Do You Know What Voids a Roof Warranty? #3 Is Shocking

The Real Difference Between Your 2 Roofing Warranty Types

Roofing warranties are often difficult to understand — so it may surprise you to learn that there are only 2 types. Here's what you need to know about warranties provided by the manufacturer, and labor-related warranties offered by your contractor.

Manufacturer's Warranty (Material Warranty)

A manufacturer's warranty covers defects in the materials used. Manufacturer warranties usually range from 10 to 50 years, and may be prorated — meaning the coverage reduces over time.

There are 2 primary types of manufacturer's warranties for roofing:

• Standard manufacturer's warranties cover the roofing material you purchased. 
• Extended manufacturer's warranties offer expanded coverage for your roofing materials and cover some aspects of contractor workmanship. Check your specific extended warranty details to see what aspects of roofing work are covered.

What's Included in a Roof Material Warranty?

We turned to Owens Corning — a major roofing material manufacturer — for information about manufacturer's warranties. 

Most roof shingles come with a limited lifetime warranty as the current industry standard. As long as you own your home, the warranty should remain valid. This means if you purchase a home, the previous owner's material warranty may no longer cover your shingles.

Here are 3 more things to know about a manufacturer's warranty for roofing:

1. Most material warranties cover the cost of defective materials only. Expect to pay out of pocket for the cost to remove these shingles and install new ones (especially after the first few years).
2. After the first few years of your warranty, its coverage will likely be pro-rated. This means your shingles and roofing material are no longer fully covered and you'll pay a portion of the replacement cost. Refer to your individual warranty for specific details.
3. Manufacturer's warranties only protect against factory defects. If your roofing materials are damaged during installation or repair by the contractor, that is not covered by the manufacturer. If your shingles are damaged by other roofing components (ice and water shield, flashing, etc.), that is also not covered.

Contractor Warranty (Labor and Workmanship Warranty)

A workmanship warranty covers the installation and/or repair of materials, and is obtained directly from your roofing contractor. This warranty only deals with roof damage caused by the contractor and does not include the manufacturer.

HOMR prefers to work with roofing companies that provide extended workmanship warranty coverage. Our top pick for Dallas roofing, Scott Exteriors, offers a minimum 5-year warranty on residential roofing projects — and goes up from there.

What's Included in a Good Workmanship Warranty?

Every contractor offers a unique warranty on labor and craftsmanship. We asked Scott Exteriors (a HOMR featured partner) for information on their specific workmanship warranty, as we find it to be an example of high-quality coverage.

Here's what is included in Scott Exteriors’ warranty (note: this does not reflect every contractor's warranty).

1. A minimum 5-year transferable warranty on most residential roof replacements. Transferable means if you sell your home after 3 years, the new owners will still have 2 years of workmanship warranty coverage.
2. Repair costs that arise due to contractor error are generally covered for up to 1 year.
3. All Scott Exterior warranties are written for specific projects — your labor warranty is unique to your job.

HOMR suggests working with roofing contractors who provide similar (or better) coverage than this example.

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What Isn't Covered By Your Roof Warranties?

Read through your contract and look for terms like 'limitations,' 'exclusions,' and any requirements for maintenance or installation. These sections will tell you what types of damage are excluded from your coverage.

Here are 5 causes of roof damage that are not usually covered by roof warranties:

1. Damage Caused by “Acts of God”. These include major storm events, including hurricanes, tornadoes and major hail storms.
2. Damage Due to Alterations After Installation. If you hire a new roofing company that damages your roof and its material components, it won't be covered — and it almost always voids your roof warranties.
3. Damage Caused by Melting Water. These situations arise from “ice dams” — where pools of water form behind a wall of ice along the edge of your roof.
4. Damage Caused by Falling Tree Limbs and Debris. It's important to clear your roof line of hanging tree limbs and other objects that cause falling debris. Damage from these sources is generally not covered by warranty.

Damage Caused By Walking on Roof. If you walk on your roof and damage the shingles, that's on you — neither your manufacturer's warranty or contractor's warranty covers that.

Worried about roof repair costs? Here's what roof replacement should cost right now.

What Voids a Roof Warranty? 9 Ways To Accidentally Ruin Your Coverage

Most roof warranties are voided by either unaware homeowners or negligent contractors. Here are 9 ways you can accidentally void your residential roof warranty, and the simple ways to avoid them.

