Decoding roof warranties

By Quarve Contracting. 

What to know before signing your warranty. 

Roofing warranties can be convoluted and full of confusing jargon. There are several warranty options to consider and when organizing a roof replacement, adding another decision can be overwhelming. However, it is still important to understand these warranties. These warranties decide what kind of protection and coverage your roof has and may help you in the future. Terms and conditions can be complex to sort through so it’s important to take your time to understand them. Quarve Contracting is very experienced in translating warranties and is here to help you interpret your warranty options.   

Types of roofing warranties 

To start, you should learn about the different warranties that are available to you. The two primary warranties are a manufacturer’s and a workmanship warranty. 

The manufacturer's warranty will cover potential defects in the roofing materials used during the project. Workmanship warranties are added by the roofer who is installing the roofing materials on your home.  

Terms to look for in a roofing warranty policy 

When you receive the warranty information, you should look for key terms that outline the protection. These terms will help you to understand what's covered and what isn't protected by the warranty. 

Some of the terms you should look for in a roofing warranty policy are: 

• Prorated or non-prorated coverage: A prorated warranty decreases as the roofing system ages and non-prorated maintains its coverage throughout the policy.  

• Transferability: The transferability of the warranty will determine if the roof will be protected if the property is transferred to a new owner.  

• Exclusions and limitations: This will cover things that the warranties don't protect and things that can void the warranty coverage.  

Common misconceptions about roofing warranties 

There are several misconceptions that people have about roofing warranties. The most common misconception is that lifetime warranties will provide indefinite coverage for the roof. 

However, lifetime warranty protection refers to the expected lifespan of the roofing materials. Another common misconception is that a standard warranty covers all roof components. 

If the roofing warranty is not extended or full system, the warranty may only cover the shingles. A full-system warranty will protect additional features like underlayment, flashing and ventilation.  

Original article and image source: Quarve Contracting