The Benefits of Roofing Warranties
Not all warranties seem to provide guarantees which make people question if they are beneficial or not. But, roofing warranties are important as they get the manufacturer involved in roofing projects. Their involvement can help make sure the system meets the expected standards and qualifications. A manufacturer typically requests that contractors submit the systems they intend to use before a project even starts. Not every project will have a roofing engineer involved, so having the manufacturer involved is important for the review and evaluation of the system.
Any manufacturer will also perform an inspection to ensure that the roofing system was applied according to their regulations and instructions. Then they will issue the warranty. While this may be more for their benefit than yours, having this extra set of eyes on the roof is better than nothing. Typically, manufacturers have lists of approved contractors/installers and these will need to be used in order to get the warranty. Being selective about the contractor can mean you get higher-quality service as the manufacturer will want only the best associated with their product.
In the event you need to sell the property, some warranties can be transferred. This provides some comfort to the buyer. Buyers should be aware that a valid warranty does not replace diligence, and they should always have an inspection done by a qualified contractor before signing any paperwork.
Building Owner Responsibilities
Warranties do have advantages for building owners too. They can ensure that repairs and roof replacements are taken care of should an issue arise as a result of product failure or poor installation. As long as you have kept to the owner’s responsibilities portion of the warranty, then any work needed will be taken care of. This means it is important to read through and understand these responsibilities fully.
Maintenance is the most important of these responsibilities. A common mistake of owners is to evaluate a warranty based on length, but the length of a roof’s service rarely has anything to do with the warranty. Having a longer warranty does not necessarily make the coverage better. The life of a roof is related to its design, installation, and maintenance. Manufacturers are aware that maintenance is critical to a roof lasting. Because of this, many will require that maintenance is kept up in order for the warranty to be upheld.
A lack of maintenance is the most commonly cited reason why a manufacturer will not cover repairs. And it makes sense. If you do not properly care for your roof and it fails or gets a leak, then it is not fair to expect a warranty to cover the damages. So make sure you know what you are responsible for and keep up your end of the contract.
An additional responsibility building owners have is to notify the manufacturer of any leaks within 30 days. If not, the warranty can become void and you will have to cover the cost of repairs. Manufacturers do this so that leaks are taken care of early before they become more extensive and more costly. Fixing a small leak costs less money and time than having to replace an entire roof damaged by water.
One final aspect of warranties to remember is exclusions. Many will have exclusions where the warranty will not cover certain things. Most often these include:
- the wind that is stronger than gale force
- standing water
- structure movement
- use of materials not provided by the manufacturer
- blistering
Make sure you are familiar with any and all exclusions.
