Warranty

Key Takeaways

  • Every new roof comes with two separate warranties. The manufacturer warranty covers defective materials. The workmanship warranty comes from the contractor and covers failures caused by installation errors, usually including both labor and material costs. They protect against different things and neither substitutes for the other.
  • A lifetime warranty is the shingles’ lifetime, not yours. It doesn’t mean your lifetime, your home’s lifetime, or coverage for every future repair. The coverage exists for as long as the shingles are considered to be in service, and it applies to manufacturing defects.
  • Prorated coverage shrinks while you own the roof. A standard warranty might pay 100% for five years, drop to 90% by year eight, and keep sliding from there. Upgraded warranties can run non-prorated for up to 50 years, meaning full coverage the whole way through.
  • An upgrade covers the system, not just the shingles. Standard coverage often stops at the roofing material. Upgraded coverage extends to underlayment, ice and water barrier, soffit and ridge vents, and hip and ridge cap shingles, and it can pick up tear-off and disposal costs when an installation error is found.
  • Upgrades require a certified contractor and transfer once. Manufacturers only offer them on roofs installed by certified contractors following their installation guidelines. The coverage transfers to the first subsequent owner, which makes it a selling point. Weigh that against how long you plan to stay in the house.

Your roof is one of the most important features of your home. It offers protection against the elements and adds aesthetic value to your home. Getting a new roof is a big investment, so you want to ensure you’re getting a durable roof, as well as the best service and warranty you can.

A major roofing decision you’ll have to make is choosing warranty coverage. Most roofing manufacturers and contractors offer some form of warranty, but should you spring for upgrading it? In this article, we tell you the purpose of upgrading a roof warranty and how to go about getting it if you do.

Are Roof Warranties Worth It?

Everyone worries about warranties, especially when making those big purchases. Whether you’re buying a car, phone, computer, or electronic appliance, you’ll want to know what is and what is not covered in the warranty. This is no different when buying a new roof. New roof installations come with two warranties: manufacturer warranty and workmanship warranty.

A manufacturer warranty offers protection in the event the roofing materials are defective.

A roof workmanship warranty is provided by the roofing contractor who installs your roofing. This warranty offers protection against failure which occurs because of improper installation techniques or worker errors. Workmanship warranties usually cover both labor and material costs.

Can You Buy a Roof Warranty?

Yes. You can also often upgrade your warranty. As mentioned above, new roofs will come with standard warranties, but these are usually narrow in scope: they only cover the roofing material and not the entire roof system.

To provide peace of mind and lasting value, manufacturers offer warranty upgrades on roofs installed by certified contractors according to the manufacturer’s installation guidelines. An upgraded warranty offered by a trusted manufacturer provides several benefits, including:

Lengthy, non-prorated coverage: The most basic of upgrades can provide additional coverage for up to 50 years. In addition, the warranty is non-prorated, which means you’ll get 100% coverage for the entire warranty period.

Coverage from standard warranties typically decreases with time. For instance, you may get 100% coverage for the first 5 years, then 90% by the 8th year, and so on. An upgraded warranty could give you continuous coverage for defective materials.

If you value peace of mind, you may want to purchase an extended roof warranty to protect your initial investment.

Coverage for all roof system components: Getting an upgraded warranty extends the coverage to apply to the entire roof system. Instead of just covering the shingles, the warranty will cover components such as:

An extended warranty also includes coverage for workmanship. If your roof is found to have an installation error, you will be covered for replacement materials, labor, tear-off, and disposal costs.

Ability to transfer: An upgraded warranty can be transferred to the first subsequent property owner at any time during the warranty period. This is a great selling point to increase your home’s value and make it more appealing to potential home buyers. Even after you sell your home, the warranty extends to cover the new owner for the life of the roof.

What is a Lifetime Warranty?

Most roofing materials today carry a “lifetime” warranty against manufacturing defects. But this does not refer to your lifetime or your home’s lifetime. Also, this does not mean the warranty will cover every roof repair and maintenance expense. The fine print here is the coverage is available throughout the lifetime of the shingles.

What Do You Need to Do Before Upgrading Your Warranty?

  1. Talk to Your Roofer to Learn the Options. Warranties can be confusing, which is why it’s important to talk to a reputable contractor who can explain your options and help you make a well-informed decision.
  2. Understand the Base Warranty You Receive With Your New Roof. If you’re interested in buying an extended warranty, you need to understand what the standard manufacturer’s warranty and workmanship warranty will cover. The exact coverage will vary depending on the manufacturer and the roofing material you choose.
  3. Is It Financially Worth It to Upgrade? In the end, you’ll have to decide if upgrading your roof warranty is a worthwhile investment. Look at the benefits which come with it and why they would matter to you. You also need to consider how long you’ll be staying in your current home.

If you need roofing services in Dallas and Ft. Worth, you can depend on KPost Company for honest advice and quality workmanship. Our roofing experts will take you through all your options and take a consultative approach to help make the right decision in regards to replacing your roof system and getting an extended warranty. Contact us today to request a free estimate.

FAQs

Many manufacturer warranties do require registration, and the window is often short, commonly within a few months of installation. Registration is usually the contractor’s responsibility, but it is the homeowner who loses the coverage if it never happens. Ask for the registration confirmation and the warranty certificate as part of project closeout rather than assuming it was handled, because this is easier to catch at the end of a job than three years later.

Unapproved repairs by another contractor, installing equipment that penetrates the roof, inadequate attic ventilation, failure to perform required maintenance, and in commercial systems, undocumented alterations. Storm damage is handled through insurance rather than warranty, which surprises many owners. The most common accidental voiding comes from letting a solar installer, satellite technician, or HVAC contractor penetrate the roof without checking the terms first.

More than most owners expect. Manufacturer warranties commonly condition coverage on adequate attic ventilation, on repairs being performed by approved contractors, and on the roof being kept clear of debris and standing water. Some require periodic inspection with documentation to back it up. These conditions live in the warranty document rather than in the sales conversation, which is where they tend to get missed until a claim is filed.

Storm and hail damage, damage from foot traffic or other trades, problems caused by inadequate ventilation, consequential damage to the interior of the building, and normal wear at the end of the material’s life. Warranties also generally exclude anything the owner was supposed to maintain and did not. Reading the exclusions is more informative than reading the coverage summary.

Locate the warranty document and registration confirmation, gather your original invoice and any inspection records, then contact the party the warranty names, which is either the manufacturer or the contractor depending on the issue. Most warranties require prompt notice, so a delay can affect the outcome. Keeping the paperwork together from day one is what makes this straightforward years later. Our roof replacement team registers manufacturer warranties as part of every project.
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