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When investing in a new roof for your home, the warranty can be just as critical as the quality of materials and workmanship involved. It functions like a safety net, covering you against unexpected costs resulting from things like defective shingles.

But do you know what’s included in roofing warranties? There are several types—workmanship warranty, manufacturer’s warranty, extended/transferable warranty—all with different coverages and limitations.

Understanding these variances can save you unwanted stress down the line when dealing with roofing problems. In this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about roof warranties so that you can make an informed decision on your next roofing project.

Tresnak Roofing wants to make our roofing warranties as clear as possible for our customers. As a family-owned business that has over 40 years roofing experience, we offer lifetime CertainTeed roofing products, backed by our own 10 or 15 year workmanship warranty.

Types of Roofing Warranties

There are three main types of roofing warranties that you should be aware of: workmanship warranty, manufacturer’s warranty, and extended/transferable warranty.

Workmanship Warranty

Understanding warranties can sometimes feel as daunting as replacing your entire roof, but knowledge is power when it comes to protecting your big financial investment. One critical type of roofing warranty you should familiarize yourself with is workmanship warranties.

Imagine you’ve just had new shingles installed on your home by a reputable contractor. Everything looks great, until the first heavy rainstorm hits and suddenly, there’s water dripping straight into your bedroom. Upon inspection, it turns out some shingles were improperly placed—clearly an installation failure.

Typically offered by your roofing contractor, such warranties are often valid for at least ten years while some providers even offer lifetime coverage with prorating (reduction in benefits) starting after a specific number of years.

A roofing contractor’s workmanship warranty is generally always offered by reputable companies. We offer a 10 or 15 year “labor” warranty on all of our roof services, along with a lifetime warranty on materials.

Manufacturer’s Warranty

A manufacturer’s warranty is integral to any roofing project. This type of roof warranty primarily covers defects in the roofing materials themselves.

For instance, it will cover you if your new shingle begins to crack or warp prematurely due to factory defects. A manufacturer’s warranty is essential a roofing material warranty, where shingles are covered for 25-50 years.

However, what many don’t realize is that these warranties differ significantly among manufacturers.

Some provide a limited lifetime warranty, which has become an industry-standard, offering extended protection against premature deterioration of your roofing material for up to 25 or 50 years depending on the brand.

Extended Warranty and Transferable Warranty

Extended warranties or transferable warranties offer a lot of value for many homeowners. This type of warranty extends beyond the standard manufacturer and workmanship warranties, providing more comprehensive coverage for your roof system.

Purchasing an extended warranty can cover additional elements within the complete roofing system including underlayment, flashing, and ventilation equipment – components typically not covered in any other type of standard roof warranty.

In some cases, even labor costs involved in replacing defective shingles or making necessary repairs are included.

This makes it one of the most desirable options when selling or buying a home because it provides peace-of-mind knowing that you won’t have to bear any unexpected cost regarding roof repair—significantly enhancing potential resale value. This can then be extended to the next homeowner.

Understanding Coverage and Limitations

The coverage and limitations of roofing warranties can vary pretty widely, so it’s crucial to carefully review terms and conditions before finalizing anything.

Length of Coverage

Roof warranties can vary greatly in terms of the length of coverage they provide. Some warranties may only last a couple of years, while others can offer protection for the lifetime of your roof.

The length of coverage is a crucial factor to consider when choosing a roofing warranty. A longer warranty period can provide you with greater peace of mind and potentially save you money on repairs or replacement down the line.

For example, even if a warranty offers lifetime coverage, it’s important to understand what exactly is covered and for how long. Certain components or issues may have different timeframes specified in the warranty terms.

Exclusions and Limitations

Roof warranties are designed to provide homeowners with peace of mind and protection against potential issues that may arise with their roofs. However, it’s important to understand that these warranties often come with certain exclusions and limitations. There’s no generalized roof replacement warranty that covers every aspect of your roof.

One common exclusion is damages caused by neglect or improper maintenance.

Natural disasters, such as hurricanes or earthquakes, are typically excluded from coverage. Additionally, most warranties have limitations on what specific damages they cover.

Transferability and Prorated Coverage

One important aspect to consider when looking at roofing warranties is transferability and prorated coverage. Some warranties allow you to transfer the warranty to a new homeowner if you decide to sell your house.

Prorated coverage is another factor to keep in mind. With proration, the coverage gradually decreases over time. For example, let’s say you have a 20-year warranty on your roof.

After 10 years, the proration may kick in and only cover a certain percentage of replacement costs.

Understanding these aspects of transferability and prorated coverage is crucial when selecting a roofing warranty.

Importance of Choosing the Right Warranty

Choosing the right warranty for your roofing project is crucial to protect your investment and ensure peace of mind. A high-quality warranty can provide you with coverage against poor workmanship, defective materials, and installation errors.

For example, let’s say you opt for a standard manufacturer’s warranty that only covers basic limited lifetime warranty on the roofing material. If there are any issues with workmanship or installation errors down the line, you could end up paying out-of-pocket for necessary repairs.

By choosing the right warranty, homeowners can avoid potential headaches in case something goes wrong with their roof. It ensures that any defects in shingles or improper installation techniques will be covered by either the manufacturer or contractor warranties.

Conclusion

Understanding the different types of roofing warranties out there can be crucial when it comes to protecting your investment of a new roof. When choosing a warranty, make sure you carefully review coverage and limitations. 

Choosing the right warranty can mean the difference between costly repairs down the line and having extra confidence in your roof’s performance. 

Tresnak Roofing, as a HomeAdvisor approved company, understands the importance of feeling confident that your new roof will last. We only use the highest quality CertainTeed shingles, which come with a lifetime, limited transferable warranty. As well, we offer our own 10 or 15 year warranty on labor. 

Contact us today for all your roofing inquiries!