Residential roof warranties are not iron-clad protection as some homeowners assume them to be. Some manufacturers add loopholes in their roof warranties to detract from the presumed value. You can be left with a leaky roof covered by a leakier warranty! It’s important to work with an experienced roofing contractor to help you understand your roofing warranty and choose high-quality materials from reputable manufacturers.
The most common types of roofing warranties are manufacturer’s warranties and a contractor’s workmanship guarantee.
Manufacturer Warranties
Depending on the material type, your roof could be covered upwards of 20-50 years. This covers the actual materials in the situation where they fail before the end of their life expectancy. However, the roof needs to be regularly maintained to keep the warranty intact.
For example, given that most roof leaks occur at the roof-to-wall intersections and around flashings and other penetrations, warranties can be limited. They will only help if a leak is determined to be caused by a defect in the manufacturing of the roofing material; not in the installation. Again, the warranty is often limited to the materials and provides no compensation for the labor costs repairing or replacing the defective materials.
Contractor’s Workmanship Guarantee
A contractor’s workmanship guarantee is issued by your roofing contractor. This warranty is often shorter in length and covers both instances of defective materials and leaks caused by installation. Reputable contractors often cover the labor with their workmanship warranty. However, you should carefully review your contractor’s workmanship guarantee for the specifics.
Installation Defects
It has been proven over the years that most roofing problems emanate from defective installations done by subpar contractors rather than material defects. That’s why it’s important to research and find a reliable and trustworthy contractor to do things right the first time. A good warranty on a contractor’s workmanship shows they stand by what they do and care about you.
When choosing a material, it’s important to do your research and find the best warranties. Having good warranties will give you a sense of comfort in case something goes awry with your roof.
You need to review the warranties on your roof to see what is covered and be better prepared for anything. Contact Surf & Turf Roofing of the South Jersey area today for all your roofing needs. By working with Surf & Turf, you’ll have a strong contractor to give you the best service available and help you in the future!
