When having a new roof installed, it is as important to make sure a warranty is provided as with any other major purchase, although such a guarantee is not often completely understood. Knowing a warranty’s limitations and requirements is essential in order to avoid unexpected and costly problems after making assumptions about what was originally perceived about such protection. It is imperative that a contractor thoroughly explain any warranty before beginning any roofing project.
Types
There are many types of roofing warranties, each one specifically dictating what is covered regarding the product, services and dollar limits as well as stating who pays for what in the event of damage or poor workmanship. It is also important to know what company has actually issued the warranty and is ultimately responsible should there be problems. It is not unheard of for some of the itinerant roofing companies to not be completely honest about a warrant or having left town leaving no one to fix problems due to faulty workmanship. Of course, if a warranty was issued by the manufacturer, there may still be some recourse.
Following are some of the different types of warranties that are available to cover roofing work and products.
- Materials – A materials-only contract means that if there are any problems, only the material is included leaving any labor costs to be paid by the building owner. A materials and labor contract means both materials and labor are covered; however, there are often dollar limits placed on the covered item. It is important that an NDL (No Dollar Limit) statement be included in the contract, meaning that there is no dollar limit on repair cost to avoid large out-of-pocket expenses, especially if the amount is prorated in any way.
- Conditions – Besides determining who is responsible for fulfilling any warranties, it is important to be aware of any fine print regarding often overlooked details such as unintentional voiding of the coverage. Most contracts have certain maintenance and inspection requirements which, if not performed, will void the warranty. This generally includes gutters, skylights, vents and any other components that are associated with the roof and could cause damage to the roof. Damage caused by workers on the roof to perform maintenance as stipulated in the contract can also void coverage.
- Exclusions – Exclusions are another important area that must be understood as this explains exactly what will not be included in the warranty. It may include any damages caused by other problems or co-incidental damage with the warranty stating that coverage is only for the roof itself. Acts of God, such as storm damage, are generally not covered as this is not usually caused by a defect in product or workmanship but something that should be handled by an insurance company. Exclusions often include any additions or changes made without first contacting a roofing manufacturer for approval of the type of work being done.
Warranties are a complicated subject; they are written to protect a buyer from honest problems with a product or workmanship while still leaving much involved in the legal interpretation of such coverage. It often seems as if warranties are written more for the protection of the manufacturers and contractors rather than the building owner; however, it is not unheard of for customers to seek coverage for things damaged by themselves rather than defects in the product or workmanship. It is unwise to risk not knowing what is included in a warranty; a reputable roofer will go over the details of a warranty very carefully and provide that valuable information needed about roof warranties to validate the work that has been done – don’t be uninformed, be educated!
Schulte Roofing Is The Reliable College Station Roofing Contractor You Can Depend On!
Are you searching for a reliable College Station roofing contractor? Call Schulte Roofing at 800-367-7663 who are the experts that College Station area customers can rely upon for any roofing projects!