Navigating the different types of warranties

AskARoofer Expert Will Lorenz says the key to a successful roof is starting with certified contractors, approved materials and a solid warranty plan to ensure a watertight installation.

Editor's note: The following is a transcript of a conversation between Alex Tolle and Will Lorenz of Western Colloid. You can Read the transcript below, Listen to the episode or Watch it on YouTube.

Alex Tolle: Hello I'm Alex Tolle with AskARoofer.com and I am here with Will Lorenz for our AskARoofer Expert question. So for September, we're talking about roof warranties. So how can building owners navigate roof warranties, and what are some of the key differences between material warranties and workmanship warranties?

Will Lorenz: Sure. Well, I think the most important thing is, everybody's looking for a well installed roof. And so, you know, it's incumbent upon getting the spec, the material selection, that the contractor who's certified to be able to do the work properly, so that when you get to the point of inspection, everything's a success. The punch list is short or non existent, and everybody's happy they've got a watertight roof and any can go forward.

So the first thing I would say is have that discussion with your sales rep or your distributor in advance about the project, what's required. Get people up on the roof. Make sure they know what's going on the roof, whether some areas need to be torn off, whether some areas need special attention because of things like slope or fire classification. So it's all beginning on, how do you do it, right from the from the get go. So that's the most important thing there.

The second thing is, you know, when you get down to look at workmanship warranties, those involved, the contractor and how well they installed the roof. And did they do it to code? Did they do it to spec, and did they do it so it's going to perform to the term of the warranty? And so, you know, from that standpoint, you want to start off with a contractor who has the credentials, who has certified, who is familiar with the product, can install it properly. And then then you start off with a good foot to having it be successful.

Material warranties from the manufacturer are generally quite easy to qualify from if you're a certified contractor and and the scope of the project makes sense. And in the case of spray foam, you know, it's just typically it's 1-2 inches of foam and 3 gallons of acrylic for a 10 year, or a half gallon of silicone for 10 years on that side. So the big thing is, if you're going to qualify for a material only warranty, you know you've got to get your manufacturer involved early in the project and get them to approve, you approve the project, the specification, and then it's just really like following the process, straightforward workmanship.

Warranties, you know, are great, because customers really like to have the manufacturer involved, as well as the contractor, and know that there's skin in the game and that the roof is going to perform because it was installed properly, and everybody is in there, sometimes with roof warranties, depending on the state. There are obligations for the contractor for two years, five years, 10 years. It all depends on the requirements there, either in the warranty from the manufacturer or the state level obligations. And everybody should be aware of those.

Alex Tolle: Thank you so much. Seems like it's just really important to do your homework and talk to your contractor right off the gate about the warranties, and make sure that you're going to be set for the long run.

Will Lorenz: Agreed and and bring those documents and present them to your customer, so that they see what what's going to be under warranty, and they know what the obligations are, what the approvals are going to be, what the exclusions and go from there.

Alex Tolle: Awesome. Well, thank you so much, Will as always.