1. Don't Forget to Register Your Warranty 

Register your warranty immediately after installing a new roof or any new roof components. If something happens to your roof that's covered by warranty, but you haven't registered, you're out of luck.

There's one rare exception to the rule: Certain major manufacturer's coverage plans — like the basic limited GAF Warranty — don't require you to register for their general coverage. But if you purchase any enhanced coverage, you must register as soon as possible.

2. Don't Cut Corners With Poor Roof Installation Contractors

The most common reason that manufacturer’s warranty claims are denied is improper installation. Most manufacturer coverage is very specific regarding the products and practices used by roofing services — right down to the length of nails used and number of nails used per shingle.

It's very simple to avoid a contractor voiding your warranty — hire a good contractor. Experienced roofers understand residential roof warranty language, and what manufacturers consider best practices for new roof installation.

3. Don't Use a Pressure Washer On or Near Your Roof  — Ever

Pressure washing your roof or gutter system along your roof line can instantly void your material warranty and workmanship warranty. (This was news to us when we heard it!)

Pressure washing your roof does irreversible damage to your shingles. It also damages the bonding material that holds your shingles to the roof, as well as the fabric underlayment between your shingles and your roof structure.

Extended pressure washer use creates massive roof leak risks and damage to your roof deck. Your warranties won't help cover the cost.

4. Don't Layer New Shingles Over Old Roofing Materials 

Laying a new roof on top of your old roof sounds like a great idea that saves money on labor. It's actually the fastest way to void your manufacturer's warranty.

New shingles that are layered on old shingles fail faster. They also won't lay on your roof deck the way they're intended, and can cause damage to your sheathing and joists. 

5. Don't Neglect Ventilation Issues Inside Your Home

Ventilation problems in your roof structure and inside your home can affect your roofing materials and void your warranty. 

A poorly ventilated home traps heat and moisture in your attic. This can warp and alter the structure of your roof and lead to faster shingle degradation. Trapped moisture can also lead to wood rot in your roofing system.

While we're on the subject of good roof ventilation…

6. Don't Cut Into Your Roof Without Reading Your Manufacturer's Warranty

Always read your material warranty before you cut into your roof for any reason. This primarily relates to installing skylights and home ventilation components (like fans and exhaust ducts). 

Your roofing manufacturer's warranty likely refers to these projects as “roof penetration”.  Ask your service provider to review this section with you before starting an invasive roof project.

7. Don't Install Solar Panels Without Reading Your Workmanship Warranty

Solar energy is exploding in popularity — but homeowners should read their roof installation warranty carefully before hiring a solar installer. 

For example — any materials installed by a solar provider (such as flashing) are not covered by your existing warranties. If they interfere too greatly with your existing roof, they may damage your workmanship warranty coverage.

Pro Tip: An solar expert will review your roofing warranty before solar panel installation and inform you of any potential risks. Learn more about the 9 things you should ask before you install solar panels.

8. Don't Forget to Schedule Annual Gutter and Roof Maintenance 

Proper roof maintenance is a critical factor in ensuring that your roof remains in good condition — it also factors into whether your roof warranty remains valid. Many roof warranties require regular inspections and maintenance by a professional roofing contractor to keep the warranty in effect.

3 Shingle Warranty Myths (And The Truth About Each)

HOMR researched Google reviews and search queries about roofing materials and uncovered 3 popular myths about shingle warranties. Let's debunk each of these myths and get to the truth behind each of them.

Myth #1: “Installing gutter guards will void your roof warranty.”

The Truth: Only gutter guards with long screws that drill into the shingles will void your product warranty. Gutter guards that slide in during installation won't harm your warranty. Our top gutter repair pro likes one brand in particular.

Myth #2: “My shingles come with a lifetime warranty.”

The Truth: A contractor cannot make promises about material warranties outside of the actual warranty language. Any contractor who says he can upgrade or extend your material warranty is being dishonest.

Myth #3: "My roofing contractor doesn't affect my asphalt shingle warranty."

The Truth: A negligent roofing contractor can absolutely void your shingle warranty. At best, installation error or damage caused by contractors to your shingles and other roofing materials isn't covered by the manufacturer. At worst, it voids your entire warranty.