ROOFING RESOURCE CENTER

FAQ: Commercial Roofing Warranties

Published by Joel Bell on April 10, 2023

With extensive experience in the commercial roofing industry, we know that not all warranties are the same or even equal. This is why we prioritize offering the best warranties in the market.

But what if you’ve never stopped to take notice of what your warranty covers or the difference in warranty coverage from one bid to another?

In this blog, we’ll share 4 FAQs regarding commercial roofing warranties to provide you with helpful insights for when you’re reviewing the warranty for your next project.

1. What types of commercial roofing warranties are there?

There are typically three common types of warranties available in the commercial roofing market. These include:

Material Only Warranty
Labor and Material Warranty
Labor, Material, and Workmanship Warranty

2. What is the difference between these 3 common types of warranties?

Material Only warranties only cover the material on your roof and nothing else. So, if the material on your roof failed, they would send you more roofing material in buckets or barrels. However, they would not cover the actual removal of non-performing materials and installation of the new materials. Further, they would only provide the material if it was chemically defective. They would not provide it if the issue was someone installing the system outside of manufacturer specifications.

This warranty could leave you with unexpected expenses and no support.

Labor and Material warranties cover the material on your roof, and the labor needed to resolve the issue. This provides more coverage than a Material Only warranty, but you could still have issues if the manufacturer doesn’t take blame. They will assess if the material was chemically defective or installed improperly by the contractor. This could lead them to not honor your Labor and Material warranty, it really depends on the situation and the explicit issue.

Labor, Material, and Workmanship warranties offer the best coverage. This is because they cover the material of your system, the labor needed to address the issue, and the installation workmanship. So, with this type of warranty, you know you’re supported and don’t need to worry about whether your warranty will cover something.

This type of warranty requires the manufacturer and the contractor to work together before, during, and after the project. This ensures the installation of the right system and verifies the quality of installation per specification requirements. Manufacturers only provide this option to a very small group of elite contractors. They make sure the contractor has years of experience, has a history of quality and client satisfaction, and is financially stable. They partner only with contractors that have proven to do things right and to stand behind their commitments.

3. Does the amount of testing done before, during, and after installation affect the warranty?

The amount of testing done before, during, and after installation does affect the amount of warranty coverage you receive. For example, you’re able to get more coverage with a Labor, Material, and Workmanship warranty, because it requires additional testing and inspection. To offer this type of warranty, your partner must have specialty certifications, perform testing at all project stages, and have a third-party inspection once the system is installed.

With these additional technical data points, you can also have more peace of mind that your system has been installed to the highest quality.

4. How do I know I’m getting a good warranty?

A “Good” warranty can be subjective based on what’s most important to you. So, you’ll know you’re getting a good warranty if it covers the things that are important to you. However, if you’re unsure if you’re getting a good warranty, you may want to compare different warranties you’ve been offered during your bidding process. You can also consult with a trusted roofing partner you’ve previously worked with.