Did your roofer tell you the shingles came with a “lifetime warranty,” but you’re still not sure what that actually protects or if it guarantees a worry-free roof? Do you feel confused by all the warranty language and worried you’ll be stuck paying for repairs you thought were covered?
It’s easy to assume that having a manufacturer’s warranty means you’re fully protected, but in reality, that warranty only covers a small portion of what can go wrong with your roof.
At RoofSmart, we believe it’s important for our customers to understand what they’re getting into when they choose a roof material and warranty. Each year, we help hundreds of homeowners decide which warranty is right for them by being honest about what kind of coverage each one offers.
In this article, we’ll explain exactly what a manufacturer’s warranty does (and doesn’t) cover, how to avoid the fine-print pitfalls, and what you should really be looking for when choosing a roofer or shingle brand.
A manufacturer’s warranty is an assurance against product defects, not a guarantee of a problem-free roof. This also doesn’t mean that your roof is guaranteed to have problems.
What the manufacturer is saying with their warranty is that they believe in the quality of their product. They’re showing you that if there is a problem caused by defective shingles, then they have your back because they’ll cover it.
If asphalt shingles from any manufacturer never had a problem, then they wouldn't need to bother with a warranty because nobody would be worried about it.
On the plus side, if you're looking at the big three manufacturers (Owens-Corning, Certainty, GAF), they're world-class manufacturers with very low defect rates. And when they have a defect, they've got the resources and the interest to go ahead and make it right.
Usually, you’re not even going to have to deal with a defective shingle or need to call in the manufacturer’s warranty. It’s possible that your roof will work fine until it gets to the end of its life and starts to wear out.
Manufacturer’s warranties never cover damage caused by regular wear and tear. Signs of regular wear and tear on an old asphalt shingle roof include:
But, even if you do notice issues on your roof before it reaches the end of its life, the cause is most likely installation mistakes or poor workmanship. Some examples of issues caused by workmanship mistakes include:
Workmanship issues are covered under a completely different warranty. You’ll need to take it up with your roofer.
There is no guarantee that you will or will not have workmanship issues on your roof. All you can do to protect yourself is research your roofing company options and pick the one you trust the most.
It’s a good idea to check your manufacturer’s warranty while you’re selecting the brand and style of asphalt shingles that you want. That way, you know ahead of time what level of coverage you’re eligible for and what’s covered.
More importantly, you should read the sections that describe what’s excluded from coverage and what can cause your warranty to be voided. All of this will help you avoid disappointment down the road if you think you’re eligible for coverage, but you actually are not.
Some key items to look for in your manufacturer’s warranty are:
Because manufacturers’ warranties have such specific requirements about coverage, it’s a good idea to try to get the highest level of coverage possible.
Most manufacturers have multiple levels of coverage to choose from. The lowest is their standard warranty, which offers basic coverage. The highest is their premium warranty, which offers the most extensive coverage for the longest amount of time.
Often, to get access to a premium warranty, you have to meet some extra requirements, one of which is hiring a roofing contractor who is certified by the manufacturer. When a roofer is certified, it means that they have the manufacturer’s stamp of approval and they are considered a competent and trustworthy installer.
If you want extra assurance that your roof is installed properly and is protected with quality warranties, you might want to consider hiring a roofer who is certified by a shingle manufacturer.
Owens Corning, GAF, and CertainTeed are top manufacturers, and they all have similar requirements for certifying roofers. You can search for certified contractors in your area using their websites.
By now, you’ve seen that a manufacturer’s warranty only protects you from a very specific type of issue: product defects. It doesn’t cover labor, installation mistakes, or most of the problems that actually cause roofs to fail. That’s why simply having a warranty doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.
In fact, the majority of roofing issues stem from workmanship errors, not faulty shingles, and those problems aren’t covered by the manufacturer at all.
To get true peace of mind, you need to understand the other half of the equation: your roofer’s workmanship warranty.
Read our article “Workmanship Warranty vs. Manufacturer’s Warranty: What’s the Difference For My Roof?” so you know what coverage you’re really getting and what to ask for before you sign a contract.