Roof Warranty Types Explained

A new residential roof is a big deal, considering it is one of the biggest projects you can do for your home. However, the process can be a lot more complicated than simply installing a new roof.

It is crucial to make sure you have warranty coverage in place to protect your roof from damage that is not your fault. Before you move forward with your roofing installation, ensure that you understand the types of roofing warranties available to you.

Manufacturer’s Warranty

Almost all roofing manufacturers provide some kind of warranty. A manufacturer’s roofing warranty will cover defective roofing material, which is a good bet for the shingle manufacturer. Why? Modern industrial methods are so precise and refined that defects are uncommon. Offering a manufacturer’s warranty creates little financial risk to the shingle maker.

Manufacturer warranties can range anywhere from “basic” to “lifetime” warranty styles. Depending on the robustness of your roof warranty, it can cover manufacturing defects for 5 years, 20 years, 30 years, or more.

Defects? What Defects?

With actual manufacturing defects almost non-existent, what defects typically appear on homeowners’ roofs? Usually, a manufacturer defect resulting in roof leaks — not from storm damage or wind — comes from installation errors:

• Incorrect nailing pattern
• Insufficient roofing nails
• Wrong overlap of shingles
• Forgetting to install a drip edge
• Failure to install a water and ice shield
• Cutting too wide of a ridge vent into the sheathing
• Using too thin of a ridge vent, hampering ventilation
• Leaving soffit vents clogged with insulation
• Miscutting sheathing
• Leaving existing bowed, cupped, or cracked rafters in place
• Failing to install flashing, curbing, or rubber boots correctly

Almost all installation errors stem from three causes:

1. Rushing to complete the roof replacement
2. Using inexperienced or untrained roofing crews
3. Using outdated installation techniques or methods not recommended by the materials manufacturers

Homeowners should only work with a roofer who uses highly knowledgeable project managers who are on-site with every complete roof replacement. They should expect to see dedicated roofers, not day crews picked up from the parking lots of big-box home improvement stores. Save yourself from headaches and wasted money by working only with roofers who can demonstrate mastery of modern installation processes.

Another key thing to look for is all the proper paperwork:

• Licensing
• Insurance, including liability insurance and workers’ compensation protection
• Certifications by leading manufacturers of roofing materials

A manufacturer’s warranty will only cover the cost of labor and materials for replacing shingles made defective by manufacturing errors or that cause leaks (when properly installed). Scrutinize your roof warranties; some do not cover the expense of a reputable roofer to repair or replace defective materials. For a major shingle manufacturer to extend these more generous warranties, the installing contractor must be completely professional and trusted.

Workmanship Warranty

A warranty to cover the cost of replacing defective roofing materials is excellent. While that is a major purpose of roofing warranties, it overlooks one crucial detail: What if installation errors, not manufacturing defects, cause your home’s roof system to fail?

The Victors Home Solutions Leak Free Guarantee workmanship warranty offers customers up to 50 years of protection against installation errors.

Ideally, you can find a roofing contractor who believes in highly trained roofing crews and backs their work with a workmanship warranty. Imagine a contractor so confident in the skills and knowledge of their roofers that you, the homeowner, can get a guarantee backing the integrity of their work.

What Does the Victors Workmanship Warranty Cover?

Our workmanship warranty, known as our Leak Free Guarantee, is available in addition to any applicable manufacturer warranties. This warranty protects your roof from leaks for up to 50 years! The length of your warranty will be based on the roofing package you select:

• Ultimate Package: 50 years
• Premium Package: 25 years
• Better than Basic Package: 15 years

Our Limited Workmanship Warranty is a promise that we will make any repairs necessary, at our expense, to correct defects caused by the installation of materials or the workmanship provided.

This warranty does not include damage caused by any of the following:

• Natural disasters (e.g., floods, hail, earthquakes, etc.)
• Additional construction near previous work
• Repairs done by others
• Acts of God and other instances out of our control (e.g., riots, vandalism, ice dams, etc.)
• Structural damage
• Termites and other pests
• Mold, mildew, hazardous chemicals, etc.

To learn more about our warranties, schedule a free roof inspection and estimate with one of our licensed roof inspectors for more details! Victors Home Solutions is currently serving the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. You can also call us directly at 800-941-5754 to schedule an appointment.