Like most major purchases, a new roof comes with a warranty, which provides an extra layer of protection to your investment. Understanding it can help protect your home from damage caused by faulty materials or installation errors. Ganser Company, the trusted roof replacement contractor in the area, explains further.
Benefits of Having a Roofing Warranty
A roofing warranty is an agreement from the manufacturer or roofer that guarantees a certain level of quality for their product or service. A reputable contractor can provide written warranty details to set expectations and lay out the length of the coverage.
A properly installed and maintained roof replacement should last for many years. A good warranty will provide you with peace of mind knowing that the work completed by your contractor is covered when something wrong happens to it. It’s also a form of consumer protection, allowing you to rest easy as you get the most out of its weather performance for the entirety of its life span.
Types of Roofing Warranties
The type of warranty will depend on the roofing contractor you select and the products they use. Here’s the breakdown of the most common types of warranties you may encounter as you choose the best roofing system for your home:
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Manufacturer Warranties
Manufacturer warranties cover the roof’s materials and components. This type of warranty will ensure that defective materials or parts of your roof will be replaced by the manufacturer if necessary. The length and coverage may differ from product to product, so be sure to ask your contractor for more information on what is included.
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Contractor Warranties
These warranties offer coverage for the labor that contractors provide. They are typically shorter than manufacturer-backed ones and include details about how the contractor will address any issues. This ensures that if anything has been installed incorrectly, you can rely on your roofing contractors to make repairs or replace components free of charge.
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Extended Warranties
An extended warranty offers extra protection for your home and its roofing system, typically after the manufacturer’s or contractor’s expired warranties. These are sometimes offered to provide peace of mind to homeowners, although you should always check to see what kind of coverage is included before committing.
What Should Be Included in a Roofing Warranty?
When you’re considering your warranty, it’s critical to pay attention to the terms and conditions of the coverage, as well as the inclusions and exclusions.
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Coverage
The warranty should spell out exactly what is covered and for how long. Good roofing contractors will provide a detailed and clear list of items specific to the materials installed on your roof and the installation techniques used. Furthermore, choose a contractor qualified to install your roof with long-term warranties. For example, only GAF Master Elite® roofing companies can install GAF’s long-term Golden Pledge® and System Plus warranties.
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Exclusions
Your warranty will state the items and conditions it won’t cover. Common exclusions include winds over a certain speed, natural disasters of any kind, normal wear and tear caused by age and misuse or negligence on the homeowner’s part. This information should also be spelled out so you can make an informed decision before committing.
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Conditions
Typically, a warranty will include conditions the homeowner must meet to receive coverage consisting of yearly inspections and maintenance or following specific guidelines for the roofing system’s upkeep. Make sure to read through these conditions before signing any agreement to avoid surprises later.
When Should You Have a Roofing Warranty?
Since a roofing warranty is a vital part of any exterior home improvement project, it’s always wise to have one in place. Read the requirements because you may need your roof inspected and maintained each year in keeping with its terms and conditions.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Roofing Warranty
The following are tips to get the most out of your roofing warranty:
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Read the Warranty Carefully
Take the time to read the warranties given to you by the contractor thoroughly to ensure you understand all of the coverage terms, exclusions and conditions that apply. You can ask your local roofing contractor to explain various terms and conditions of your warranty if you’re confused about specific clauses.
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Follow the Manufacturer’s Guidelines
Manufacturers typically provide guidelines for upkeep and maintenance to help keep your roof system in tip-top shape throughout its lifetime. Following these instructions can go a long way toward ensuring you get full coverage under your warranty agreement.
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Schedule Regular Maintenance
Stay up-to-date with your annual maintenance appointments, as the manufacturer or contractor who installed it recommends. A roofer’s experienced eyes can help catch potential issues before they become too big and expensive to fix. For example, you should always maintain your roof regularly with a licensed and certified contractor to comply with the warranty’s guidelines.
Choose a Roofer With a Contractor Warranty
Choosing a roof and exterior home improvement expert who stands behind their work with a warranty can make all the difference in long-term protection for your home. Hiring a local, reputable contractor assures you they will be available and accountable if anything were to go wrong in the future.
It’s a good idea to work with a reputable local contractor who will provide you with a written and comprehensive agreement for what should be expected for their work and follow the manufacturer’s installation guidelines. You can ask the manufacturer for a list of certified roofers or check if your local contractor is licensed and certified to install with a full warranty.
Work with an established roofer with decades of experience and knowledge in taking care of homes in your neighborhood. Ganser Company is a dependable contractor who can get the job done right the first time. We are a GAF Master Elite® roofer who can install roofs covered under System Plus, Gold Pledge and Platinum warranties.
Stop by our showroom to check out the GAF roofing shingles and components we install every day. Our dedicated team won’t rest until we have the answer to your home improvement needs. To get started, give us a call today at (608) 222-1243, or fill out this contact form to request an estimate.