Ever felt blindsided by a roofing warranty that didn’t cover what you thought it would? Maybe you've been left footing the bill for a repair you assumed was covered.
Confusing warranties are an industry-wide problem. They often leave their most important target audience (you, the customer!) in the dark.
At RoofSmart, we help Seattle homeowners avoid these costly surprises by breaking down what each Owens Corning warranty actually covers—no fine print confusion, just clarity.
We believe everyone deserves access to this information, so we’re sharing multiple articles that go over the warranties from the different asphalt shingle manufacturers we work with (Owens Corning, GAF, and CertainTeed).
Please keep in mind that these articles are not meant to pressure you into purchasing a warranty or choosing a certain manufacturer or product. Our purpose is to provide an honest and easily understandable warranty comparison for each manufacturer.
In this guide, we’ll explain the 4 warranty levels that Owens Corning offers, when each makes sense to choose, and how to ensure you get the right protection from the start.
By the end, you’ll be able to confidently decide which warranty provides the best protection for your Seattle home.
What are the different types of warranties a manufacturer might offer?
- Manufacturer’s warranty: These warranties offer coverage for replacing defective materials purchased from that manufacturer. Basic coverage typically only covers replacement shingles, but some higher-level warranties cover other materials made by the manufacturer, such as ventilation pieces or ridge caps. And possibly even the labor cost to perform the fix.
- Workmanship warranty: This type of warranty is more commonly offered by roofing contractors. It provides coverage for mistakes made during installation, which is a much more common issue than having defective materials. Only the highest levels of manufacturer’s warranties offer coverage for workmanship issues.
Note: Normal wear and tear are NOT covered.
What warranties does Owens Corning offer?
Owens Corning offers four different manufacturer warranty options, each with different levels of coverage.
They are:
- The Standard Product Limited Warranty
- The System Protection Limited Warranty
- The Preferred Protection Limited Warranty
- The Platinum Protection Limited Warranty
The main purpose of these warranties is to provide your roof with coverage for manufacturing defects. Higher-level warranties offer even more kinds of coverage.
How do I qualify for each Owens Corning warranty level?
As the level of protection increases in each warranty, so do the eligibility requirements for accessing them. You must use a certain amount of Owens Corning products to qualify for each one. All but the standard warranty require a roofing contractor certified by Owens Corning to install your products.
Here is a full list of the requirements, pulled from the Owens Corning warranty comparison chart:
| Standard Product Limited Warranty | System Protection Limited Warranty | Preferred Protection Limited Warranty | Platinum Protection Limited Warranty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owens Corning Product Requirements | A minimum of 3 products (aside from shingles) must be used to get the additional coverage period | A minimum of 3 products required (1 of the 3 must be Hip and Ridge) | A minimum of 4 products required (one must be Hip and Ridge and another must be underlayment) | A minimum of 4 products required (one must be Hip and Ridge and another must be underlayment) |
| Contractor Requirements | None | Must be installed by an Owens Corning Roofing Platinum or Preferred Contractor | Must be installed by an Owens Corning Roofing Platinum or Preferred Contractor | Must be installed by an Owens Corning Roofing Platinum Contractor |
What does the Owens Corning Standard Product Limited Warranty cover?
- Advantages and features: In the event that any defective shingles need to be replaced, the cost of labor and materials will be covered during the first 10 years of this lifetime warranty. After 10 years, the warranty shifts to a prorated system where labor is no longer covered. The coverage for materials is reduced based on how long you’ve had your roof.
- Disadvantages: According to the full warranty, this coverage does not include the cost of tearing off or disposing of the defective shingles. It also has the shortest coverage period for replacing defective materials out of all the Owens Corning Warranty options. There is no coverage for workmanship issues. This leaves you to pay for any problems that arise later as a result of poor or improper installation. Workmanship issues are more likely to happen than manufacturing issues. If that is a concern for you then it is worth looking into higher-level warranties from legitimate roofing contractors.
- Cost: There is no cost for this warranty. It automatically applies to your Owens Corning Shingles as long as you register it.
- When is the Standard Product Limited Warranty the best fit for me?: If you are looking for basic coverage without a lot of stipulations, then this warranty is a good fit for you.
Basic warranty coverage is a good option if you’re not too worried about issues with your shingles or if you have a strong workmanship warranty through your roofing contractor.
However, it’s rare that you’ll need coverage in the first 10 years (though it certainly can happen!). Typically, Seattle area homeowners should be worried about leaks, which can hide in your roof for quite some time. You might not notice until after year 10.
Additionally, labor costs in the Seattle area are higher than national averages due to the high cost of living, so you’ll be left completely ON the hook for the most expensive part of a repair (labor) after 10 years.
It’s far more likely that your roof will leak due to an installation error than a manufacturing defect. And if that happens, you’re on your own for coverage with this warranty.
What does the Owens Corning System Protection Limited Warranty cover?
- Advantages and features: This warranty provides full coverage for the cost of materials and labor for 50 years if any defective shingles need to be replaced. In addition, the cost to tear off and dispose of the defective shingles is covered. After 50 years, the cost of materials is reduced based on a prorated system, and nothing else is covered.
- Disadvantages: Workmanship is still not covered, which could lead you to pay out of pocket for roof issues down the line.
