Roofing Warranty: How to Make Sure You’re Covered

It’s never a good idea to skip reading the terms and conditions of your roofing warranty before signing it. While roof repair companies appreciate the implied trust, it is nevertheless good practice to read contracts and agreements prior to applying your signature to them.

Two Types of Warranties

The ideal roofing warranty should have at least two types of coverage. Manufacturer warranty, also known as factory or material warranty, provides coverage against factory defects and manufacturing errors. Premature shingle aging, excessively loose granules and blistered roofing are common roofing problems in this category.

Workmanship warranty, also known as installation warranty, covers problems caused by subpar workmanship or installation errors. Failure to install roof flashing or use the fastener patterns recommended by the manufacturer are some examples of the latter. While workmanship warranties are expected to be covered by the roofing contractor, manufacturers will sometimes cover workmanship as part of a comprehensive warranty coverage. The GAF Golden Pledge® Limited Warranty, for example, includes up to 30 years coverage for workmanship, in addition to up to 50 years manufacturer warranty.

Understand the Exclusions

Exclusions are conditions that are not protected by the warranty coverage and, in some cases, could void it. Lack of roof maintenance is one such example. Most roofing warranties would have exclusions that pertain to extreme weather (some roofing systems have higher wind ratings than others), unauthorized repairs or natural occurrences, such as earthquakes. Other warranties may also exclude tear-off and disposal costs. This means you could be eligible for repairs or replacement, but you may still need to pay for the costs to remove and dispose of the defective roofing material.

Warranty Requirements

Roofing warranties may have minimum requirements that could void coverage if not fulfilled. Regular maintenance, performed by an authorized roofing contractor, is one such requirement. Hiring the same contractor who installed the roof eliminates a lot of guesswork. If they’re not available, at least make sure you’re hiring a contractor that’s certified by the same roofing manufacturer.

If you have a storm-damaged roof, avoid storm chasers, and leave your roof to professionals. Call Scro’s Roofing Company at (919) 461-0937, or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.

We had significant hail damage due to the May 2016 hail storm in Cary, and warded off all the storm chasers that came through our area for 2 months after. I called Scro’s Roofing after the insurance adjusted had written off the roof, and they worked us into their busy schedule. Amazing job done by an amazing and hard-working crew. I was impressed by the way they used tarps to protect the landscaping around the house, and Patricia was pretty particular about cleaning up after the crew. Danny was a pleasure to work with, and he provided several improvements to our roof like a installing a chimney cricket and ridge vents. We used Moire black shingles and the roof looks...

Larry O. | Cary, NC

In life you get what you pay for and this is certainly true with Scro’s Roofing. There are so many “fly be night” roofing companies out there who do not have the long standing customer service and support that a local roofing company can offer. Everyone should take the time to educate themselves about the roofing process and the track record of the company, as this is a very larger investment and an area where you don’t want to cut corners. The team at Scro’s Roofing provided me with many educational links and never pressured me into a sale. They wanted to ensure that I fully understood the process and trusted that I would make an intelligent decision. This sharing...

Kevin A. | Wake Forest, NC

Scro’s Roofing installed a new roof on our home and everything went exactly as planned and scheduled. The installation crew covered all our plants and deck when removing the roof and then cleaned up perfectly when the job was done. We were kept informed all along the job from start to finish so we knew how and when everything would be done. I’ve never experienced a contractor, a company or an owner like Danny who worked with us on every detail. Further, we had gotten several other quotes with Scro’s being the best. This project couldn’t have been done more smoothly… We greatly appreciate Danny the owner and Sarah our scheduling contact. They both were there for all and every...

Joe V. | Cary, NC

We just had our roof done by Scro’s Roofing, and we are very happy with the results. Danny and his office were very helpful in answering all of my questions. I did a good bit of research beforehand, and after talking with Danny, I had a lot of confidence that they are up to date on best practices and latest materials. In particular, I liked that they hand nail the shingles, use a synthetic underlayment instead of tar paper, install a drip edge, and provide a 10-year labor warranty. The thing about getting a new roof is that most people may not find out whether the installer did a bad job or used inferior materials for 5-10 years when they...

Matt B. | Cary, NC

The big hail storm of May 2, 2016 did extensive damage to our roof (and Leaf-Guard gutters as well). Our insurance company appraised the roof and said it all needed to be replaced. My first choice was again Scro’s Roofing. I was not about to use one of the “storm chasers” that descended on our neighborhood like carpetbaggers from who knows where. Danny, the owner of Scro’s Roofing looked up my record from seven years ago and was able to give me an estimate almost immediately from the information he already had on file. Their estimate was within a couple percent of what our insurance had already written a check which made the decision to go with Scro’s Roofing again...

David C. | Cary, NC

I had a great experience working with Danny and his team. Danny even recommended a less expensive roofing product based on our needs. Sarah was so helpful and accommodating throughout the process. I wish all home repairs/renovations were this easy and professional. A wonderful company to work with!

Kate L. | Cary, NC

Reader Interactions