Understanding Roof Warranties And Their Coverage

With everything that could go wrong with a roof, what kind of warranty should facility executives look for? The answer is, “It depends.” Some warranties offer substantial benefit while others are relatively worthless.

There are three types of warranties. The most basic warranty covers materials, but not the labor to remove, replace or repair the damaged product.

A standard warranty covers labor and material. This type of long-term warranty usually represents a one-time cost of about 25 to 35 cents per square foot. In this case, installers must usually be prequalified by the manufacturer. Using an outside installer could void the warranty (and likely you’d never get one to begin with). This is a common problem that owners face when searching for the ‘cheapest’ options.

An extended 10 to 25 year warranty places no dollar amount on repair or replacement costs. In some cases, it might even cover damage caused by leaks.

While it might be tempting to forgo the warranty, particularly if you have to pay for it, without a warranty, the building owner is protected only under applicable state laws governing product performance.

The major manufacturers have standard warranties that are fairly comprehensive, and these companies are usually backed by assets, so there is some assurance they will be able to stand behind the warranty.

However, all warranties come with an important caveat: They rarely favor the customer. It should be understood that all roof manufacturer warranties are designed to protect the manufacturer. The limitations are not favorable to building owners. Most major roof warranties have 25+ limitations.

Limitations usually exclude damage caused by excessive foot traffic, other trades, such as HVAC technicians and acts of nature. For example, warranties that don’t cover damage from winds stronger than gale force are useless in places like Florida, where a routine thunderstorm can pack that much punch. In that case, the warranty doesn’t cover anything. It’s basically useless. The way warranties are written, if a roofing manufacturer wants out, they can get out.

If the damage is weather-related, for example, the manufacturer might do a quick repair then say it’s not a warranty claim. It is important to act promptly if a roof is damaged. If the repair is done on a timely basis, then the warranty will remain intact. If it’s not repaired properly, then that voids the warranty.

Warranties also are a measure of the roofing manufacturer’s responsiveness. Some will stand behind it. Others avoid it. It’s just a function o

Facility executives and building owners also must do their part. Building owners must hold up their end of the agreement with maintenance to make sure the roof is free of debris and the drains are unclogged. They must notify the manufacturer of new roof equipment and make sure they keep on top of the other limitations expressed in the warranty.
f reputation for the manufacturer. RAMCON will only work with manufacturers who stand behind their warranties.