What Is A Roof Warranty
A roof warranty is issued by your roofs manufacturer. Common roofing manufacturers are Mule-Hide, GAF, Duro-Last, Johns Manville, Firestone Building Products, Versico Roofing Systems, Carlisle, Derbigum, Fibertite, and Sika. In order to receive a warranty for your roof, the roof must be installed by a warranty eligible contractor and inspected by the respective manufacturer for proper installation.
Roof warranties are valid from five to thirty-five years depending on the roof membrane and the specific system installed. There are two types of warranties: material only or NDL warranties.
Material only is how it sounds – it only covers the material and the failure of said material. Most of the time it only covers the membrane, not the accessories, insulation or edge metal. This warranty does not cover the cost of leaks either. The cost of this warranty is less. Material failure is very rare with the current testing done by manufacturers
A Full System Warranty covers the material and workmanship. These warranties will provide a no dollar limit for labor and material to fix roof leaks IF they are warranty related. The cost of this type of warranty can be between $0.08 – $0.20 per sqft. This warranty will include membrane, insulation, accessories and edge metal.
How Much Does Home Depot Roofing Cost Per Square
A recent quote from Home Depot for replacing a 2,000 square foot roof with a new asphalt roof was $21,481 which is $1,074 per square, or $10.74 per square foot. Another quote from Lowes for a 1,650 square foot home was $16,800, which is $1,018 per square or $10.18 per square foot. Both houses had a pitch in the region of 5/12.
Here Are A Few Things You Must Take Into Account When Choosing A Roofing Warranty
- Try to choose the roofing warranty that offers the longest coverage without having you to sacrifice the other important factors such as skilled workers and use of high-quality material.
- Go through the possible circumstances your roofing contractor has mentioned in the warranty document. You must be aware of the scenarios that can void your warranty. For example, some roofing companies void your warranty if you do not conduct regular maintenance of your roof.
Know that poor roof installations can affect the appearance, performance, and lifespan. If you do not acquire a workmanship warranty for your roof, you might have to face plenty of consequences later. It is because errors in installation are not your manufactures fault. Therefore, if you have only manufacturing warranty, you might end up footing the bill for your roof repair.
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Roofing Warranties Give You Peace Of Mind
Property owners have plenty to worry about, from frozen water lines in the winter to thunderstorm damage in the summer and everything in between. Roofs definitely take a beating throughout the seasons, so to have a warranty in place gives peace of mind to homeowners who know that if something should go wrong, they are under warranty and will not have to shell out massive amounts of money to get a roof issue repaired.
Regardless of your reasons for seeking coverage on your investment, your roofing contractor should give you plenty of options. Never proceed with a contractor that doesnt value your business enough to offer warranties.
Are There Exceptions To My Roofing Warranty
There can be exceptions to your warranty based on where you live or who installed your roof.
If you live in a hurricane-prone region, for example, a manufacturer might only warranty a certain type of shingles.
Likewise, the manufacturer may require that your shingles be installed in a particular weave style of installation to be covered by the full manufacturers warranty.
Your roofing contractor will be able to discuss these details with you. So ask!
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Need A Roof Warranty Heres What You Need To Know
Is it time to replace your residential roof? This process involves more than simply choosing the right contractor and roofing materials. You also need to consider which roof warranty is best for you.
If your roof suffers damage, youll be relying on the associated warranties, so it pays to understand these warranties for your existing roof. That way you have a better grasp of the types of warranties being offered when youre ready to compare bids on a replacement roof.
Roof Warranty: What It Covers And What To Look For
If youre like most people, you probably never think about the actual physical condition of the roof over your head until theres a reason to worry about it.
However, buying a new roof or replacing a roof is one of the biggest expenses that youll have as a homeowner, so youll want to make sure you know how to protect it with insurance and the services of a public adjuster.
If you have recently purchased a roof, re-roofed your house, or are in the market for a new roof, understanding the various types of warranties and what is covered by each is essential to making sure that you protect your investment.
And if youre similar to most homeowners, you arent exactly an expert on the details of roofing warranties or other insurance policies that you need in case of accidents or natural disasters on your property.
A new roof isnt cheap, after all.
In fact, it might be one of the biggest investments that you make as a homeowner.
And there are so many options to choose from that even deciding on the aesthetics might seem daunting, let alone making sure that your roofing investment is covered in the case of any damage or more extreme situations like a hurricane, tornado, hail, or similar weather disaster.
Some roofs like cedar shake roofs have high durability and longevity that hold a great deal of value to property owners.
