Roof Warranties: What They Cover & What They Don’t

Roof warranties, like the roofs they cover, are not “one size fits all”. Varying from material to material, manufacturer to manufacturer and even roof contractor to roof contractor, roof warranties are very specific to your home and choice of roofer!

Warranties are especially important because the investment for the consumer is big. Very big, involving thousands of dollars and expected to last decades (up to 40 years or more)!

Knowing what your warranty covers in advance and what you need to do remain compliant throughout the coverage period can save you lots of money and headaches in the event problems arise.

What Are The Chances My New Roof Will Have A Problem?

Provided you’ve hired a reputable roof contractor and didn’t go the cheapest route possible, the answer is quite low to minuscule. Nothing is 100% perfect so while chances are you won’t have a problem, if you do, the problem can be just as expensive to fix as it is to replace the entire roof! Not something you want to pay for, especially on a new roof.

This is why it’s important to choose the right roof contractor and choose what’s best, not what’s cheapest, for your home and understand what your warranty covers and what it does not.

Won’t My Material Warranty Cover Just About Everything That Can Go Wrong?

NO! A common misconception is that the warranty acts as an insurance policy. It does not. In fact, the material warranty covers only the material that was purchased and with very specific caveats. After all, the manufacturer can only make it the best they can and warranty it under the best of conditions. These warranties are very detailed, read yours carefully to ensure you understand it.

In fact, more than two thirds of problems with new roofs are due to the roof contractor’s workmanship and not the materials themselves, and won’t be covered by the material warranty.

If The Material Warranty Doesn’t Cover Poor Installation or Other Roofer Mistakes, What Does?

Workmanship Warranties. These aren’t offered by every roof contractor, and if your chosen roof contractor doesn’t offer one, you really should reconsider your choice. Roof problems caused by poor installation practices and without a clear workmanship warranty, will likely lead to you paying for repairs out of your own pocket!

When looking into warranties be sure you get both a material warranty that covers manufacturing defects AND a workmanship warranty that covers installation and other workmanship errors.

Atlanta Roofing Specialists proudly offers quality GAF materials which are covered by their warranty as well as offering our own 10-year Workmanship warranty with every roof!

For more information on GAF’s warranties, visit their warranty information page here.

For questions or more information on either material or workmanship warranties, or to schedule your free estimate contact Atlanta Roofing Specialists at 770-419-2222 today!