Roof during construction

Roofing Warranties – What You Should Know

The Basic Roofing Warranty

No matter which roof shingles you go with, they need to be compliant with standards that the government has set and there needs to be a clause in the warranty that the shingle will perform as promised.  Typical warranties range from 15 to 30 years, depending on the manufacturer of course.  But there are several different roof shingle manufacturers that are giving lifetime warranties.

While roofing shingle warranties are considered standard practice, there can and will be significant differences in coverage between similar types of shingles.  The most important that you need to be aware of is that some warranties will only cover the cost of the shingles, but not the labor necessary to tear off the original roof and install the new one.

It is very important to note that most shingle manufacturers have a specific installation process and if the roofer improperly installs your roof, then the warranty will become void. Click here for more information on roofing installation.

Wind Warranty

Strong wind, especially hurricane like conditions, can be damage shingles; even tear them completely off. The more powerful wind gusts are capable of ripping the shingles off of the roof.  Weak wind can also potentially cause damage.

What winds up happening during a strong wind storm is that the shingles will lift, even if only for a second.  This can be the beginning of two issues.  First, when the shingle lifts, debris and moisture can wind up going underneath the shingle.  Once the shingle returns to its original position, it traps the debris and moisture that blew in.  If there is too much moisture, it could start to leak through the roof, which in turn will cause more damage to your home.  When debris is trapped, it keeps the tile from lying perfectly flat like it is supposed to, which winds up letting in even more moisture and debris.

Algae Resistant Warranty

Algae growth is a typical roofing issue that causes disgusting, dark streaks on the shingles.  The algae can be cleaned, but it is common for it to come back, especially if you live in an area where humid weather is commonplace.  If you have had algae problems before, you should look to get algae-resistant coverage on your shingle warranty.