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Learn More About Workmanship Warranties
When it comes to roof warranties, no two contracts are the same. However, there is a big difference between a workmanship warranty and a standard manufacturers warranty. In reality, there is a small likelihood of a roofing material failure. Most times, roofing problems occur due to an installation error. That is why having coverage for workmanship is a must. Of course, working with a reliable and reputable roofer can make all the difference in your experience. To learn more about how workmanship warranties work or to schedule a free roof evaluation, contact the expert Northern Virginia roofing contractors at Beyond Exteriors today.
Who Is Entitled To The Benefits Of My Roofing Warranty
Basically, its you. The homeowner who had the roof installed is the primarily entitled to the benefits of any roofing warranty. However, a growing number of companies are offering transferrable warranties.
A transferrable warranty is the way to go. Why? Because if you sell your home knowing that a new roof is needed, you want to be able to transfer your roofing warranty to the new homeowner.
There are a few warranty stipulations that you will want to ask about:
- Most companies only allow a one-time transfer. If the new homeowner sells the home, even within the warranty period, the warranty will not transfer to the newest owner.
- Who needs to know? The warranty company may need to be notified of the transfer within a certain timeframe . Sometimes there may be a transfer fee to cover administrative costs.
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Cost To Reroof A House
The total cost to reroof a house with new shingles is between $4,707 to $15,690 which includes old roof removal, new roofing materials, and professional installation. The cost of materials alone range from $3,240 to $10,800 depending on the size of your roof.
To remove the old shingles, expect to spend between $1,467 and $4,890 or from $125 and $500 per roofing square. Costs are adjusted based on the difficulty of removing and disposing of the existing type of roofing material. If your roofing professional discovers structural issues in the rafters after removing your old roof, you could have to pay an additional $1,000 to $10,000.
What Does A Roofing Contractor’s Workmanship Warranty Cover
You need to ask your contractor what does a workmanship warranty cover? Hopefully, theyll tell you this type of warranty will cover the labor and installation costs. You want your roof to perform as advertised for years to come, so if something should go wrong because your contractor made mistakes during the installation process, they will come back and make the necessary repairs and you will get many more years of protection from your roof.
When you partner with a roofing contractor that has a spotless reputation, its probably because they offer a great warranty, so do your best to avoid partnering with a contractor that refuses to put their guarantee on paper in the form of a warranty.
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Always Ask About The Warranty
As mentioned above, every warranty is different. Youll want to make sure you understand exactly whats covered. A quality warranty is important enough that it should be a deciding factor when choosing a roofing company. After all, if something goes wrong during installation wouldnt you rather know that youre covered?
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Four Steps To Protect Your Warranty
The last thing any homeowner wants is to submit a claim only to find that their roof replacement warranty is null and void. Unfortunately, thats exactly what happens when people assume they are covered with their warranties.
To protect your coverage, follow these 4 steps:
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Your Contractors Workmanship Warranty
Every contractor should offer a warranty on their workmanship. A workmanship warranty is in place to protect you from careless or lazy work that leads to needing repairs or a full roof replacement.
You can even purchase a workmanship warranty through the manufacturer of your shingles. Theyll inspect the roof after its installed and if it passes, theyll stand behind the workmanship for 25 years.
What does a roofing contractor’s workmanship cover?
A workmanship warranty covers anything that has to do with the installation process. If your roofing materials fail because of improper installation then your contractor is on the hook to fix the problem.
Be warned, a contractors workmanship warranty is only as good as the paper its written on. You should always hire a contractor that is known for great customer service and a history of proper roof installation.
How long does a roofing contractor’s workmanship warranty last?
The length of workmanship warranties varies from contractor to contractor. They usually go from 2, 5, 10, or 25 years. Some companies even give lifetime warranties. As long as the materials on your roof hold up, so should your contractors workmanship.
If a contractor isnt willing to stand behind their workmanship dont even think about using them for your roof replacement. You can tell a lot about a roofing contractor by how long of a workmanship warranty they offer.
Top Reasons Why Roofing Warranties Are So Important
There are a variety of reasons you want to work with a roofing contractor that offers roofing warranties, not the least of which is that you want your investment to last for a long time. The best, most reliable contractors are licensed and insured, but they also offer options with warranty.
The following are some of the most common:
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Extended Manufacturer Warranties = Comprehensive Coverage
Leading manufacturers understand the direct connection between installation quality and how well their roofing products perform long-term. To help homeowners get lasting value and provide peace of mind, they offer optional extended warranty coverage on new roofs installed by authorized contractors who are certified to install the roofing system according to the manufacturers installation requirements.
