Decoding Shingle Manufacturer Warranties

Most shingle manufacturers offer material warranties ranging from 25 to 50 years, or even "lifetime" while shingles typically will last only 12 to 20 years. So, what does that mean in actual terms and what is covered under a shingle warranty?

Manufacturer warranties are, no doubt, purposefully difficult to decipher. In addition, there are two different warranties that a property owner should be offered. First, the shingle manufacturer has many different warranties available for each product to cover materials. Second, reputable contractors will usually offer a craftsmanship warranty to cover the installation and proper workmanship.

First, let's cover the basics of a shingle manufacturer warranty. GAF is the largest shingle manufacturer in the United States and will provide a good example of the warranty system.

Types of Warranties - there exists four (4) different warranty systems for the same shingle:

1.) BASIC (Lifetime Warranty) can be obtained by anyone who installs the material, even homeowners may install the shingles themselves. No professional is needed for installation and that is reflected in the basic nature of the warranty. GAF will warranty materials for as long as you own your home. What does it cover? It covers only GAF brand materials and only covers manufacturer defects. This means that should the shingle fail and it can be traced back to a manufacturing problem, then it would be covered under manufacturer warranty. What's not covered: animal damage, storm damage, acts of God, or, the big one, incorrect installation. If a homeowner files a claim for warranty issues, then the roof will be inspected. First by a GAF Certified contractor to gather evidence, then by a GAF factory representative should the contractor agree a manufacturer defect exists. What would GAF cover? From 0 - 10 years of age, GAF will pay for 100% of materials and 100% of installation costs - Not bad for a free warranty available to anyone. What won't GAF cover? Tear off of old shingles, disposal of old roofing material, and any material not made by GAF. This, of course, assumes no issues were identified with the installation of the shingles. From 10 years on, the Lifetime warranty is amortized into a smaller and smaller percentage as years go by (100%, reduced by a percentage equal to the number of months from the installation date to the date of claim divided by 600).

2.) System Plus (50-Year Warranty) can be obtained only by Manufacturer Certified Installation Experts. GAF will warranty materials for 50 years, pays for tear off labor, and all accessories. The warranty is otherwise the same as the "Lifetime" warranty. The homeowner can expect an extra charge for this warranty as the certified contractor has to pay a fee to the manufacturer.

3.) Silver Pledge (50-Year Warranty) can also be obtained by only factory certified installation experts and adds in a 10 year craftsmanship warranty. With this type of warranty, GAF warranties the application of it's product by trusting that it's certified contractors are adequately trained to install roof systems exactly per manufacturer specifications. With this warranty, even if your contractor goes out of business, GAF will hire/pay for a certified contractor to fix the issue. The warranty will also cover disposal costs of old material. This warranty will also incur an additional cost to the contractor in order to register the warranty.

4.) Golden Pledge (50-year Warranty) again, factory certified installers only. This warranty bumps up the craftsmanship warranty to 25 - 30 years, depending on the exact material installed. As you can imagine, this warranty is the most expensive of the bunch as it offers the most comprehensive coverage.

All of the warranties above are transferable to one additional homeowner, which is always a bonus for customers preparing a property for sale. Most shingle manufacturers have adopted similar warranty structures recently as it is an uber-competitive market. Nonetheless, it is crucially important for property owners to read all the fine print and ask the contractor pointed questions about manufacturer certification and ensure the warranty desired is specifically stated as a deliverable in the roofing contract. In addition, most shingle manufacturers have their own databases in which customers can search and verify contractor certification. This article was written by a GAF and Versico Certified contractor, Pro Roofing, LLC, located in Madison, WI

Pro Roofing of Madison, WI has been Wisconsin's and Dane County's Premier Roofing Specialist Since 1999. Please Visit http://www.proroofingwisconsin.com for More Information and Articles Regarding all things Commercial, Industrial, and Residential Roofing.