When it comes to your commercial roof, you want your business to be covered should any issues arise. That means you need warranty coverage. With a number of different warranty options, it can be hard to keep them straight. So what is the difference?
When it comes to a material warranty vs. a manufacturer warranty, you may be surprised to learn that they are actually the same. Many people are under the impression that they are different, but a material warranty is just one type of manufacturer warranty.
4 Types of manufacturer warranties
When it comes to roofing manufacturer warranties, there are typically different levels and different amounts of coverage.
1. Manufacturer’s material warranty. This type of warranty covers defects or failures of the roofing materials. It does not cover incorrect installation or wind or hail damage. Warranties of this type typically range from 10 to 30 years.
2. Manufacturer’s system warranty. Materials—and usually workmanship errors—are covered by this type of warranty. Included are things like edge metal and insulation. Excluded from coverage are leaks from nonmanufacturer products like flashings and coping. Warranties of this type typically range from 10 to 30 years and the contractor is excused from liability after two years.
3. Manufacturer’s NDL (no dollar limit) warranty. A step up from a system warranty, a full system warranty with no dollar limit covers defective products regardless of the cost to replace them. This type of warranty provides coverage for up to 35 years, depending on your roof system. This is the type of warranty we see the most and you should look for when hiring a commercial roofing contractor.
4. Manufacturer’s wind warranty. A wind warranty is sometimes called a “wind rider” or “wind speed coverage” because it is typically an extension to one of the above warranties. The standard commercial roof warranty covers wind gusts of up to 55 miles per hour at no extra cost. You have the option of increasing the wind rider, typically to 72 or 90 miles per hour, but it depends on the manufacturer. When the wind rider is increased, the roofing contractor will install the roof a little bit differently, with stronger materials that should hold up to whatever the wind limit is. Roofs with higher wind riders can be more expensive, though, since the materials must be higher quality and require more intricate installation techniques, increasing labor hours.
Have a warranty, but aren’t sure how to use it?
Take a look at our tips on how to use your commercial roof warranty.
Contractor’s workmanship warranty
The only type of warranty that does not fall under the manufacturer is a workmanship warranty/guarantee. This type of warranty is offered by most contractors after you have had your commercial roof installed. It covers the installation of the materials. Meaning that if something is installed incorrectly and an issue arises, the roofing contractor will cover the cost to fix and/or replace it.
Most workmanship warranties are good for one to five years (at Hopkins, we offer a two-year roof workmanship warranty).
When purchasing a workmanship warranty, you have the option to include a manufacturer’s warranty along with it. This extends the service and coverage of your roof, so you can have peace of mind knowing that if something happens to your roof after those first few years, you are still covered.
Take the next step
The experts at Hopkins Roofing can help you determine which commercial warranty is best for your business roofing project. Call us today to talk through your options.