Most extended warranties are available for an additional cost and require that you have a complete roof system installed, which usually includes certain coordinating components such as:
- Ice and water barriers
- Hip and ridge cap shingles
- Soffit and ridge vents
- Starter and field shingles
The most comprehensive extended warranties offered bytrusted manufacturers provide a range of benefits, such as:
- Coverage for all roof system components:Excluding flashing, wood decking and fasteners
- Lengthy, non-prorated, or continuous,coverage for defective materials: Typically includes labor costs forrepairs or replacements and is extendable for up to 50 years
- Workmanship coverage against installationerrors of the roof system: Term may be lifetime with prorating beginningafter a certain number of years and includes labor, tear-off and disposal costs
What If I Want To Do A Fix
There are some instances when the homeowner may want to do a fix-it job on their own, such as clearing debris from your roof after a major storm or replacing a tile thats been damaged by hail.
In this case, there is usually no warranty coverage for this type of work since its not actually being done by a roofing company.
It is important to understand the specifics about your warranty so you can determine if there are any limitations on these types of jobs or who would be responsible for paying in case something goes wrong during the project.
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What Does A Roof Warranty Cover
Whats the difference between a contractor roof warranty and a manufacturer roof warranty?This is where you consider manufacturers or Material-Only Warranty vs. Labor-Only Warranty vs. System Warranty, also known as workmanship warranties.
If you are purchasing a new or replacement roof, chances are you will be offered both types of warranties, the length and overall coverage of each is subject to the type of roofing covers youre buying, the materials and manufacturer used, and the contractor whos responsible for actually installing the roof.
Of course, you should ensure that you have the most comprehensive coverage possible, and for that its necessary to discuss with your insurance agent as well as your neighborhood public adjusters if you have any questions about what exactly youre paying for in regard to your roofing warranty.
Unauthorized Alterations Or Repairs
Should you be planning to install a new rooftop unit, addition or alteration to a warranted roof system make sure you talk with the manufacturer before proceeding. For example if you have an HVAC company install a new unit on your warranted roof but neglect to have a manufacturer authorized roofer flash the unit in you may chance voiding your warranty.
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Dont All Roof Materials Come With A Warranty
The fact that your roof has a warranty isnt the point. Yes, most roof materials come with a warranty. However, you want to make sure your purchase is adequately protected for many years. A five-year warranty isnt sufficient. No one replaces their roof every five years. The average roof, barring any weather-related damage, lasts as long as 20 years. Your warranty should last twice as long.
Does Home Warranty Cover Roof
You need to be aware of how long your roofing warranty covers your roof as well as installation or construction defects.
Know that most roofing issues are not related to construction or installation problems.
Manufacturers know that 25 year or 30 year roofing materials will generally last that long if not longer if they are installed properly.
You also need to know how types of warranties work, and if you have a manufacturers warranty, a workmanship warranty, and how long each warranty is.
If you purchased the roof, you can arrange these warranties with your contractor / manufacturers however, if you acquire the roofing and its warranties via a purchase thats something to consider before.
Ask yourself how long ago was this roof installed? Has it been inspected since?
All these questions should be answered before you make a final decision.
Dont just focus on the roof warranty length look at all the facets or the ins and outs of what is covered before you relax and think youre all good with with a home warranty that covers roof and materials.
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What Type Of Roofers Guarantee Their Work
Roofers who offer warranties on their workmanship typically fall into one or more categories.
These types include insurance companies, warranty companies, and firms that specialize in warranties.
Insurance companies and warranty companies specialize in roofing warranties.
They typically provide a full service offering for your needs, including the removal of old roofs and disposal of any hazardous material they may find during their work.
Specialized firms are generally better equipped to handle large scale projects because all resources are dedicated to one product line.
This allows them to provide a better warranty and overall experience for their customers.
Warning Signs: Bad Roofing Practices
Beware of companies that try to force you into using only one material. Reputable roofing companies typically specialize in more than one type of roof. The company you hire should be able to provide a wide range of options based on your needs. They should be well-versed in start to finish processes and should be transparent in how work is conducted throughout the duration of the job.
Some of the warning signs you should be aware of after the installation of your new roof includes:
- Shingles curling and buckling
- Shingle granules in the gutters
- Daylight through the roof boards
- The roof doesnt look uniform
- New vents should be installed after every new roof installation
- Issues with nails such as overdrive, underdrive, or un-caulked nails
These warning signs can be an indication that the roof you purchased was not from a reputable source. If this has happened to you, reach out to the original roofer to see what warranty they offer on their craftsmanship. So, how long do roofers guarantee their work? The short answer is, it depends.
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