The Truth About Roofing Warranties

"50-year warranty!" "Lifetime guarantee!" These claims sound impressive. But when you actually read the fine print, you discover that most roofing warranties are heavily prorated, exclude labor, and have so many exclusions that they're nearly worthless.

This guide explains how to read roofing warranties, what's actually covered, and how to ensure you have meaningful protection.

Types of Roofing Warranties

1. Manufacturer's Material Warranty

What It Covers:

• Defects in shingle manufacturing
• Premature granule loss (beyond normal wear)
• Delamination or splitting
• Manufacturing defects in materials

What It DOESN'T Cover:

• Labor: You pay for removal and installation
• Normal Wear: Aging, weathering, gradual deterioration
• Installation Errors: Improper nailing, flashing, ventilation
• Acts of Nature: Wind damage, hail, falling trees
• Moss/Algae: Growth or damage from organic matter

Typical Duration:

• Limited Lifetime: 50 years (but heavily prorated after 10-15 years)
• Standard: 25-30 years (prorated)
• Budget: 20 years (prorated)

2. Contractor's Workmanship Warranty

What It Covers:

• Installation errors (improper nailing, flashing, underlayment)
• Leaks caused by workmanship defects
• Material defects discovered during installation

What It DOESN'T Cover:

• Normal wear and tear
• Damage from homeowner modifications
• Acts of nature (unless caused by installation error)
• Problems caused by lack of maintenance

Typical Duration:

• Quality Contractors: 5-10 years (our standard is 10 years)
• Average Contractors: 1-2 years
• Fly-by-Night: None (they're gone before problems appear)

3. Extended/Enhanced Warranties

What They Are:

Manufacturer programs that extend coverage or include labor. Require certified installers and specific installation standards.

Examples:

• IKO Shield Pro Plus: 25-year labor coverage + enhanced material warranty
• Owens Corning Platinum Protection: 50-year non-prorated material + 25-year workmanship
• CertainTeed SureStart Plus: 10-year non-prorated material + labor

Cost: $500-1,500 additional

Worth It? Depends on contractor's workmanship warranty. If contractor offers 10-year workmanship, extended warranty may be redundant.

Understanding Prorated Coverage

What "Prorated" Means:

Coverage decreases over time based on a schedule. You're responsible for an increasing percentage of replacement cost as the roof ages.

Example: "50-Year Limited Lifetime Warranty"

Years 1-10: 100% material coverage (manufacturer pays full shingle cost)

Years 11-50: Prorated coverage

• Year 15: 70% coverage (you pay 30%)
• Year 20: 60% coverage (you pay 40%)
• Year 25: 50% coverage (you pay 50%)
• Year 30: 40% coverage (you pay 60%)
• Year 40: 20% coverage (you pay 80%)

Reality Check:

If your roof fails at year 25, the manufacturer pays 50% of material cost (about $1,500 on a $6,000 roof). You pay the other $1,500 plus 100% of labor ($3,000-4,000). Total out-of-pocket: $4,500-5,500.

The "50-year warranty" saved you $1,500 on a $6,000 replacement.

Common Warranty Exclusions

1. Labor Costs

Most manufacturer warranties cover materials only. Labor (removal, installation) is your responsibility.

Cost Impact:

• Materials: $2,000-3,000 (average home)
• Labor: $3,000-4,000 (average home)
• Total: $5,000-7,000

If warranty covers materials only, you're still paying 60-70% of replacement cost.

2. Improper Installation

If the manufacturer determines that installation didn't meet their specifications, the warranty is void.

Common Installation Issues That Void Warranties:

• Insufficient nailing (fewer than 4 nails per shingle)
• Improper underlayment (felt paper instead of synthetic)
• Inadequate ventilation (less than 1:300 ratio)
• Missing or improper starter strips
• Improper flashing

3. Lack of Maintenance

Warranties require "reasonable maintenance." Failure to maintain can void coverage.

What "Reasonable Maintenance" Means:

• Periodic inspections (annually or bi-annually)
• Debris removal (leaves, branches)
• Moss/algae treatment
• Prompt repair of minor damage

4. Transferability Limitations

Many warranties are non-transferable or have reduced coverage when the home is sold.

Example:

• Original Owner: 50-year prorated warranty
• Second Owner: 10-year prorated warranty (or non-transferable)

Impact on Resale:

The "50-year warranty" you paid for may not benefit the buyer, reducing your home's resale value.

What to Look For in a Warranty

1. Non-Prorated Period

Good: 10-15 years non-prorated

Better: 25 years non-prorated (enhanced warranties)

Best: 50 years non-prorated (rare, expensive)

2. Labor Coverage

Manufacturer Extended Warranties: 10-25 years labor coverage

Contractor Workmanship Warranties: 5-10 years (our standard is 10 years)

Combined Coverage: Best protection is manufacturer material warranty + contractor workmanship warranty

3. Transferability

Fully Transferable: Full warranty transfers to new owner

Limited Transfer: Reduced coverage for new owner

Non-Transferable: Warranty ends when you sell

4. Wind Coverage

Standard: 60-70 mph (inadequate for Hope)

Enhanced: 110-130 mph (architectural shingles)

Premium: 130+ mph (requires specific installation standards)

Critical: Wind coverage often requires 6-nail installation and specific starter strip. Verify your contractor meets these requirements.

Questions to Ask Your Contractor

About Manufacturer Warranty:

1. "How long is the non-prorated period?" (10+ years is good)
2. "Does the warranty cover labor?" (Most don't)
3. "Is the warranty transferable?" (Important for resale)
4. "What installation standards are required?" (Verify contractor meets them)
5. "What voids the warranty?" (Know the exclusions)

About Contractor Warranty:

1. "How long is your workmanship warranty?" (5-10 years is standard)
2. "What does it cover?" (Get it in writing)
3. "Is it transferable?" (If you sell within warranty period)
4. "How do I file a claim?" (Know the process)
5. "Are you insured?" (Verify they'll be around to honor it)

The Bottom Line

Roofing warranties sound better than they are. A "50-year warranty" often provides minimal value after 10-15 years. Labor costs (60-70% of replacement) are usually your responsibility.

The best warranty is a quality installation that doesn't need warranty claims.

At RJ Roofing Bros, we provide a 10-year workmanship warranty on every installation. We also ensure installations meet manufacturer requirements to preserve material warranties. We want you protected.

Questions about warranties? Call (604) 997-1292 and we'll explain exactly what you're getting.