- Cost: There is not a price explicitly stated on the website. But, to be eligible for this warranty you must use 3 Owens Corning products (aside from the shingles), which can add about $1,000 to the project. But, this is money you’d likely want to spend anyway to have your roof done right.
- When is the System Protection Limited Warranty the best fit for me?: This is a good option for those looking to work with a roofing contractor that has been vetted and approved by Owens Corning on at least a minimal level. If you are not too concerned about having coverage for workmanship issues, but you want more than 10 years of fully-paid coverage for your roof, then this is a great option for you.
How does this compare to the Standard Product Limited Warranty?
The biggest difference between the Standard Product Limited Warranty and the System Protection Limited Warranty is that the latter offers you full coverage for labor and materials for five times longer (50 years instead of 10 years).
The cost of tear-off and disposal is also included in the System Protection Limited Warranty, which is a nice addition.
This is a good upgrade for Greater Seattle area homeowners who are looking for longer-lasting coverage for labor costs.
What does the Owens Corning Preferred Protection Limited Warranty cover?
- Advantages and features: This warranty offers full coverage for replacing defective shingles, including the cost of labor, materials, tear-off, and disposal for 50 years. For the first 10 years, this warranty covers the cost of replacing roof components as needed due to a workmanship error.
- Disadvantages: In order to get access to this warranty, you must follow stricter guidelines to become eligible. If you do not want to use Owens Corning products or a certified contractor, then the previous warranty options might be a better fit for you.
- Cost: There is not a price explicitly stated on the website. But the eligibility requirements for this warranty say that you must use 4 Owens Corning products (aside from the shingles). This can add about $1,000 to the project, but technically it’s all products that you’d want to buy anyway to get a quality roof.
- When is the Preferred Protection Limited Warranty the best fit for me?: If your big concern is dealing with workmanship issues, then this is a good option for you. It offers great coverage for manufacturing defects, and the workmanship coverage is a great bonus element.
How does this compare to the System Protection Limited Warranty?
In most ways, this warranty is the same as the System Protection Limited Warranty. However, the major difference between them is that this higher-level warranty gives you access to coverage for workmanship issues. None of the previously mentioned warranties have this.
This warranty appeals to Seattle area homeowners who want some coverage for workmanship issues but don’t have access to a Platinum Contractor. This will give you some assistance if there is an installation error, although it only covers new materials (not labor) and only lasts 10 years.
You’re getting some workmanship coverage, but the expense of labor (which adds up quickly!) is still on you.
Is the Owens Corning Platinum Protection Limited Warranty worth it?
- Advantages and features: This warranty covers both manufacturing and workmanship issues. Materials, labor, tear-off, and disposal are covered for 50 years. The cost of fixing workmanship issues (materials and labor) is fully covered for 25 years. After that, your lifetime coverage for installation mistakes will continue on a prorated system where the cost of coverage is calculated based on how long you’ve had your roof.
- Disadvantages: This is the highest level of coverage, so it has the strictest requirements for eligibility. But unless you’re strongly opposed to that, then this warranty doesn’t really have disadvantages. It offers really great coverage. Arguably, it is the strongest asphalt roof warranty there is.
- Cost: There isn’t a price listed on the website, but the warranty’s eligibility requirements can add about $1,000 to the cost of the job. You must use 4 Owens Corning products aside from the shingles, and you can’t use cheaper alternatives because that would void the warranty (this is money you’d likely spend anyway to have good protection on your roof).
- When is the Platinum Protection Limited Warranty the best fit for me?: In terms of warranties, this is the best of the best. So, if you are looking for top-tier, long-lasting coverage for both manufacturing and workmanship issues, there is no better warranty option for you.
How does this compare to the Preferred Protection Limited Warranty?
The Platinum Protection Limited Warranty offers 15 more years of full coverage for workmanship issues than the Preferred Protection Limited Warranty. It also covers labor.
And, on top of that, the workmanship coverage continues at a prorated rate for the entire time that you own your house and have those same shingles with the Platinum Protection Limited Warranty.
This is an excellent warranty for anyone living in the Greater Seattle area. Due to all of the rain we get here, it is ideal to have a long-lasting workmanship warranty in case poor installation practices cause leaks in your roof.
How do the Owens Corning warranties compare?
Here’s a clear Owens Corning warranty comparison chart that breaks down coverage, eligibility, and cost at a glance.
What voids the Owens Corning warranties?
All of the Owens Corning warranties are voided by the same things. They say that they are not in control of what happens to non-defective shingles after they leave the factory, so they can’t be held responsible for that.
This includes damage to the shingles resulting from natural causes, improper use or installation of the shingles, or pre-existing issues on or around the roof. You can see the full list of things that will void your warranty here:
The only difference between all of these warranties is that the Standard Product Limited Warranty does not specify which type of contractor gets coverage for improper installation. To get coverage for workmanship issues, you must use a contractor certified by Owens Corning.
If you do not meet all of the eligibility requirements for the level of coverage you want, then your warranty will not apply at all.
How do I choose the best Owens Corning warranty for my roof?
Now you know how each Owens Corning warranty compares—and which ones offer the best protection for Seattle homes. You can now quickly and effectively choose the warranty that will best fit your coverage priorities.
Your next step? Read our articles on the CertainTeed and GAF warranties so you can compare them to Owens Corning and make the most informed decision for your home.
At RoofSmart, we’ve helped thousands of Seattle homeowners make confident decisions about their roofs. Let’s do the same for you.
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