Are you uncertain if the Malarkey Standard Warranty gives you enough protection if something goes wrong years from now? Are you worried that paying more to qualify for Malarkey’s Certified Premium Warranty might not be worth it because exclusions or fine print could still leave you paying for repairs you thought would be covered?
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.
Roofing warranties can be difficult to compare because “lifetime” coverage doesn’t necessarily mean every expense is fully covered for the life of your roof.
In this article, I’ll compare Malarkey’s Standard and Certified Premium warranties side by side and break down the exclusions that apply to both warranties so you can better understand what could void your coverage and decide which level of protection makes sense for your roof.
Although both warranties provide coverage for defective shingles, there are several key differences in coverage between the standard and premium warranties. The premium warranty has longer and more comprehensive coverage than the standard warranty:
Eligibility requirements: Anyone who has Malarkey shingles installed on their roof is eligible for the standard warranty. But to access a premium warranty, your roof must meet several requirements, including:
Different wind coverage requirements: With the standard warranty, you can choose between the Limited Wind Warranty (covers winds up to 110 MPH) or the Enhanced Wind Warranty (covers winds up to 130 MPH). For the Enhanced Wind Warranty, you need additional Malarkey accessories installed. Both options offer 15 years of wind warranty coverage. Because the premium warranty has specific eligibility requirements, you automatically get the Enhanced Wind Warranty coverage also for 15 years.
Non-prorated period varies: If you have a standard warranty, you have lifetime coverage, but the non-prorated period is 10 to 20 years (depending on the type of shingle you install). With the premium warranty, you get lifetime coverage with a 50-year non-prorated period no matter which shingles you install.
Low slope warranty coverage: The standard warranty does not have a section dedicated to low-slope roofs, but the premium warranty does offer some coverage. It provides coverage for up to 10 squares of your low-slope roof if you meet the requirements for a setup on a low slope. The coverage period ranges from 12 to 17 years depending on the type of roof you get.
Workmanship coverage: The premium warranty includes 25 years of coverage for workmanship issues, but that is not available through the standard warranty.
Including tear-off and disposal: Both the standard and premium warranty state that it will provide coverage for repair or replacement costs for defective shingles (or their other products) at their discretion. The standard warranty does not cover tear-off or disposal of the old roofing material, but the premium warranty does include it (if Malarkey deems it necessary for a repair).
Each warranty includes a table with an overview of this information:
| Warranty Feature | Malarkey Standard Warranty | Malarkey Certified Premium Warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Basic eligibility | Available with Malarkey shingles | Must meet additional eligibility requirements |
| Contractor requirement | No Certified Premium contractor requirement stated | Roof must be installed by a Malarkey Certified Premium contractor |
| Malarkey accessories required | Additional accessories required for Enhanced Wind Warranty | Minimum of 4 Malarkey accessories required |
| Roof deck/sheathing requirement | Standard installation requirements apply | Sheathing must be the appropriate type and in good condition |
| Wind coverage | Limited Wind Warranty up to 110 MPH or Enhanced Wind Warranty up to 130 MPH | Enhanced Wind Warranty up to 130 MPH included when eligibility requirements are met |
| Wind coverage period | 15 years | 15 years |
| Overall warranty term | Lifetime coverage | Lifetime coverage |
| Non-prorated period | 10 to 20 years, depending on shingle | 50 years, regardless of shingle selected |
| Low-slope coverage | No dedicated low-slope warranty section | Coverage for up to 10 squares when low-slope installation requirements are met; coverage period ranges from 12 to 17 years depending on roof type |
| Workmanship coverage | Not included | 25 years |
| Defective shingle repair/replacement | Included according to warranty terms | Included according to warranty terms |
| Tear-off and disposal | Not covered | Included when Malarkey determines tear-off is necessary for the repair |
| Algae coverage | Lifetime for Scotchgard-protected shingles; 15 or 25 years for AR shingles depending on product | Same general algae coverage periods, with premium-specific proration provisions for Scotchgard shingles |
| Main advantage | Baseline manufacturer coverage without Premium eligibility requirements | Longer non-prorated protection plus workmanship, tear-off/disposal, and certain low-slope coverage |
Although there are several differences between the standard and premium warranties, there is one similarity. No matter the level of warranty, each one has the same requirements and coverage length for its algae warranty.
Both warranties provide lifetime coverage for shingles with Scotchgard protection and 15 or 25 years of warranty coverage (depending on the shingle) for Algae Resistant [AR] shingles. AR shingles have a non-prorated period of 10 years under both warranties, but the premium warranty does prorate coverage for Scotchgard shingles after 20 years.
All the same exclusions apply to the Standard and Certified Premium Malarkey warranties. Most are similar to the typical exclusions that you see in a manufacturer’s warranty, saying coverage is void if:
All of these exclusions are present in the Standard and Certified Premium Malarkey warranties, and some variation of them can be found in pretty much any shingle manufacturer’s warranty as well.
One particular exclusion that is fairly unique to Malarkey is damage caused by traffic on the roof, including for algae and debris removal.
This exclusion might potentially cause trouble because, as a homeowner, you are responsible for keeping moss and debris off your roof, but you might also lose your warranty coverage if you damage your roof while removing these items. Even just one small scuff could be enough to get your warranty voided.
If you are someone who is fine with baseline coverage and doesn’t really plan on relying on the warranty, then the standard warranty is a good fit for you. However, if you want to make sure that you have the most coverage possible in case there is a problem with your roof, then you should consider getting the premium warranty.
Deciding which Malarkey warranty is right for you all comes down to how much coverage you want to have.
Keep in mind that cost is another factor. The Malarkey Certified Premium Warranty requires you to install a certain amount of Malarkey products and follow stricter installation instructions, so it’s possible that it will cost you more.
Choosing between Malarkey’s Standard and Certified Premium warranties means deciding how much protection you want and what requirements you’re willing to meet to get it. The Standard Warranty provides baseline manufacturer coverage, while the Certified Premium Warranty adds significant benefits, including a 50-year non-prorated period, 25 years of workmanship coverage, tear-off and disposal coverage in qualifying situations, and certain low-slope protection.
However, upgrading your warranty doesn’t mean every future roofing problem will be covered. Both Malarkey warranties contain exclusions related to installation, attic ventilation, third-party work, impact damage, moss and mold, natural disasters, and even damage caused by foot traffic on the roof.
That’s why you shouldn’t assume that having a manufacturer’s warranty means you’ll automatically be protected if your roof develops a problem.
Read our article “Does Having a Manufacturer’s Warranty Mean Your Roof Is Protected?” to learn what roofing warranties really protect you from, what they typically exclude, and what you should understand before relying on one to cover a future roofing problem.