Every roofing project is a significant investment - from a residential roof repair to installation to a full-blown roof replacement. The cost of the entire project includes the roofing materials that you’ll use, the type of roofing you plan to have, the labor fee that you and your contractor have agreed upon, the scope of the project and lastly, the roofing warranty. Some homeowners might consider the roofing warranty as a bonus perk, but its importance cannot be understated. Having a strong warranty can remove the weight off your shoulders in case something goes wrong with your roofing system that isn’t your fault.

Roof Warranty

However, there are numerous factors and details that make up a roofing warranty. This can be overwhelming for some homeowners, especially for those who aren’t familiar with roofing jargons or if it’s their first time doing a roofing project. This is why it’s important for all homeowners to understand what is included in their warranty and what an ideal roofing warranty looks like.

Here's a comprehensive guide on the ideal roof warranty.

Understand the Material Coverage

When you’re talking about roofing warranties, they usually come in two types: material only and material and labor warranties. The material-only warranty covers the materials provided to you by the manufacturer or your roofing contractor. This warranty will protect you in case the products and materials installed during the roofing job have factory defects that led to damage in different parts of your home. However, if your roofing contractor makes a mistake during the installation job with this kind of warranty, it won’t be covered. The best that they can do is to send over a patch-up repair kit to treat your roofing damage.

In this case, it’s ideal to have a material and labor warranty. In all ways, this warranty is superior when compared to a material-only warranty since it covers the materials that will be used for the shingle roof installation, repair or replacement job as well as the mistakes that might be made by a contractor throughout the duration of the job. However, it’s important to remember that the warranty is only valid if the job is carried out by a licensed roofing contractor and is inspected by the manufacturer’s technical worker.

This can also be called a comprehensive warranty, which is a staple for all strong warranties. This basically means that you won’t have to shoulder anything if you need to conduct another roof repair or replacement caused by faulty materials or slipshod workmanship. However, when you’re working with Hershey Exteriors, Inc, you don’t have to worry about this issue since our contractors are trained to get the job done right the first time around, backed by the strongest warranties on the market. Your roofing system is meant to protect you, and getting one with a strong warranty adds another layer of safety and peace of mind.

Cost Coverage

Another thing you’ll need to consider when you’re looking for the ideal roofing warranty is the cost coverage. Cost coverage comes in three forms: original cost, prorated and the no dollar limit (NDL). A policy with the original cost warranty will allow the manufacturer to conduct residential roof repair jobs up to the total cost of the first purchase as its limit. A prorated warranty’s value will slowly decrease over the years. Homeowners tend to avoid policies with this cost coverage since it doesn’t give them too much security in the long run.

The ideal option in terms of cost coverage is the NDL warranty. This is a great option since it isn’t prorated and grants you peace of mind for the years to come. Not to mention that your roofing contractor will answer to all the costs incurred during the duration of your roof repair project. You also don’t have to worry about the quality of the materials used during the replacement since there are no restrictions on the price. You won’t have to spend a single penny when you have this cost coverage, making it a great part of the ideal roofing warranty.

Manufacturer’s or Contractor’s Warranty?

Your residential roof installation contractor would tell you that many homeowners would prefer to have a manufacturer’s warranty. But did you know that you can also secure a warranty directly from your roofing contractor? It’s still worth noting that manufacturers’ warranties are more stable given that they have greater financial resources to cover your repairs when the need arises. You should also consider the credibility, stability and longevity of your roofing contractor before getting a warranty.

To set the record straight, it’s ideal to secure a manufacturer’s warranty since there’s a higher chance for your roofing manufacturer to stay in business, more than the contractor. However, this shouldn’t be a hard-and-fast rule since you need to thoroughly evaluate both policies to see the best fit for you. As such, you want to ask as many questions pertaining to the coverage from both your manufacturer and your contractor.

Consider Your Roof’s Lifespan

Your roofing warranty isn’t created to extend your roof’s lifespan. Remember that every kind of roofing system has its own predicted service life. Before picking a roofing material to install, it’s important to ask your contractor to give you a rundown on the basics of the warranty length since this can help you decide whether the warranty is a great fit for your roofing material or not. They should also mention the exclusions of the warranty and the kinds of damage covered, such as wind, hail or water damage.

Does it also include a maintenance package? While it seems like a minor detail, remember that maintenance can help your roof last as long as possible. Your roof will also perform only as good as it’s maintained. One homeowner could have the best roofing system in the world, but it will be all for naught if it isn’t maintained properly and repaired as soon as issues arise.

At Hershey Exteriors, LLC, we offer a full suite of residential roof services to ensure the integrity and long-term functionality of your home’s roofing surface. We are a GAF-certified roofing company that you can trust in for your project. This means that we can offer you the best selection of roofing materials available on the market. We also specialize in window and gutter replacement as well as residential roof installation and repairs. Call (302) 569-9039, or fill out our contact form to request a free estimate.