When you’re shopping for materials, you’ll find 50 year roof shingles and lifetime warranty coverage offers. Most manufacturers warrant their materials in the marketplace. They do not cover any mistakes made by the roofer responsible for installing those roofing materials correctly.
Replacing your roof can be expensive and roofing warranties can offer some peace of mind. But roof failures generally happen because of poor workmanship, not material defects. That means the most important part of any successful roofing project is a reliable roofing contractor.
Roofs Fail Mostly Because of Poor Workmanship
I’ve worked on thousands of roofing jobs in Long Island and NYC over many years. In that time, I have never seen a roof fail because of a defect in the material. But I’ve seen many problems caused by roofing contractors who failed to do their job properly.
Even small mistakes made by a roofing installer can have huge consequences. Installing a roof according to the specifications of the various manufactures requires technical skill, knowledge, training and experience.
When you need roofing work, you should only hire an experienced, certified, factory trained and reputable roofing contractor. The pennies you save on a cheaper handyman could result in pounds of inconvenience and roof repair expense later if the roof fails.
What Can Go Wrong When You Have a Roof Installed?
Here are just a few roof installation mistakes that can cost you a lot of money later.
- The roofing contractor failed to check the roof deck for mildew or dry rot after removing the old roofing.
- The contractor did not replace or properly install metal flashing.
- Subcontractors attached the drip edge improperly.
- Roofers placed shingles over a damaged underlayment.
- Roofers who were only familiar with standard 3-tab shingles installed architectural shingles improperly.
An unskilled roofer could easily miss any of these errors. An incompetent contractor might not bother to do the roof inspections needed to stop them. And no manufacturer warranty will cover the cost of installer error. This is why it’s a good idea to check your contractor’s references and licenses thoroughly.
Manufacturer Warranties and Contractor Warranties
A manufacturer warranty covers the reasonable costs of labor and installation to replace defective materials. Typically, warranty coverage prorates for materials installed 10 years or more earlier. But many manufacturers allow their top contractors to offer extended labor warranties on products they install.
We cover homeowners for 50 years on materials and 25 to 30 years for labor. All our installers are factory trained, certified, and insured. Thanks to our experience, certifications, and reputation, County Roofing can offer the best manufacturer warranties in the roofing business.
Not every roofing contractor can provide these protections. Manufacturers only stand behind their best contractors. We’ve taken their training and maintained good relationships by living up to their tough standards. Other contractors don’t offer these extended warranties because they don’t have our credentials.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of roofing cure.
A badly installed roof is an ongoing headache and financial crisis. You’ll save money and avoid stress if you get the job done right the first time. A roof failure can lead to catastrophic damage throughout your home. Constant leaks can leave you spending time and money repairing a roof that ultimately needs a complete reinstallation.
Hiring a certified and qualified roofing contractor may cost you more up front. But it helps ensure that you get the job done right the first time
Warranties are good only if they pay for the repair and replacement of a failed roof.
A manufacturer warranty covers the reasonable costs of labor and installation to replace defective materials. Manufacturers generally prorate coverage for materials installed over 10 years earlier. Many manufacturers allow their top contractors to offer extended labor warranties on products they install.
County Roofing Systems covers homeowners for 50 years on materials and 25 to 30 years for labor. All our installers are factory trained, certified, and insured. Thanks to our experience, certifications, and reputation, County Roofing can offer the best manufacturer warranties in the roofing business.