If Your Roof Includes a Warranty, It’s Crucial to Understand the Duration and Terms
When it comes to something as important as your roof, a warranty goes a long way toward bringing you peace of mind. Warranties in the roofing industry vary by type, duration, and more; some may be short workmanship warranties accounting for potential installation errors, while others may guarantee your roof for as long as 10–20 years or more.
Here at Anchor Roofing, we feel it’s important for homeowners to fully understand the terms of their roof warranty. That includes knowing the duration, what’s covered, and knowing how to stay in compliance with the terms of your warranty. Let’s look at how long a roof warranty may last, as well as details to know.
How Long Is a Roof Warranty? It Depends on the Type
First things first, it’s important to distinguish between a workmanship warranty or guarantee and a material warranty. Here’s what to know about both.
Workmanship Warranty: 2–5 Years
A workmanship warranty is a roofer’s guarantee that the work they put into your roof will be of high quality. In other words, it’s primarily intended to protect against any installation errors. Because these errors tend to surface within a few years of installation, most workmanship guarantees are relatively short, typically from 2–5 years long.
Material Warranty: 10–30 Years
Material warranties, on the other hand, establish the quality of the products used to build your roof. This especially applies to the main exterior material, such as shingles or roof tiles, but depending on the details they may cover the entire roofing system. Because roofing materials generally have an expected lifespan of well over 10 years, these warranties are typically longer.
Maximizing Product Warranties
If your roof is covered by a material or product warranty, there are typically a few factors that determine the maximum length. For instance, most manufacturers have different levels of certifications that enable partnering roofers to provide varying tiers of warranties. A bronze-certified contractor, for instance, may only be able to cover the materials for 10 years, while a gold or platinum contractor may be able to offer some form of lifetime warranty.
It’s always a good idea to ask any roofer you consider about their certifications and relationships with high-quality roofing manufacturers like CertainTeed, Owens Corning, and others.
In addition, while higher-quality roofing materials will cost more to purchase and install, these products are also more likely to have warranties with longer terms. Standard asphalt shingles may be covered for only 5–10 years, for instance, while impact-resistant varieties may have a warranty of 20 years or longer.
Know the Terms: Don’t Void Your Roof Warranty
Some folks assume that if their roof has a warranty for a certain period, their roof will be covered no matter what. However, most roof warranties include various stipulations and requirements to stay in compliance.
For example, some material warranties include a clause that states the entire roofing system must use products from that manufacturer. If you repair your roof with a product from another manufacturer, your warranty may become void.
It’s also common for roof warranties to require regular maintenance and upkeep. If your roof fails before the warranty has ended, but it’s determined that the roof was damaged due to poor maintenance or negligence, your warranty likely won’t cover a replacement.
To avoid problems like this, read through the details of your warranty and take note of any key items that may void the warranty. Better yet, ask a trusted roofer to help you fully understand the terms of your roof warranty to avoid future issues.
Time to Replace? Call Anchor Roofing!
If your Omaha roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, Anchor Roofing is standing by to complete an inspection. If your roof is under warranty, we’re happy to review the terms with you to help determine if you can expect any coverage should a replacement become necessary.
Even if your roof was installed recently, a full inspection is a critical roofing maintenance task that should be completed annually. Call Anchor Roofing today to book yours!