The National Roofing Contractors Association suggests that homeowners take the time to understand the two basic roofing and extended warranties options for their new roofs:
1) The manufacturer’s warranty. In general, these roofing warranties cover defects in the roofing materials itself.
2) Your Minneapolis roofing contractor will provide homeowners with a warranty covering his workmanship. Typically, this will cover installation and related issues. Most reputable companies offer one year to two years of coverage, but there is no industry standard.
Shingle Manufacturers
Shingle manufacturers tend to use impressive-sounding long-term warranties to convince buyers that their shingles are the best and will last the longest. They compete over such features as the length of coverage, algae resistance, wind tolerance, and whether the warranty can be transferred to a new owner.
Despite the common perception that these’ warranties provide homeowners a new roof, typically most warranties provide only the material for a roof replacement and don’t cover labor. Also, most roofing manufacturers prorate the price based on how long the shingles have been on the roof.
That is why homeowners should understand the roofing manufacturers warranty that comes with their new shingles as well as their options for extended warranties. Extended shingle warranties are non-prorated — covering the entire cost of replacement shingles no matter the age of the roof — and also cover other materials, tear off, disposal and labor to install a new roof.
These warranties typically cover 40 years and insure you won’t have to pay for a new roof again. They are also transferable to new owners, so extended roof warranties are a good negotiating tool when selling a new home. The specifics on transferring the warranty may differ by manufacturer, so understanding how that is done is crucial.
On average, a newly shingled roof can last approximately 20-plus years, according to Andrew Schmidt, CEO of AMEK Custom Builders. That can make a 40-year extended warranty useful for homeowners.
Roof Replacement Signs
A few vital signs that indicate a roof replacement is needed include:
- Curling or missing shingles.
- Roof that are leaking water.
- Rotting, blistering, algea growing or buckling of the roof.
It’s also important to note that most shingle manufacturers have specific installation instructions and improper installation of your roofing shingles can void your warranty.
As for the history of shingle warranties … it’s the general consensus that as time goes on, in most cases (except for wood), roofing materials today are better and warranties generally last longer.
One Seattle web site, however, makes the case that the basic asphalt shingle is inferior to asphalt shingles made in the 19th century, and today’s warranties are merely marketing tools for dupe unsuspecting homeowners.
That study — and many more materials — can be found online.
Other sources used to complete this research can also be found online from: