Workmanship Warranties and Their Importance

Your home is one of your largest assets, and keeping your roof in good condition is important to keeping your home protected.  When your roof is in need of a repair or replacement, it’s important to know that your home is in good hands.  Unfortunately, even the best Florida Panhandle roofing contractors can make mistakes.  A workmanship warranty can act as a safety net for homeowners who want the certainty that if anything unexpected goes wrong following a roof repair or replacement, the concern will be addressed professionally.  While having a workmanship warranty can provide this safety net, some warranties can be deceiving. It is critical to understand what your warranty covers and what time frame in which it is valid.

Understanding the Workmanship Warranty

Keeping your roof in good condition is important to keeping your home safe.  You’d probably like a new roof to last 20 or more years, and taking the time to locate a reputable Florida Panhandle roofing contractor who offers a workmanship warranty on their services can be integral to helping it last that long.  Workmanship warranties provide coverage for any workmanship or installation errors and typically covers one year following the completion of work.  This is not true for all contractors, as some will warranty out much further, and some don’t warranty their work at all.  It’s important to ask questions about the workmanship warranty provided- to know what is and what is not covered by it – and the process in which to use it if any errors do arise.

Differences from Manufacturer Warranties

Generally, there are two types of warranties you might encounter while searching for a reputable roofing contractor.  These include workmanship warranties and manufacturer material warranties.  With both warranties, you can usually be sure you have comprehensive coverage as there is a difference in what they cover.  The workmanship warranty typically covers the work performed by the contractor, as well as, any installation errors.  The manufacturer warranty is typically provided by the manufacturer of the materials, and typically cover defects of the items used, or premature aging which can cause untimely erosion or degrading.  Manufacturer warranties can last anywhere from 10-30 years on average.

Questions to Ask My Contractor/Additional Information

Be certain that you keep all receipts, proposals, and warranty documentation in a safe place.  In the event that you need to make a warranty request, this documentation may be necessary to move forward with any warranty work.  In the event you have a manufacturer warranty, there are specific reporting guidelines that need to be followed to have repair work done, or materials replaced.  In the event of using a workmanship warranty, it’s important to prove that company did the work for you and has given you a qualified warranty.  For transferable warranties, this paperwork will need to be given to the purchaser of your home, so ensuring it’s in a safe place, is important.

When qualifying a roofing professional, be sure to ask questions, such as:

• Am I receiving a workmanship or a manufacturer warranty?
• What are the terms or time-frame of the warranty?
• Are there any things that can void my warranty?
• What damages are covered/not covered under a standard roof warranty?
• Does indoor damage fall under warranty coverage? 
• Do I have any responsibilities under my roof warranty?
• What happens if I sell my house, does the warranty transfer?