Why It’s Important to Secure a Good Roofing Warranty

How much does your roof mean to you? What measures have you taken to ensure its safety and longevity? Apart from ensuring that you have it professionally installed and maintained, getting a great warranty goes a long way, too. Repairing or replacing your roof is never a cheap or easy affair. 

Depending on the roofing material used, design, and size of your roof, roof replacement can cost you a fortune. Unfortunately, your homeowner’s insurance might not be able to cover everything that you expect them to. Although they cover you against hail, snow, windstorms, and lightning, roof defects are never included. This is where a superior roof warranty comes up. 

Three Main Types of Warranties

Although there is a long list of warranties in the market, they are basically classified into three groups which are:

• A workmanship warranty 
• The standard manufacturer’s warranty 
• Extended manufacturer’s warranty 

Installation/Workmanship Warranty 

One of the advantages of hiring a professional roof installer is to qualify for a workmanship warranty. There is a very big difference between installation and manufacturer’s warranty. An installation warranty lasts between one to ten years, depending on the company you choose. At the same time, it only shields you against work done by the company. In case you engage a different roofing company after the initial installation, you void the first warranty. 

Most of the roofing companies offer repair, assuming that they’re the only ones who worked on that roof. To ensure you benefit from the workmanship warranty, sign the agreement before the work begins. The installation warranty doesn’t cover the materials used on your roof. Hence, it’s advisable to get a standard manufacturer’s warranty to ensure no extra costs in case of repairs. 

Understand what is covered in a labor-only warranty. This warranty has a lot of differences from the common workmanship or installation warranty. 

Standard Manufacturer’s Warranty 

Basically, all shingles have a limited lifetime warranty, which covers your roof as long as you own it. However, the word “limited” can have different meanings depending on the manufacturer and the products in question. Some covers only protect you from the cost of defective materials. This means in case you need to remove and dispose of the defective shingles, you’ll have to cover the labor charges. 

On the other hand, some manufacturers cover your roof replacement cost for a given number of years. Once the period expires, you receive prorated coverage. In case your shingles break within the covered years, you’ll be eligible for new shingles replacement without paying a dime. The manufacturer might also opt to pay for installation costs. However, the homeowner carries the responsibility of covering the tear-off and disposal costs. 

Roofing materials that are wrongly installed are not covered by this warranty. This is the reason why you should ensure you hire a professional roofing company to do the job for you. Defects in materials are less likely compared to installation issues. 

Extended Manufacturer Warranties

There is a direct connection between quality roofing products and professional installation processes. Hence, some leading manufacturers offer both standard manufacturer’s warranty and installation warranty. For you to qualify for the extended manufacturer warranties, you should ensure you hire a professional to install the roof. Some companies also offer extended warranties at an additional cost. 

To qualify for an extended manufacturer’s warranty, your roof must feature a complete roofing system that includes:

• Underlayment 
• Ice and water barriers 
• Soffit and ridge vents, hip, and ridge cap shingles 
• Starter and field shingles

When companies offer warranties to their clients, they always hope the clients will never use them. Therefore, they put everything into place to ensure your roof’s durability. An extended manufacturer’s warranty doesn’t cover roof repairs from natural calamities like high winds, earthquakes, lightning, and hail, among others. There are many advantages of comprehensive extended warranties, including:

• Continuous, non-prorated, and lengthy coverage for defective materials. This includes repairs and labor costs for up to 50 years. 
• Coverage for all your roofing components, excluding fasteners, flashing, and wood decks. 
• Workmanship coverage against faulty installations. This might cover tear-off, disposal, and labor costs for a given number of years. 

You should always consider the roofing warranties offered by different companies before purchasing or hiring a roofing company. Knowing you’ll not incur extra charges after the initial installation process is very rewarding. Working with Adamson Roofing Company is a guarantee of top quality and durability.