Residential Roofing Warranties What You Need to Know

Roofs may be built to last but that doesn’t mean they are invincible. At some point, you’re going to need a new roof and that’s an opportunity for you to make the most out of residential roofing warranties.

What are they?

Residential roofing warranties are written guarantees from roofing manufacturers and contractors proving the quality of products and services provided. As a legal contract, a warranty defines the responsibilities of a manufacturer or contractor should a problem arise with your roof.

There are two kinds of residential roofing warranties you should be provided: one that covers material defects and another for workmanship errors. Material defects warranties are typically provided by manufacturers while workmanship warranties are offered by roofing contractors.

Remember that different terms will govern different residential roofing warranties. However, the more generous these terms are, the more peace of mind you’ll have as they translate to the best kind of protection for your roof.

Why are residential roofing warranties important?

Getting a new roof is a big investment. Making sure you have the best residential roofing warranty in place is a way to protect that investment. Should any issues arise with your roof, having warranty coverage will assure that whatever these issues are will be resolved, as long as warranty terms have been met. This means if you’re looking at roof failure, for instance, because of a problem with the roofing material, then your roof will be replaced at no cost to you.

Understanding Warranty Coverage

Keep in mind the following:
l  l While different residential roofing warranties may have different terms, they generally stipulate that a roof has to be properly maintained for coverage to take effect. This means that part of ensuring that your warranty does not become void is setting up a roof care plan after an installation.
l  Be mindful of the use of “lifetime” in warranty terms . Typically, lifetime coverage means a warranty is in place as long as the original owner of the roof also owns the property the roof is installed on, but sometimes warranty coverage can be extended to the first subsequent owner under certain circumstances.

l  Note that manufacturer warranties usually only kick in when a roof is installed by one of their certified contractors. This guarantees that their roofing product was installed properly, helping rule out faulty installation should an issue crop up with your roof.
l  Manufacturer and contractor warranties are generally designed to complement each other but they can also be honored independently. You’ll usually find complementary warranties where a certain manufacturer’s products are being installed by one of its certified contractors.

Making the Most of Residential Roofing Warranties

Whatever kind of residential roofing warranty you have, following all stipulated terms will ensure that you get to enjoy your warranty coverage when it matters. For the best terms, make sure that you work only with reputable roofing manufacturers and contractors. Don’t hesitate to call one today to learn more about residential roofing warranties.

Jonathan Price is in charge of shingle and storm damage operations over at Professional Roofing Contractors. Also the head project manager for new construction projects, he knows best how to advise clients on how to make the most of their roofing investment. For updates from Jonathan, check out the company blog!