Most contractors offer some sort of warranty when they install a new roof. But there are many different types of warranties out there, so it’s important to know the differences – and ask the right questions. In this article, we’ll explore the two most common types of Best Roofing Warranties, as well as a list of questions you should ask a potential contractor or roofing company.
Manufacturer’s Warranty
This type of roof warranty will cover the materials from the manufacturer. In the event of a material defect of any sort, the warranty will cover it. For instance, if the roofing shingles began to disintegrate due to a manufacturing defect, your warranty would cover it. The typical span of a manufacturer’s warranty is approximately 20-25 years.
The good news is that manufacturer’s defects are rare. The bad news? If this is the only home warranty you have on your roof, you are not protected from issues that may arise from the roofing installation. For this reason, it’s extremely important that you ask questions to find out if your contractor offers a workmanship warranty.
Workmanship warranty
A workmanship warranty entails more than a roof shingle warranty. A workmanship warranty reflects the confidence the contractor has in his or her work. By offering a roof warranty for the workmanship, the contractor is essentially covering the labor and installation of the roof. If the contractor didn’t properly install something – or if the quality of workmanship was poor – you would be protected. Ten years is the typical workmanship warranty, but some only offer a mere 1-2 years of protection.
Tip: Find out if the roof warranty requires that you use the contractor who installed your roof for any repairs that are ever made to the roof. Sometimes, if you use a different contractor, you essentially invalidate your warranty.
Interviewing your contractor
When hiring a company or individual contractor to install your roof, make sure you are getting the most out your roof warranty by asking the following questions:
- What are the terms of the roof warranty? This will give you information related to what is included in the warranty, the number of years that the warranty is valid, and the type of Best Roofing Warranties: workmanship and/or manufacturer’s warranty.
- What is the definition of “lifetime” for this roof warranty? Some companies offer a “lifetime” warranty, but do not assume that you understand what that means. Sometimes, a lifetime warranty covers you for the time that you own the home. Other definitions of “lifetime” include a set number of years, or the lifetime of the roofing materials.
- Is the roof warranty transferable? In other words, if you transfer home ownership or move, is the warranty still valid? This is a great question to ask if you’re moving into a preowned home. While the current homeowners may have protection, the moment the closing papers are signed, you as the new homeowner may no longer have that roofing protection.
- Are there any fees associated with this roof warranty? Many warranties that come with your new roof are free, but never assume anything. Ask to ensure that there are no hidden expenses.
- Is there an extended warranty offer? If so, what is the price to extend the warranty?
- Does your workmanship warranty cover leaks? This is an important, specific question to ask, since leaks are a common roofing repair. If you’ve asked all of the other questions, this information may have already been made available to you, but it never hurts to ask twice!
- Does the warranty cover the interior of my home? For instance, if a roofing leak causes mold, or if it damages the carpet and walls, will that be covered? Or is the only thing covered fixing the actual leak? If the roofing warranty doesn’t cover it, double-check your homeowner’s policy to understand what you will and won’t be responsible for.
- If multiple repairs or very expensive repairs are needed, are there any limits? You may believe you are protected by the best roofing warranties, yet some warranties actually limit the dollar amount of the repairs. This is critical information to know, especially in the event of an expensive repair; you may think your warranty will cover it all, when in fact it will only cover a fraction of the project.
- What routine maintenance am I responsible for, in order to have the warranty honored? Sometimes, there is an expectation that the homeowner provides a certain degree of routine maintenance in order to maintain the validity of the warranty.
- What could void the terms of this roof warranty? As previously mentioned, hiring a contractor for roofing repairs that was not the original contractor could automatically void your best roofing warranties for any future repairs. Make sure you know what you can or can’t do to your roof – and who you can and can’t hire to make repairs – so that you don’t inadvertently void your warranty.
- What is not covered by this warranty? While the aforementioned questions will provide you with a lot of information, this is a terrific question to ask, in the event that there is something you didn’t think of that is actually important – and not a provision of the warranty.
Mid-Atlantic: Offering Manufacturer’s and Workmanship Warranties!
Mid-Atlantic Remodeling Company prides itself on offering a 30-year warranty that covers the full cost of materials and installation for your Baltimore area roof. Our professional, experienced contractors and positive track record speak to our ability to offer you, our valued customer, quality roofing products with top-notch installation. Best of all, we deliver a superior product and service on-time, and within your budget. Visit https://midatlanticremodelingco.com, or call us at (410) 918-0563.