Replacing a roof can be expensive, so a warranty is a good idea to protect your investment should something go wrong. As you are choosing your contractor, find out what warranties you will be offered and what they will cover. This will help you to make a more informed choice.
Material warranties are offered by the manufacturer, and you will also get a workmanship warranty from your contractor. There are also some independent, third-party companies which will provide a warranty, based on an inspector’s report, which will cover leaks. This can be a good choice if your roof is no longer warrantied; for example, if you have just purchased the property.
Workmanship warranties may be pro-rated or non-pro-rated. A pro-rated warranty covers only a percentage of any repairs that become necessary, with the property owner paying the remainder. The percentage of owner’s responsibility goes up with the age of the roof. A non-pro-rated warranty covers 100 percent of repairs, with no charge to the customer.
A typical workmanship warranty covers 5 to 10 years, though some are just one or two years. Materials are most often covered for 25 to 30 years. One thing to watch out for is that you should not use the length of the warranty as a guarantee of performance. You should still make sure that your contractor uses quality materials and work is done by qualified workers.
Always read the entire warranty to be sure that you understand the terms. Most warranties do not cover all leaks, only those which can be directly attributed to a defect. There may be other restrictions and limitations as well. The warranty should clearly state what your responsibility is in terms of maintenance.
Choose a materials warranty which is realistic and based on testing or proven performance. There is a certain amount of competition among roofing manufacturers regarding the terms of warranties, which has led to some manufacturers offering longer warranties than their materials have actually been tested for. While this may work out in favor of the consumer, it is a shady business practice and does not inspire confidence in the company. There is also the risk that a manufacturer could go out of business before a long term warranty expires, leaving the homeowner responsible for any repairs which might be needed.
Knowing what to look for in roofing warranties will help you to make the best choice of contractor, as you won’t be taken in by a lower price that comes with a poor warranty. You should review all warranties for workmanship and materials before signing any contract.
