Your roof could be one of the most expensive repairs you will need to do to your home. The cost will depend on many factors. Your new roof shingles will come with a manufactures warranty, but how good is it and will you be covered if something goes wrong?
Checking the fine print of the roof warranty, for the shingle you plan to use could save you a big headache and expense in the future.
Being sure that the shingle are installed properly and according to the manufacturer directions is critical, that will be the first thing they will look at if you file a warranty claim.
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For the first 10 years, many manufacturers will cover the cost of shingles and labor to install the roofing, but their warranty will not cover the cost to tear-off the old roof, felt and accessories, permitting and dump fees. A $10,000 roof job could leave the homeowner in the first year of warranty responsible for almost half the cost to replace the roof.
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Once the 10 year period has passed, roofing shingle warranties drastically go down to almost 30 cents on the dollar. Based on inflation, the homeowner could pay more than the original cost of the roof.
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Most shingle warranties are not transferrable. So if the home is sold five years after the new roof is installed, the new owner typically does not have a warranty.
Based on the details, many shingle warranties can leave the homeowner with a huge bill.
Roofing manufacturer GAF Roofing has realized that real long-term warranties have become a big issue for homeowners who plan on staying in their home. The company has developed a GAF Factory-Certified Roofing Contractor Program, which verifies that a roofing company with the GAF endorsement has the license, reputation, insurance and skills to correctly install a roof.
GAF will then offer an enhanced homeowner’s warranty program through their Factory-Certified Roofing Contractor Program as long as GAF Roofing accessories are used to ensure the product quality of the roof. The enhanced warranty coverage does cost extra, but under the program, if the roof fails because of a manufacturer’s defect 25 years later, the roof will be completely replaced at no cost to the homeowner. Plus the enhanced warranty is transferable one time to a new homeowner. This could be a real selling feature for a potential new homeowner.
Thanks to Daily Commercial for this great information.