Not all roofing warranties are the same, which is why, as a homeowner, you should take your time reviewing bids and comparing warranties before you make your choice. Here are the features that you should look for in a roofing warranty.
A good roofing warranty should have coverage for both material and workmanship. The “material” part may be defined differently. Some warranties may refer to specific materials (usually the main roofing material like asphalt shingles) while others may encompass the complete roofing system. It may be referred to as a factory warranty or a manufacturer’s warranty. In any case, material warranties cover roofing problems caused by a factory defect or manufacturing error. A basic material warranty may cover replacement of the material or accessory in question; labor costs incurred by teardown, installation and disposal may be covered by a warranty upgrade.
Workmanship or installation warranties provide coverage for installation errors. Coverage periods are usually shorter compared to material warranties because problems caused by installation errors usually happen within the first few years after installation. Workmanship warranties may be covered by the roofing contractor as a “quality guarantee,” though some manufacturers provide coverage through certified contractors.
Asphalt shingle roofs have expected service lives that last between 20 and 30 years. A good roofing warranty should cover most of that period. Some roofing systems may have prorated warranties, which means it will cover 100% of the repair costs for the first few years, and then coverage will gradually diminish over the remaining years.
A transferable warranty allows the current owner to transfer the remaining coverage to the next owner. This can make a house more attractive to homebuyers, which is worth considering if you’re planning on selling your home a few years down. Note that the term “lifetime,” as used in warranties, refers to the roof’s service life, not the homeowner’s lifetime.
Roof Masters is your leading provider of roofs and gutters. Give us a call at (301) 396-7760. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Rockville, MD, and the surrounding communities.