Navigating roofing warranties for protection and peace of mind

AAR Expert Wendy Marvin says that homeowners need to read the entire warranty — not just the marketing hype before signing anything.

After more than 20 years in this business, I've seen too many property owners get blindsided by warranty fine-print. Understanding your roofing warranties isn't just smart — it's essential for protecting your investment and avoiding costly surprises down the road.  

Material versus workmanship: Know the difference  

Material warranties are the manufacturer's promise that their shingles, metal or membrane won't have defects and fail prematurely. These typically run 20-50 years (often labeled ‘Limited Lifetime’). But there's an industry "secret" you should know; material warranties often depreciate over time and they typically don't cover removing a bad roof, disposal or reinstalling warranty-supplied shingles. The cost of replacement can fall on you, even when the product failed. We call the labor portion of the job workmanship.

You can avoid this coverage game by working with a vetted, approved installer who uses integrated systems-materials from the same manufacturer. They can offer a superior warranty that includes both manufacturing and workmanship. These enhanced warranties aren't available to everyone. Manufacturers carefully vet contractors, requiring proper licensing, insurance, training and a proven track record. When you're dealing with their approved contractor, you're getting coverage that's only offered to the industry's top performers.

Otherwise, the workmanship warranty comes from the installers themselves. Their paperwork should outline a guarantee that the installation was done right, typically protecting you from leaks caused by improper flashing, inadequate ventilation or installation errors for 1-10 years.

Maintenance: The make-or-break factor

Every warranty requires regular maintenance. Miss an annual inspection or fail to clear debris and you might void your coverage entirely. Document everything with dates and before/after photos. Keep these in a file. Even better, choose a roofing professional who offers this documentation, so you have proof of your commitment to roof health-whether you're dealing with the manufacturer or your homeowner's insurance company, which has started paying closer attention to roof inspections lately too.

Residential versus commercial

Residential work covers everything from shingles to flat membrane roofing and warranty plans vary by manufacturer. If you're a business owner needing commercial warranty coverage, choose wisely. Those plans tend to wrap both workmanship and manufacturing into one, but they're complex to navigate because of their high-ticket value.

My bottom line advice

Before signing anything, read the entire warranty-not just the marketing hype. Ask your contractor about integrated system warranties and whether they're authorized to offer enhanced coverage. If they don't have that option, is that the person you want working on your roof?

Quality contractors who've earned manufacturer certifications stand behind their work because their reputation and their authorization status, depends on it. That peace of mind is worth everything when you're protecting one of your largest investments.