Roof Warranty Terms
A new roof on a house is a substantial yet sometimes necessary investment. Roofs are designed to last for many years before needing replacement, and even repairs can be avoided with the proper maintenance. For this reason, new roofs come with very robust warranties that will often last for decades. However, as with the warranty on a car, a roof warranty doesn’t cover absolutely everything absolutely all of the time. It is important to discuss the warranty for the new roof you are considering with an Ocean County roofing professional.
The manufacturer’s warranty generally covers only the materials that were supplied by that manufacturer and covers defects in those materials. If the shingles are from one manufacturer and the vinyl membrane from another, there will likely be two different warranties. Some warranties will cover only the replacement of the defective material while others might also cover the labor cost of replacing those materials. Because these materials are designed to last for a very long time under lots of abuse, the warranty period will usually be for many years.
In general, the better quality the roofing materials, the longer the associated warranty will be.
Fiberglass based asphalt shingles will typically come with a longer warranty than organic based shingles. A warranty of 10 years sounds like a long time, but in practice, that is the shortest period generally seen and only applicable to the cheapest materials. Since a roof is intended to last much longer than 10 years, it is probably advisable to avoid purchasing a new roof with a short warranty if your budget will allow it.
It is important to understand what the warranty term actually means. “Lifetime” usually means the expected lifetime of the roof while owned by the original purchaser, rather than the lifetime of the owner. Many warranties will allow the transfer to a subsequent purchaser one time, and there are usually strict deadlines for notifying the warranty provider.
It is particularly important to understand what factors can void the warranty, and these are always spelled out. Common examples include poor ventilation, which can overheat the roof; faulty installation of satellite dishes since they involve drilling into the roof; pressure washing, which can damage shingles; and installing a new roof over an old one, also known as re-roofing.
A good warranty, together with frequent and vigilant maintenance, will allow homeowners years of peace of mind where their roof is concerned. A roofing contractor from Fortified Roofing of Ocean County NJ can answer your questions about skylights or roof repairs.
Roofing term from Fortified Roofing, Ocean County NJ:
Pressure washing
Cleaning a structure or roof using a high pressure mechanical sprayer to remove loose paint, dirt, mold, and other unwanted surface contaminants. Pressure washing is often not recommended for shingle roofs as it can damage the shingles and void the manufacturer’s warranty.
Ocean County roofing company Fortified Roofing answers a question:
Is it a good idea to purchase a house where the warranty is not transferable?
It is always desirable to have a warranty for anything, but the answer to this question will depend on the circumstances. Often, the Realtor will be able to offer a warranty for the entire house, which includes the roof. Relying on the building inspection report will give the purchaser a good idea of the condition of the roof and whether it is likely to need replacement in the near future.
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If you would like to ask a question regarding roofers, a new roof installation, roof leak repairs, skylight options or gutters and downspouts please contact Fortified Roofing today!
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