Roof warranties are often a dirty little secret of roofing contractors. Offered as a major attraction for homeowners to bend toward one roofer or manufacturer over another, in reality some of these warranties are practically worthless. The manufacturer places so many limits on the warranty, virtually nothing will qualify as applicable. The roofing contractor limits the labor warranty so severely, a claim would have to filed five minutes after the company trucks rolled away. A truly excellent roof warranty, though, is extremely valuable.

What is Covered?

The first question to ask about any warranty is what, exactly, it covers. Manufacturers of fiberglass-asphalt shingles, metal roofing, or composite roofing may offer warranties under several names:

  • Extended warranty
  • Limited lifetime warranty
  • Non-transferable warranty

Each nuance either gives or reduces value to you, the homeowner. When you find a truthful, trustworthy residential roofing contractor, ask about manufacturers’ warranties. The best makers will offer the strongest, broadest warranties. Some high-end products, such as architectural shingles or 50-year metal roofing, will not only be covered for manufacturing defects, they will also cover labor costs to repair the problem.

The best warranties will also transfer with the sale of the house. The warranty can be picked up by the new owner, a highly valuable benefit.

Who Offers It?

Roof warranties can include all this:

  • Manufacturing defects
  • Incorrect installation
  • Labor costs
  • Workmanship quality
  • Haulage and landfill fees

Some warranties decline in value over the years; others offer full replacement costs at the time the warranty is applied. Roofing material manufacturers reserve their strongest warranties for their best installers. Earning a place at the top of the manufacturer’s preferred installers is a huge triumph.

These warranties come from the manufacturer and put their full faith and credit behind the contractor’s work. A warranty from a $5 million company will never be as complete, long-lasting, and valuable as a warranty from a $500 million company.

Some of the best installers, too, offer their own warranties covering installation. These workmanship warranties are in addition to, not a replacement for, a manufacturer’s warranty.

Please consider a call to Brad VanWeelden Company at (515)-979-4772, or contact us online. We can help you understand the value and strength of an excellent roof warranty for both materials and labor. We stand behind our roofs so you can stand beneath them, safe and secure.

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