Roof Warranty – two types explained.
Workmanship Warranty
Workmanship is often covered by the installer. The roofing contractor that installs your roof will typically extend a workmanship warranty on average of 1-5 years. A workmanship warranty covers error in workmanship and installation, but is only as good as the contractor stays in the business.
Material Defect Warranty
Material defect is covered by the roof shingle manufacturer. The fine print of a material warranty can be limited to time, maintenance, and transferability. Many manufacturers vet installers and base the type of warranty an installer can offer by experience level, number of jobs performed and continuing education, among other qualifiers.
Important Factors of a Manufacture Material Warranty
- What is the length of the warranty? Manufacturer roof shingle warranties offer anywhere between 10-40 years and lifetime warranties. Keep in mind that manufacturer warranties cover product defect and not normal wear and tear or weather damage.
- Prorated or Non-Prorated? This is a very important aspect of a material warranty coverage. For example, a prorated asphalt shingle roof warranty may be covered by a 30 or 40-year warranty, most of these long-term warranties are prorated after the first few years. They may cover one hundred percent of defective shingles for five or ten years. But after that, many warranties cover only a dwindling percentage of the cost. With the non-prorated warranty, the total protection remains continuous. It does not decrease the manufacturer’s responsibilities with time. With a non-prorated warranty, Throughout the life of your roof, you can rest assured knowing you are covered for the entire warranty period.
- Can the warranty be transferred? A transferable roof warranty can be valuable when selling your home. Potential buyers will appreciate the peace of mind a roof warranty can bring. Ask your installer if BOTH workmanship and material warranties can be transferred with the sale of your home.
Best of Both Worlds
Most roofs that fail during the warranty period do so because they were installed incorrectly. GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer vets a small group of roofers to become qualified as GAF Master Elite contractors. Because of their stringent standards only 3% of all roofing contractors have qualified as a GAF Master Elite contractor.
This qualified elite group of contractors can offer a special warranty the covers both workmanship and material defect. Remember when I mentioned that a workmanship warranty is only as good so long as the company is in the business? Well, with GAF’s Golden Pledge warranty, workmanship is backed by the manufacture, so even if the installer is no longer in business, workmanship is still backed by GAF. A manufacturer roof warranty that covers both workmanship and product, too good to be true? It’s not. Here’s how GAF can ensure that the quality of workmanship is up to snuff for their seal of approval. The homeowner must select the premium warranty available through GAF, their Golden Pledge warranty, which covers workmanship and material defect. Once the roof system installation is complete GAF will send out their own inspectors to inspect that the installation has been carried out as per the manufacturer specifications.
With this warranty comes peace of mind that the entire roofing system is covered not only by one of North America’s largest shingle manufacture, but also backed by Good Housekeeping’s seal of approval.
If you’re considering a roof replacement vet your local roofing contractor. Make sure you know what you are getting with your roof warranties.
CIG Construction has been vetted by GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer. As your local roofing contractor we are proud to be among the 3% selected as a Master Elite Contractor. What this means is that we are able to offer one of the best manufacturer backed roof warranties that covers both workmanship and material defect.
