What Does a Roof Warranty Actually Cover?
does anyone have an answer to the warranty question? extended Car warranty - prob not, but roof warranty? sounds like a must have to me.
That is how one reply in an r/HomeImprovement thread put it. Fair question, and the short answer is that a roof warranty is usually two promises, not one. The manufacturer's warranty in general covers defects in the roofing material1. The roofer's warranty covers the installation, and its length is whatever the contract says1. So a "lifetime" label tells you little. The workmanship warranty is what counts, so compare its written terms instead.
Quick answer:
- Ask each roofer to put the workmanship warranty in writing, including which parts of the work are covered and for how long2.
- Ask what a "lifetime" or other long label pays each year and whether labor is included, since asphalt shingles last about 20 years on average3.
- Find out who issues each warranty, because a guarantee is only as good as the company that issues it4.
- Check the conditions that could void it, such as attic ventilation1 and anything that cuts into the roof.
On this page
You can settle most of this before you sign. Whatever the roofer writes down is what you will hold later.
What does a roof warranty cover?
Two warranties sit on one roof, and each covers a different thing.
The manufacturer's warranty is about the material. It covers defects in the manufacture of the roof covering1, meaning a flaw in the shingle itself.
The workmanship warranty is about the installation, and it comes from the roofer. In Hawaii, a contractor's promise usually covers workmanship, and usually only water tightness, not appearance4. It depends on the terms of the warranty, so ask what your roofer's version covers.
The workmanship warranty is the one to compare, because it is where quotes differ. Many contractors offer one or two years of coverage, and there is no industry standard1. One roofer may write a short term and another a longer one, and neither is breaking a rule.
Wondering where the warranty fits in a replacement quote? What is included in a roof replacement.
What does a "lifetime" or 50-year warranty really mean?
It does not mean the roof is protected for that long. Asphalt shingles last about 20 years on average3, so a longer label sits well past that.
One reply in a roofing thread described where long labels can end up: "The warranty may last that long but it turns into a coupon for your next roof". That is one person's view, not a rule. Makers write their own terms.
So find the payout terms in the actual document. Look for the payout terms year by year, and for whether labor is included. If you cannot find it, ask the roofer to show you the page.
The label promises a long span, but does the roof itself last that long? How long a roof lasts.
Conditions that can void it, and a company that disappears
Some warranties come with conditions. Shingle makers' warranties may make coverage conditional on meeting minimum ventilation requirements1, so check your product's ventilation terms.
Holes in the roof matter too. A roof covering warranty may be voided if you let anyone penetrate the roof covering without the warranty holder's consent5. Before anyone puts holes in the roof, read the warranty and ask the holder.
Then there is the fear that the roofer vanishes. If the company goes out of business, the guarantee becomes ineffective4. In Hawaii, a contractor guarantee valid for more than seven years must be accompanied by a bond4, a backup guarantee from a third party. Wherever you live, ask each roofer whether a bond or a manufacturer-backed program applies.
Before you sign: a written-terms checklist
Put these to every roofer, and keep the answers in writing:
- Is each warranty through the roofing company or through the manufacturer?
- What is covered, and for how many years? The contract should specify which parts of the work are covered and the duration2.
- Can you have the manufacturer's written warranty for the materials they will install?
- What could void it: ventilation, holes in the roof, anything else?
- What are the payment terms? Avoid contractors who demand full payment upfront6.
Ask for the warranty details together with a written explanation of the work, the materials, a timeline and a cost breakdown7. You can send this:
Please write in your quote who issues the workmanship warranty, what it covers, how long it lasts, and, if I sell, whether it transfers to the buyer. Please also send the manufacturer's written warranty for the shingles you plan to use, and tell me who registers it and how I get proof.
If a roofer won't put this in writing, that is an answer too: weigh it against the bids that do. Another roofer's quote with the same questions answered is the fairest way to compare.
Is a home warranty a roof warranty?
Usually not. A home warranty is a service contract, a different thing from a roofer's or manufacturer's warranty. Home warranties generally do not cover more expensive repairs, such as roofs, leaky windows or chimney repairs8. The contract decides, so read its roof section before you count on it.
Have a warranty on the house itself and wonder about the roof? How a home warranty treats a roof.
Quick questions
What is the 25% rule for roofing? It is a building-code rule9, not a warranty or insurance rule. In Florida, the code limits repair, replacement or recovery to 25 percent of a roof or roof section in any 12-month period before the whole system or section must meet the code9. Elsewhere, ask the local building department.
Does a roof warranty pass to the next owner? Ask the roofer and the maker whether the warranty transfers to a buyer, and get the answer in writing. One reply in an r/homeowners thread said, "The roofing company had a form for us to fill out to transfer the warranty."
What is the most expensive part of replacing a roof? That depends on what the roofer finds under the old roof. Ask for a written quote that lists each item, so you can compare bids line by line.
Should I pick the roofer with the longest warranty? Not on that alone. Balance cost with reputation, quality workmanship and materials6, and read what the warranty says before you trust the number of years.
Sources
3. U.S. National Park Service, Recycle Plastic and Rubber Roofing Shingles
4. Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Roofing Tips for Owners
5. City of Miami Gardens, Roof Warranty Notification to Owner
6. Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, Tips for Hiring a Roofing Contractor
7. North Carolina Department of Insurance, Avoiding predatory roofing scams
8. Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Consumer Alert: Home Warranties
9. Florida Building Commission, DS 2021-007 Staff Analysis
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