Whenever you’re getting a new roof, one of the most crucial factors to consider for successful roofing is studying the warranty and insurance information. A solid roofing warranty and insurance can go a long way in ensuring a seamless repair or replacement process when your roof gets damaged or wears off. This is important because it’s expensive to install a new roof, and you may not be sure how long it will last before a roofing disaster occurs.
Studying and shopping for the right roofing warranties and insurance will give you a great roofing experience. Here’s everything you need to know about roofing warranties and insurance claims when installing a new roof.
The Purpose and Types of Roofing Warranties
You may never truly see the need for acquiring a roofing warranty until you understand its importance. Different roofing warranties cover different functions of your roofing investment, including material, labor, workmanship, disposal, and tear-off.
Generally, the importance of roofing warranties is derived from their ability to cover roofs against the two main sources of roofing problems: materials and workmanship. Many trusted roofing contractors offer three main types of roofing warranties that revolve around roofing material and workmanship. Here are the three major types of roofing warranties:
Standard Roofing Material Warranty
With a standard roofing material warranty, you won’t have to worry about the cost of replacing defective materials and components during a roofing project. Instead, these costs are covered by the manufacturer if the roofing material or component has a manufacturer defect. However, the warranty doesn’t cover tear-off or labor costs and is normally considered a limited warranty.
Warranties from manufacturers only cover their specific components and materials, which means every roofing material and component you use will be covered separately by the respective manufacturers. A manufacturer’s roofing material warranty would typically cover the cost of replacing deteriorated materials for 20 to 50 years, but on a prorated basis. This means the manufacturer pays less as the years go by.
Workmanship Warranty
Contractors offer a workmanship warranty to cover your roof against any future problems caused by installation errors. If your roofing materials fail or your roof starts to leak due to improper installation, you can hold your contractor responsible and ask for compensation. This warranty ensures they make such repairs without passing the full cost on you.
The duration of a workmanship warranty varies from one contractor to another, with some offering only two years of warranty while others offer 25 years. If you’re lucky, you might get contractors offering a lifetime warranty, which covers your roofing replacement or repair costs for the entire life of the roofing materials.
Since you may not easily get a 25-year or lifetime warranty, insisting on at least a 10-year workmanship warranty can give you great relief with your roofing. Roofers who offer longer workmanship warranties are simply telling you they’re confident in their product performance. You can use the length of warranty to distinguish between a good and a great contractor when choosing one for your project.
Extended or Full-System Warranties
Extended and full-system roofing warranties aim at solving the roofing warranty problem in one insurance solution. They offer longer and broader coverage options than either workmanship or standard roofing material warranties. With these warranties, homeowners can enjoy lasting value and peace of mind, but at an additional cost. You must also have a complete roofing system installed that includes components like underlayment, soffit and ridge vents, ice and water barriers, or shatter and field shingles.
An extended or full-system warranty can offer coverage for all roof system components except for fasteners, flashing, and wood decking. They also offer workmanship coverage against roof installation errors, but with some limitations. A lifetime coverage may come with a proration term beginning after a certain number of years. You can always customize a great warranty deal depending on your roofing design and needs.
Actions That May Void Your Roofing Warranties
It’s not only enough to know the types and benefits of roofing warranties; you must also know the actions that could render your warranty null and void. A roofing warranty is only considered valid under specific circumstances. To ensure yours remains valid for its lifetime, you must avoid the following actions:
Improper Installation
When you opt for a cheaper, underqualified roofer, you’re most likely to end up with roofing materials that are improperly installed. When this happens, the roofing material manufacturer will not be responsible for the repairs, thus voiding your warranty. Manufacturers only take responsibility for material defects that result from their product’s incapacities and not because of a contractor’s mistakes, especially unqualified contractors.
Besides ruining your roofing material warranty, improper installation also bars insurance from covering your roof in the event of storm damage. It’s important to ensure a high-quality roofing installation by hiring a reputable roofing contractor with a proven installation history.
Pressure Washing Your Roof
While it’s great getting your roof power-washed to get rid of stubborn debris and mold growth, doing so can put your warranty at risk of being voided. Pressure washing your roof damages parts of the roof by loosening or removing protective granules from your roof. Even if your roof is made of high-quality material, pressure washing will shorten your roof’s lifespan and expedite the need for a replacement.
Contractors and manufacturers will rightly argue that your roofing deterioration is a result of the water pressure and not natural material wear and tear if you file a claim. Instead of pressure-washing your roof, hire a cleaning company that offers soft-washing solutions.
Improper Attic Ventilation
A well-ventilated attic allows your roof and home to breathe properly and keep everything functioning optimally. However, an inadequately ventilated attic will consistently trap cold and hot air that drastically deteriorates the quality of your roofing materials. When this happens, your roofing material warranty becomes void for the same reason as in an improper installation above. Since an improper installation compromises roofing materials, manufacturers won’t take the blame and won’t honor the warranty claim as valid.
When installing a new roof, it’s important to know about the roofing warranty options and their benefits before settling for a fitting choice. This way, you can choose a warranty and insurance plan that meets most of your roofing needs. You’re also only going to enjoy a warranty payoff if you stick to the warranty terms and requirements. A small mistake, like pressure washing your roof, can ruin your chances of getting significant coverage when replacing an old roof.
