What Does A Metal Roof Warranty Cover? 

Are you considering a metal roof for your home but unsure what kind of warranty protection comes with it? Do you know what to expect when it comes to coverage for materials, installation, or potential repairs?

At RoofSmart, we believe that it’s important to understand the full picture regarding warranties before purchasing any roofing material. Before all of our roof replacement jobs, we have an in-depth conversation about the roofing material the homeowner chooses. This includes topics like cost, benefits, drawbacks, and warranty coverage options.

We install around 100 metal roofs every year, meaning that we have lots of experience walking our customers through what they can expect from their metal roof warranty.

In this article, we’ll break down exactly what a metal roof warranty typically covers, helping you understand both what’s included and excluded. By the end, you’ll know what to look for in a metal roof warranty so you can make an informed decision for your home.

What kinds of warranties are available for a metal roof?

• Manufacturer’s warranty: These warranties provide coverage for replacing defective materials directly from the manufacturer. With metal roofing, it is more nuanced because there is no coverage for the metal itself. We’ll go into more detail on this later.
• Workmanship warranty: This type of warranty offers coverage for repairs if the roof is experiencing issues due to improper installation. Workmanship coverage typically varies widely from contractor to contractor.

This article will focus on manufacturer’s warranties. Workmanship warranties are more about the roofing contractor that you pick than the type of roof you want so there is a lot more variability in what the warranty might cover.

What does a manufacturer’s warranty for a metal roof look like?

Not all metal roofs have manufacturer’s warranties because no manufacturer provides a warranty for the metal itself. However, the metals that get painted (steel and aluminum) have warranties for the paint.

The other metals—copper, zinc, and stainless steel—do not have manufacturer warranties. As raw metal, they just come as they are.

The paint manufacturer sells a coating to the people who are creating the metal coils and then the metal goes through a coating process where they bake the color onto the metal. The warranty you get for your painted metal panels is typically a pass-through from that paint manufacturer (for example, Sherwin Williams, PPG, or Steelscape).

And if you get a coating to protect your metal panels (like an SMP or a PVDF) it will have the same kind of manufacturer’s warranty. This coating goes on after the paint and helps prevent the metal from rusting or being damaged by UV rays.

Standing seam metal is durable and lasts a long time, so the biggest liability on the material in this situation is that the paint might fail in some way. Because metal naturally lasts for a long time, the manufacturer provides no coverage for the metal itself.

The manufacturer is responsible for the paint on the metal because that’s how they supply it.

This system makes metal roofs a higher-risk choice if you want warranty protection because you have little to no coverage from the manufacturer in case something happens. However, it is also a high reward because metal is typically a highly durable, long-lasting material. It is rare to have defects. That means that your choice of installer/craftsman is critical to a successful outcome for your metal roof.

What is covered under the paint manufacturer’s warranty for metal roofs?

These warranties include coverage for premature issues, such as:

• Chipping or cracking– Even if the paint fades, it should remain smooth. These are not things that you should be seeing on your roof. You might notice minor chipping near the end of the roof’s life due to normal wear and tear, but it should not be happening early in your roof’s life.
• Fading– This does not mean the paint won’t fade at all—it’s just not supposed to fade too fast. Fading in the paint is measured in Delta E units, which are used to calculate the balance of different hues and shades in color. This is what manufacturers use to determine how much the paint has faded.
• Chalking– It is possible that the paint on your roof will react to the sun breaking down the resin in the paint. This phenomenon is called chalking. To identify this on your roof, look for a white residue on top of the paint layer. At first, it might look like the paint is fading, but if you touch the residue it will come off on your hand.
• Peeling– The paint is meant to stay on the metal surface. If you notice that it is peeling off, then the material might be defective.

Some warranties might cover wind damage (only up to certain wind speeds), but this depends on the manufacturer.

If you notice any of these issues, they will provide you with new metal to replace the defective panels (for a certain period of time). It will be up to you to hire a roofing contractor to install the new metal.

Some manufacturers have more inclusive warranties that cover labor and provide materials for a longer amount of time, but this is not typical.

Make sure that you carefully read the warranty to know where your roof’s paint color falls on this scale and how far it can vary from this number until it qualifies to be covered by the warranty.

These warranties are typically good for anywhere between 30 to 50 years. The level of coverage that you get depends on the manufacturer that you choose. They all vary to a certain degree.

What is not covered in a paint manufacturer’s warranty for metal roofs?

It’s important to know what is excluded from your warranty so that you are not unexpectedly hit with repair or replacement costs down the road.

Here are examples of common causes or instances of damage that are not covered in the warranty:

• Normal wear and tear
• Severe storms
• Impact from items (like a falling tree branch)
• Being close to the ocean
• Improper installation (this would be covered in a workmanship warranty)

For most metal roof suppliers, the labor to replace defective metal is typically not covered either. The only cover replacement material. The exception to this is Kassel & Irons, which has the strongest metal roof warranty in the business.

How can I get a good workmanship warranty for my metal roof?

While metal roofs offer durability and long-term value, navigating the warranty options can be complex. Manufacturer warranties primarily cover the paint on your metal roof against issues like chipping, fading, and chalking. It’s also crucial to understand what isn’t covered, such as the metal itself, severe weather events, or improper installation.

Before making a decision, ensure you read the warranty details carefully, so you’re fully aware of what’s included, how long the coverage lasts, and what conditions could void the warranty.

Not every roofer knows how to do metal roofing. It takes training and practice to learn how to do it right. So, since there isn’t great warranty coverage, finding a roofing contractor that you can trust to do the job right the first time and provide a solid workmanship warranty to fall back on is important.

If you’re interested in learning how to find a roofing contractor who knows what they’re doing, your next step is to read our article “How Do I Know If A Roofing Contractor is Qualified?” which teaches you how to research a roofing contractor and assess their qualifications.