What to Look For in a Roofing Warranty
Any type of roofing system is a considerable investment. What people say about getting what you pay for is absolutely true when it comes to this industry. Just because you’re looking at a quote that’s way cheaper than the others doesn’t mean you’re looking at a bargain. You might be looking at a possible scam.
The best roofing material manufacturers and the best roofers back their products and their work, respectively, with strong warranties that show you how much faith they have in the quality they deliver.
You should spend some time looking into the residential roofing warranty that meets your requirements before signing up for a roof replacement. No warranty or a poor warranty is not something you should settle for at any time. Here’s what you should look for:
Manufacturer’s Reputation
Start with the roofing material manufacturer. Anyone can claim their materials will last 25-30 years or longer, but can they back that claim with a solid warranty? If you’re paying for products from a known brand, that’s one step closer to getting that strong warranty.
Roofer’s Reputation
More roofers go out of business in the first few years than you think. But if a roofer has a long reputation of being a trusted contractor, they are more likely to give you a reasonable warranty for their work. And since you don’t want to pay someone else or pay the same contractor more money to correct a workmanship flaw, it’s best to go with a roofer that puts that warranty in your hand.
Length of Coverage
A one-year warranty is not a good warranty. The best brands always come with long-term warranties that will give you peace of mind. Do some research into the average length of roofing warranties and make some comparisons.
Scope of Coverage
What’s covered by the warranty might be less clear than the warranty’s length. Make sure to find out what conditions are covered and which ones are excluded.
Limitations
What will the warranty issuer (contractor or manufacturer) cover and what will they exclude? If a warranty is marked as “lifetime”, it’s probably a “limited lifetime” warranty, which means it’s not really unlimited. It’s probably good for 40-50 years or so. And most are also prorated, which means that if the warranty is for 30 years, the warranty will cover only about half of the amount of replacement if your roof fails in 15.
Fine Print (Requirements)
Most warranties have conditions, such as regularly maintaining the roofing system if you want the warranty to remain valid. This means you should pay a professional to do the maintenance every year (or as stated in the warranty) and keep the receipts or any proof of the maintenance performed.
Transferability
This is another warranty feature that most homeowners neglect to check for. You might want to sell your home down the road, and if you have a transferable warranty, you can use that to increase your asking price.
Claim Filing
Ask your contractor (or the issuer) about the process of filing a claim so you know what steps to take and what documents to submit. Understanding the filing process can speed things up if your roof ever fails within the warranty period.
Get in touch with Versatile Roofing, LLC, for your residential or commercial roofing needs. Call our toll-free number: (888) 809-7663, or these numbers: Omaha, Nebraska (402) 884-7668, Lincoln, Nebraska (402) 477-7663, Kearney, Nebraska (308) 234-7663, Albion, NE (402)395-9991. You can request a quote here.
