Anytime a homeowner purchases a roof, one of the first (if not the first) questions they ask is, “How long will this roof last me?” Many are ecstatic to hear we provide them with 25 year roof shingles. Immediately, they think that means the roof will last 25 years. One of the next questions they ask is, “What is the manufacturer warranty?”. When they also hear the answer is 25 years, the homeowner now expects the roof to last 25 years without fail. If the roof does have issues, the homeowner expects it to be covered under the roof manufacturer warranty.
Unfortunately, the roof manufacturer warranty is not a homeowner’s saving grace. In fact, the manufacturer’s warranty isn’t really in place to help the homeowner at all. It is a simple blanket statement that the roof shingles have a 25 year shelf life, whether they are installed on a roof or not.
The manufacturer’s warranty will not replace the roof for anything other than a manufacturer defect. Natural disasters, normal wear and tear, poor maintenance, or a roofing company’s installation defect are the manufacturer’s concern. The company that created the asphalt shingles is only concerned about replacing roof shingles that have a defect the company mistakenly manufactured
What a Manufacturer Warranty Does Not Cover
It’s important to understand that a 25 year roof shingles mean they have a 25 year warranty. The roof manufacturer warranty covers very little in that time frame, and the manufacturer will make it very clear about what the warranty does not cover:
Normal wear and tear
Aging granules on asphalt shingles
Sun bleaching
Missing roof shingles from a storm
Tornado or hurricane took off the whole roof
Leaks caused by the roofing company installation
Decorations on the roof that cause damage
Homeowner walking on the roof
Accidentally ruining roof shingles while working on gutters
Mildew from oak leaves
Water damage from poor runoff
Animals, critters and pests
Fire in the home
Poorly maintained roof
And anything else that does not relate to a manufacturer defect
Do not believe your roof is covered by the manufacturer warranty for 25 years. Your asphalt shingles are only guaranteed to last for at least 25 years without any issues. Between your roof manufacturer warranty and your insurance (stay tuned for our next blog to learn more about that), you don’t have many options other than paying out of pocket for any issues that occur. Your labor warranty is the only thing that will protect you if an issue arises from a poor installation by your roofing company. We covered what all of that entails in our last blog, so be sure to check it out to learn more about labor warranties.
What a Roof Manufacturer Warranty Actually Covers
Manufacturers are in the roofing business to make money by selling their products to roofing contractors. They are not interested in giving away new roof shingles for anything that they did not directly cause. Roofing manufacturers do feel bad whenever homeowners lose their roof due to a natural disaster or cannot get a hold of their roofing contractor who has gone out of business. However, they did not cause the problem, so they do not feel they need to lose money to provide a solution.
The roof manufacturer warranty is very simple and incredibly clear. It only covers a manufacturer defect on the roof shingles. During the 25 year asphalt shingles warranty, a manufacturer will offer replacement shingles if a defect becomes known. Some examples of easily identifiable defects that will be discovered before the roof goes on include holes and tears. However, if your roofing contractor does not have the time to spare waiting for the warranty to process and decides to install the defective shingles anyway, that is not covered. Any obvious defects must be reported to the manufacturer before the roof is installed.
Long term defects that could occur during the 25 year warranty are reported directly by the manufacturer. Even if your roof is five days old or 24 years old, the manufacturer will provide new asphalt shingles due to the recall. Expect to cover the cost of having a roofing company come out and install the replacement roof shingles on your own, however.
While Mitchell and Sons Roofing does not offer this, you may have heard of lifetime roof shingles warranties. These do not have an expiration date, and defects are determined by the manufacturer. If you or your neighbor has one of these warranties, you will need to contact the manufacturer to learn the process for making a warranty claim.
Our Roofing Company Is Always Transparent
Whenever we visit your home for your free, no obligation quote, you will quickly understand we are completely transparent with you about what you can expect from the life of your roof. We strive to educate our clients because we want them to understand the process. We will happily answer any of the questions you may have and go over all of the options with you. Our exceptional craftsmanship combined with our fair pricing has earned us the title of the best affordable roofing company for roof shingles in New Port Richey, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and throughout Tampa Bay. Contact us today to let us know the time that works best for you for us to stop by and give you an estimate.