A workmanship warranty and a material warranty are not the same thing.
One covers the material and comes from the manufacturer. One covers the installation and comes from the roofer. Most disputes happen because nobody explained the difference.
Materials warranty
Covers defects in the shingle or panel itself and is issued by the manufacturer, such as Owens Corning, GAF or CertainTeed. Length and terms depend on the system you choose, and some enhanced coverage is only available through certified contractors.
- ·Registered with the manufacturer after install
- ·Terms vary by product line
- ·Owens Corning Preferred status can unlock enhanced coverage
Workmanship warranty
Covers the installation itself: how the system was fastened, flashed, and vented, to the standards the National Roofing Contractors Association publishes. This is the one that matters when a roof leaks in year three, and it is only as good as the company standing behind it.
- ·A 10-year workmanship warranty, handed to you in writing at walkthrough
- ·The same local crew answers the call
- ·Ask us for the exact terms before you sign
Things that quietly void a warranty
Unpermitted repairs by another contractor, satellite dishes drilled through the field, blocked ventilation, and pressure washing. If in doubt, call before anyone gets on the roof.
Questions to ask any roofer about warranty
Ask us these. Ask the other companies quoting your roof the same ones, and compare the answers rather than the totals.
“Is it in writing?”
A verbal warranty is not a warranty. Ask for the document before you sign, not after the job.
“How long, and what starts the clock?”
Completion date or final payment? The difference can be weeks, and it matters on a claim years later.
“Is it transferable?”
If you sell the house within the term, does the coverage go with it? That is worth real money at closing.
“Who honors it if you close?”
A workmanship warranty is only as good as the company that has to answer the call. Ask where the office is, and how long it has been there.
“What voids it?”
Satellite dishes drilled through the field, unpermitted repairs by another contractor, blocked ventilation, pressure washing. Get the list up front.
“Is the manufacturer warranty registered?”
Manufacturer coverage often requires the installer to register the roof after completion, and Owens Corning documents its own terms. Ask for confirmation that it was done.
Let's get somebody up there to look.
Fill out the form or pick up the phone. Either way you get straight answers about your roof and a written estimate you can keep.