Standard Roof Warranties

Life Expectancy

• No warranty extends the usefulness of roofing materials beyond their natural lifespan. Homeowners who know these time limits can develop reasonable expectations about how long their roofs will last with proper maintenance. According to U.S. Inspect, asphalt shingles, the most common roofing material today, lasts from 15 to 30 years. Wood shingles, valued for their natural appearance and warmth, last from 10 to 40 years. Clay or cement tiles last about 50 years. Natural slate lasts from 50 to 80 years or more, depending on the thickness and type of slate, and metal can last up to 150 years if painted.

Manufacturers

• All manufacturers of roofing products provide warranties against defects, which depend on the type of material and the brand. Owens-Corning, for example, offers 10 years of non-prorated coverage on nearly all of its shingles for single-family detached homes. Otherwise, the warranty starts at 80 percent at year 11 and goes down by 2 percent until year 40. The prorated warranty is then 20 percent for years 41 and over. Note that this covers only the shingle itself and does not include underlayment, flashing or related work. Homeowners can typically transfer warranties only once to the new owner of the home.

Contractors

• Contractors and other construction companies that install roofs also offer their own warranties beyond that of the manufacturer. GAF Roofing, for instance, offers a standard pro-rated, 10-year warranty on just the shingles but not the roofing system, such as underlayment. Installation is part of the guaranty, and the warranty is also transferable. Roofing companies often offer upgraded warranties for a small fee. For example, GAF, has options for 50 years on its products that cover the entire roofing system, including a lifetime for installation costs. All warranties are also transferable to new homeowners.

NRCA

• The National Roofing Contractors Association suggests that the length of a roof warranty should not be the primary consideration in choosing a roofing system and contractor. These guaranties often do not cover leaks. Instead, homeowners should make their selections based on materials and whether they’re suitable for their homes. Nearly all roofing materials, if manufactured, designed and installed correctly, will perform well, making the expense of a warranty unnecessary.