A roofing warranty is a good thing to look for when buying a new roof or replacement roof, but it shouldn’t be the deciding factor when making your final decision. As the National Roofing Contractors Association advises, consumers should put greater emphasis on the quality and suitability of the roofing materials rather than the length of the roofing materials warranty. In other words, your money will be better spent on quality roofing products (like GAF and CertainTeed installed by the Roofing Annex) that are designed to perform in environmental conditions typical of your area. By doing so, you are less likely to have problems with your new roof.
What Roof Warranties Provide
When you purchase a new roofing system, it should come with two types of warranties. Here’s how to distinguish between the two:
1. Roofing manufacturer warranty
This basically covers any defects in the roofing materials. These warranties are long-lasting, ranging from 10 years to 50 years.
2. Contractor’s roofing warranty
This typically covers the workmanship done by the roofing contractor during installation of your new roof. There is no industry standard on how long roofing contractor warranties remain in effect, but a one to two year time frame is the norm.
It’s important to point out that a roofing warranty is not all-inclusive coverage against all roofing problems, no matter the circumstance or cause. In general, warranties for roofing systems cover manufacturing defects and certain performance conditions, not general deterioration over the lifetime of the roof.
What to Look for in a Roofing System Warranty
Roofing warranties are not the prettiest to look at or to read. Like insurance policies, they contain legal jargon that outlines what the warranty will and will not cover.
Most roof warranties follow a similar format that includes the following:
- What Is Covered/Excluded – lists the manufacturer’s products to which the warranty applies.
- Who Is Covered and if Transferable
- How Long the Warranty Lasts
- Manufacturing Defects: What Is Covered/Sole and Exclusive Remedy
- Failure to Seal/Blow-off/Wind Damage: What Is Covered/Sole and Exclusive Remedy
- Algae Discoloration: What Is Covered/Sole and Exclusive Remedy
- What Is Not Covered
- Other Limitations Concerning Coverage
- Claims: What You Must Do
- Sole and Exclusive Warranty Disclaimer
- Modification of Warranty Disclaimer
- Effectiveness Provision Statement
Some roofing companies, including the Roofing Annex, offer upgrades to its basic roof warranty that provides better and longer coverage for material and workmanship defects. These upgrades are available for an additional fee.
What If You’re Not Offered a Roof Warranty
If the roofing company you’re doing business with doesn’t offer warranties for roofing materials and workmanship, we recommend walking away and finding another roofing service that will back the quality of their work and products.
As a GAF Master Elite roofing contractor, the Roofing Annex is able to offer its customers a more comprehensive roofing warranty than other roofing companies. For example, our 50-year roofing system warranty covers parts and labor for as long as the original individual owns the home.
And remember, always keep your roofing warranties, storing them with other important documents for easy reference or access if needed.
