When it comes to roofing warranties, there are three main types you should be aware of before you start meeting with contractors and working to evaluate what they offer.
Parts of a roof warranty come from the materials manufacturer. Other parts come from your contractor.
Once you’ve invested thousands of dollars in your roof, you want to know that it will last for many decades to come. A roofing warranty can ensure that no matter what you encounter, you’ll be protected.
Spend some time getting to know the various roofing warranties, what they protect and how to use them before you install a new roof on your home or business.
Understanding Roofing Warranties
Your contractor might offer these roofing warranties as part of your roof replacement project.
- Manufacturer’s warranty: protects the products you purchase for installation on your roof.
- Workmanship warranty: covers the contractor’s installation work on your new roof.
- Extended manufacturer’s warranty: you won’t find this in all cases but some manufacturers offer an extended warranty that covers more of its products and even some of the installation work if you’ve selected a preferred contractor that works with their materials frequently.
Get to know these warranties in greater detail below, alongside some key aspects to ask your contractor to gain more details about their warranties.
Manufacturer’s Warranty
Roofing shingles and other materials come with a warranty from defects. While this will often be worded as a “lifetime” warranty, that doesn’t mean the entire time the material is on your roof. Instead, it means the life of the material based on the industry standard.
The wording on manufacturer warranties is somewhat confusing but the key word is “limited.” Normally, a limited manufacturers warranty will only protect the cost of defective materials. Even still, you’ll be paying the cost for a contractor to remove the old defective materials and replace them with new materials that you get under warranty.
Under a limited warranty, most manufacturers also only fully cover replacement materials in full for the first few years of the materials. After that, you’ll likely receive a prorated amount toward your replacement materials, and still need to cover the cost of removing and replacing the worn-out materials.
One final caveat of the manufacturer’s warranty is that it does not cover improper installation or failure of the materials due to improper installation. For example, if your contractor improperly installs a drip edge or ice shield that leads to premature shingle deterioration, the fault lies with the contractor and not the manufacturer.
Workmanship Warranty
This is a warranty you’ll receive from your contractor. It protects your roof from defects due to mistakes that the contractor makes.
Whether or not a contractor offers a workmanship warranty can speak to how reputable they are. That’s because most reliable and trusted contractors will warranty their work from defects and mistakes.
Some contractors offer a lifetime warranty on their installation work, while others will only warranty the work few a set period.
This warranty can help protect you from material failure due to improper installation. That way, even if the materials are no longer under warranty or would be excluded from a limited warranty, you’ll get adequate coverage for the unknown.
Workmanship warranties normally cover both the cost of the materials and the labor to install them. If the improper installation work led to indoor damage to your home, many workmanship warranties also cover the costs to repair damage to the interior of your home.
One thing you should know about your workmanship warranty is that it often excludes damage due to weather events, such as windstorms, heavy rain, ice dams, or material damage from falling objects, such as tree limbs.
As you evaluate roofing contractors, consider the quality of their workmanship and experience before warranties, though because good workmanship matters more than the warranty.
Extended Manufacturer’s Warranty
Many manufacturers offer larger warranties that help protect your investment longer. An extended warranty applies when an authorized contractor installs your roof. It means that the contractor is certified to install that manufacturer’s roofing system in compliance with all installation requirements the manufacturer sets.
An extended manufacturer’s warranty often covers the costs to replace your roof and its extended materials. This can include the following materials.
- Underlayment
- Soffit vents
- Shingles
- Ice or water barriers
These warranties often have no pro-rated periods, meaning you’ll get full materials coverage. It often also covers the labor to replace the defective or damaged roofing materials.
What Can Void Your Roofing Warranty?
Roofing warranties are not fool-proof, meaning there are ways that you can inadvertently void those warranties. To protect your roofing investment, you should understand the nuances of your warranty and what to avoid to keep your warranty in place.
The main reason for voiding roofing warranties is simply due to homeowner mistakes or not knowing the fine print.
1. Improper Installation
The contractor you select to install your roof will impact your warranties. Quality installation plays a massive role in your roof’s lifespan. Make sure that the contractor you work with has a good history.
Don’t go with the cheapest quote you get. Review the contractor with a critical eye and ask for references and recent projects you can go out and look at to see how well their experience went.
When you go to file a roofing warranty claim, the roofing material manufacturer will request photos of your roof. If they see improper installation, they will void your warranty. Roofing materials that are installed incorrectly will prevent them from functioning as they should, which is why your materials manufacturer won’t stand behind the work.
Improper installation isn’t just a concern for your warranties though. It could also mean your insurance company won’t cover your roof in case of storm damage. If the roof was not installed correctly to begin with, it gives them a reason to say they won’t cover damage.
2. Poor Attic Ventilation
If your attic isn’t ventilated, it can trap air at the top of your home, which can damage your roofing materials. This puts the roofing materials through different conditions from what the manufacturer plans for when making the materials.
Trusted roofers will recognize signs of improper attic ventilation and make recommendations for improving those during the roof installation process to prevent this.
3. Work or Repairs Done by Other Contractors
Once you select a roofing contractor, they should be the only ones doing work on your roof throughout the life of your warranty. If any other contractors work on your roof during the warranty period, it could void your workmanship warranty.
Your original contractor is standing behind their workmanship, not that of another contractor that they have no relationship with or know the quality of their work.
4. Homeowner Roofing Work
Avoid doing work on your roof yourself during your warranty periods. Just like having another contractor on your roof will void your warranty, so can working on your roof yourself. Even if it looks like a simple leak that you can quickly and easily repair, you should contact your original roofing contractor first to protect your warranties.
5. Pressure Washing
Pressure washing your roof might help remove algae or other debris, but it’s too aggressive for your roofing materials. This can lead to voiding your roofing warranty. During pressure washing, you might remove protective granules from your roof, which will reduce its weather barriers, and shorten the roof’s lifespan.
Instead of pressure washing, hire a company that uses softer methods and specifically focuses its business on roof cleaning.
Contractor for Roof Installation with Warranties in Washington
When you need roofing installation work completed with warranties in Washington, turn to the experts at 2FL Windows, Siding and Roofing. Schedule your free estimate now to meet with a member of our team to discuss your material options and the corresponding warranties that come with them.
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