Congratulations on purchasing your new roofing system and warranty! Now, you get to sit back and relax for the next decade or more and not worry about your roof. Is it this simple? Well, it depends on what type of roofing system and warranty you actually purchased.

Regardless if you reside and are an owner of a single-family house or part of an association managed, multi-family community (you live in a condominium unit or townhouse). Most homeowners, property managers and HOAs tend to focus on the length of the warranty without fully understanding what is covered under the warranty.

HOW CAN YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR ROOF WARRANTY?

You should not be surprised to learn that roof warranties are written in a way to protect the roof manufacturer (keep in mind, this is their product) rather than the owner. So, what are some ways owners can protect themselves? Here are some examples:

  • What type of roof warranty am I purchasing?
  • What are the terms of the warranty?
  • What can void my warranty?
  • What are my responsibilities for properly maintaining my roof and abiding by the warranty?
  • What does my warranty not cover?

If you are unsure of what warranty would be beneficial to you or what it covers ask for clarification from your roofer.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A ROOF CONTRACTOR WARRANTY AND A ROOF MANUFACTURER WARRANTY?

Generally speaking, a contractor warranty mostly covers workmanship and not the actual roofing materials and is offered by the roofer who installs the new roofing system.

Whereas, manufacturer warranties (yes, there are numerous) range in what and how much they cover on a roofing system and are offered by a specific roof manufacturer. However, all require some type of action or proper maintenance to be performed.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MATERIALS-ONLY WARRANTY, A LABOR-ONLY WARRANTY AND A LABOR & MATERIAL WARRANTY?

Materials Only Warranty – covers manufacturing defects and premature deterioration. They do not cover parts such as flashings or metal edges, etc., or cover leak repair costs.

Labor Only Warranty – offered by the roof installer and covers only the labor for installation. It may not cover repairs for installation errors.

Labor and Materials Warranty – also known as full system warranty and generally covers the roofing materials, roofing parts and accessories, labor, leak repairs within warranty terms and conditions. However, it may not cover installation errors.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A ROOF LABOR WARRANTY AND A ROOF WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY?

Labor Warranty – most full system warranties include labor and cover a defective roof within the specifications of a roof system warranty. However, it does not cover the cost of repairs related to roof installation failures. That is why a proper installation by a reputable and good-quality roofer is vital.

Workmanship Warranty – covers costs related to actual installation failures and errors and it is as good as the roofing company offering and backing it. Not much can protect you against installation defects, so make sure you hire a professional, experienced and qualified roofing contractor to install your roof.

Talk to your roofer about what is and what is not covered under the warranties. Contact us to request a roof replacement quote.