When you’re shopping around for a replacement roof, the warranty comes up eventually. But if you’re like many property owners, knowing exactly what your warranty covers can be confusing. In many cases, homeowners assume there’s some blanket protection that covers pretty much anything and everything that might go wrong after the installer’s van drives away.
In reality, you normally get two separate warranties that protect against very different problems. One covers your roofing materials, while the other covers the installation. Let’s explore the differences between the two types of coverage so that you know exactly how and where your Pennsylvania or Maryland property is protected.
What a Manufacturer Warranty Covers
A manufacturer warranty covers defects in the materials themselves. It’s provided by the people who make the actual roofing materials, not by the contractors who install them. For example, if a shingle crumbles for no reason or fails prematurely due to a manufacturing flaw, the manufacturer warranty should cover it.
Manufacturer warranty lengths and coverages vary greatly, depending on the specific materials installed and sometimes depending on whether a specific level of contractor certification has been required. GAF, for example, offers warranties ranging from standard limited coverage up to more comprehensive options like the Golden Pledge Limited Warranty, which extends material coverage significantly further and is only offered through GAF Master Elite certified contractors.
A manufacturer warranty does not typically cover installation mistakes. If a roof leaks because the shingles weren’t installed properly, the manufacturer warranty won’t apply because the materials themselves were not faulty. The roof failed because of how it was installed, not because the materials were bad.
What a Workmanship Warranty Covers
A workmanship warranty is offered by the roofing contractor, not the manufacturer, and it covers problems caused by the installation itself rather than the materials. For example, if a leak develops because the flashing wasn’t installed correctly, the workmanship warranty should cover the damage.
The length and specificity of workmanship warranties vary widely by contractor. You might get one that’s only good for a year or two, while more robust warranties can extend for 10 to 20 years or more. Most basic workmanship warranties cover 1 to 10 years, with 10 years being the industry standard. Anything more than this shows that the company is extremely confident in their own installation quality.
Here’s How That Actually Comes Into Play
Let’s say that you wake up to a leaking roof a few years after your roof was replaced. Which warranty applies?
If the shingles themselves are defective, the manufacturer warranty applies. But if the leak traces back to an issue with installation, it’s the workmanship warranty that should cover the damage. To be certain, you’ll need to uncover the root cause of the leak, which can be done during a professional roof inspection.
This type of scenario is another reminder why you should always go with a trusted and reputable roofing contractor. You don’t want to hire someone who is fly-by-night, goes out of business within a few short years, and is no longer around to honor their warranty. Sadly, this does happen.
What We Do at MR Roofing
At MR Roofing, every installation is backed by a full 20-year workmanship guarantee that we stand behind ourselves, regardless of which roofing material is used. Because our crews are local professionals we know and trust, we’re able to offer that level of coverage with full confidence in the work underneath it.
Beyond that workmanship guarantee, the manufacturer warranty available depends on the material installed. As a GAF Master Elite certified contractor, we offer GAF’s strongest manufacturer warranty products for asphalt shingle roofs, up to and including the Golden Pledge Limited Warranty. For standing seam metal roofs, we install Drexel Metals systems and offer their Gold Standard Warranty, a 35-year, transferable warranty that covers the total system from the roof deck up, including both materials and replacement labor if the installed product fails.
Cedar works a little differently, since it’s a natural product. MR Roofing only sources cedar shakes certified by the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau, regardless of species, so every cedar roof we install comes with the CSSB’s Manufacturer’s Lifetime Limited Warranty covering product defects. That coverage is prorated over time and applies to defects in the cedar itself; installation is covered separately by our own workmanship guarantee.
Schedule Your Estimate and Learn More About Your Warranty Options
If you’re planning a roof replacement in Pennsylvania or Maryland, MR Roofing would love to chat! We provide all customers with a free, in-person estimate, giving us the opportunity to see what type of roof material is best for your property and the warranty coverage that would apply to your project. Fill out our contact form online or give us a call today at (717) 665-1752 to schedule an estimate.