warranty, our team at Elite Roofing and Restoration will be happy to chat with you and provide any additional information. Contact our team to learn more or get started on your roof replacement today.
Elite Roofing and Restoration is your source for quality roof repair and replacement.
In addition to roof replacements and repairs, both commercial and residential, we offer a considerable list of additional home repair services to assist you with any general construction needs you may have.
Contact us today to schedule your no-hassle, complimentary roof inspection today.
