Struggling to decipher your roof’s warranty? You’re not alone. Roof warranties can be notoriously confusing, but at RoofSmart, we’re here to clear things up.
With 13 years in the roofing industry and thousands of satisfied customers, RoofSmart has honed its expertise in delivering and explaining comprehensive roof warranties.
In other words, we are familiar with warranties for roofs and how unnecessarily confusing they can be. We feel that everyone deserves straightforward explanations regarding warranties, so that’s what we’re here to do right now.
In this article, we’ll explain RoofSmart’s warranty options, compare them to industry standards, and ensure you know exactly what to expect.
What warranties does RoofSmart offer and use?
At RoofSmart, we offer two different kinds of warranties. One is our own company warranty that covers our workmanship and the other is a warranty from a manufacturer that covers material defects.
It is typical in the industry for companies to offer both types of warranties. The difference here is that we at RoofSmart can offer you stronger coverage than many other companies under the warranties we offer you.
What is covered under RoofSmart’s workmanship warranty?
We offer our TripleGuard Warranty that guarantees we will come back and fix any issues caused by our workmanship. Of course, we are committed to making sure that we do everything right on your roof the first time. This warranty just provides you with an added layer of assurance.
The bottom line is this: if your roof issue is happening because of us, we’ll come out and fix it. And the best part? This all happens at no additional cost to you!
We are diligent about installing high-quality roofs and going above and beyond to provide you with the best value for your money. Our TripleGuard Warranty is one of many elements that contribute to the 9 ways that we are committed to our valued customers.
With most other companies, a crew will be sent out to fix the roof, but only the cost of the materials is covered under the warranty. At RoofSmart, we do things differently. We believe you shouldn’t have to pay twice for something that’s out of your control. So, under our TripleGuard Warranty, the cost of materials AND labor is included, meaning that you aren’t charged anything extra for any covered installation issues.
In fact, we can show you right here, right now what the warranty looks like. Go ahead and see for yourself what we’ll offer you:
What is covered under the manufacturer’s warranty?
The manufacturer’s warranty differs based on the roofing company you are working with and, of course, the manufacturer itself. Overall, these warranties provide coverage for defective materials. This covers instances when something went wrong while the shingle was being made and it becomes defective in some way. For example, if an asphalt shingle starts losing a lot of granules after only two years, that is likely a manufacturer defect and would be covered under the warranty.
A standard shingle manufacturer’s warranty has an initial period that is non-prorated, which is typically about ten years. After that, it’s prorated and you will have to pay for anything that needs to be fixed. The standard warranty covers the cost of getting new shingles and the cost of labor to take off the old ones and put new ones on. However, the standard warranty does not cover the replacement of things like:
- Underlayment (the protective covering that goes under shingles to prevent leaking)
- Flashing
- Pipe boots
So, any other piece of the roof that might need to be replaced would not be covered.
However, since RoofSmart is a CertainTeed ShingleMaster, GAF Silver Pledge Certified Contractor, and an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, we can offer you a Platinum Warranty with Owens Corning. The absolute highest level of guarantee in asphalt composition shingles!
This means that you would receive 100% covered, continuously non-prorated work for manufacturer defects and the labor that comes with it at no charge to you for the lifetime of that shingle. This also includes the replacement of other parts of the roof (like pipe boots, flashing, and more).
With the Platinum Warranty through Owens Corning, you would even get the same coverage that we offer with our TripleGuard Warranty if, for whatever reason, we were no longer around when you needed to call in the warranty.
When working with us, you also have access to the warranties of companies like CertainTeed and GAF, which are very similar to the coverage from the Owens Corning Platinum Warranty.
What does a “lifetime” warranty mean for a roof?
In short, this refers to the life expectancy of a shingle based on the conditions in which it is installed. Shingles are not going to perform the same in different conditions.
A shingle might hold up in a mild, dry climate for 25-30 years. But, for example, if you’re in a rainy area like Seattle and you have a fairly flat roof that causes water to pool up and sit on the shingles, then your roof will only last about 12 years. Your mileage will vary, so to speak.
Manufacturers must take into consideration the climate and conditions that you live in and the steepness of your roof to properly assess the lifetime of your shingles. They will clearly state what that life expectancy is in your warranty as it relates to manufacturing defects.
It is expected that the roof will sustain some wear and tear throughout its life. Repair or replacement after normal wear and tear is not covered.
What will void a roof warranty?
- Lack of maintenance: It is the responsibility of the homeowner to perform regular maintenance on the roof. But, maintenance does not have to be intense or super time-consuming. Just make sure that your roof is regularly cleared of debris (a common culprit in the Seattle area is pine needles) and that if you see moss growing on your roof, get it treated right away. In the Seattle area moss is VERY common, so make sure you’re checking for it.
- Damage: Be careful of doing things that might damage your roof. This might seem super obvious, but it is possible for you to damage your roof while trying to maintain it. For example, do not pressure wash your roof. This will cause damage to the shingles and will lower the lifetime of your shingles.
- Acts of nature: If there is a windstorm that rips shingles off your roof or a tree branch falls through the roof, this is not something that we cover. We can certainly fix the problem, but for financial coverage in this scenario, you’d want to reach out to your insurance company.
- A third party works on your roof: For example, if you decide to get solar panels, they will need to drill into your roof, which could cause leaks. We do not include coverage for damage caused by others. We do help, but not for free.
How do I use my roofing warranty?
If you have problems with your roof at any point, we encourage you to give us a call. We will come out to assess the issues you’re noticing and determine which warranty it might fall under (ours or the manufacturer’s).
We will send copies of the warranty for your roof to you and the shingle manufacturer at the end of your roof repair or replacement so that everyone will be on the same page. This makes it very easy for all parties in the event that the warranty needs to be used.
How can I get access to the RoofSmart TripleGuard Warranty?
Now that you have seen clearly what we at RoofSmart can offer you through our warranties, you no longer need to feel lost or frustrated that no company will make their warranty easy to understand. You’ve seen our TripleGuard Warranty firsthand, and you even know what is covered by your manufacturer’s warranty.
If you’re happy with our warranty and would like to work with us, then take the first step in your roofing journey by giving us a call at (206) 487-4877. Or, fill out this short form to contact us and get the process started today. We look forward to helping you with your roofing needs!
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