A new roof doesn’t come cheap, which makes many homeowners dread replacing it. The cost of replacing a worn or damaged roof is rising, along with roofing material prices. As roofs become more expensive, warranties from roofing material manufacturers and contractors carry more value and importance for homeowners.
Many homeowners assume a 20- or 50-year warranty means the roofer will fix any issues during that period. It’s important to distinguish between the manufacturer’s product warranty and the roofing contractor’s workmanship warranty.
A manufacturer’s warranty covers only material defects from the manufacturing process. It does not cover wear and tear, improper installation, or storm damage. A contractor’s workmanship warranty guarantees free service if installation errors cause roof problems. Normal wear and tear or storm damage do not fall under this warranty.
How Long Warranties Last These Days
Different roofing material manufacturers offer different warranty periods. GAF offers a lifetime warranty for all its shingles. Installation accessories covered under the limited warranty include GAF Starter Strip Shingles, Ridge Cap Shingles, Leak Barrier Products, Cobra Ventilation Products, and Roof Deck Protection Products.
The limited warranty does not cover ShingleMatch Roof Accessory Paint, low-slope membranes, or Master Flow Ventilation Products.
Generally, GAF products have the following warranty periods:
- GAF Shingles – Lifetime
- Smart Choice Protection – 10 – 50 Years depending on the specific product
- Algae Warranty – 10 Years for Ridge Cap Shingles or StainGuard-Labeled Shingles
- Wind Warranty Term – 15 Years
- Maximum Wind Speed Coverage – 130 mph with special installation
Definition of Lifetime
The word “lifetime” implies this warranty will last as long as the original homeowner still owns the home where the GAF shingles and accessories are installed. Additionally, a second owner is covered if coverage was systematically transferred during the Smart Choice Protection Period.
Additionally, the lifetime warranty is only applicable to shingles and GAF accessories installed on a single-family detached property owned by individuals. For all other building types, the length of the warranty is 40 years.
For a lifetime warranty, the total number of months in the warranty contract is deemed to be 600 between 11 and 40 years of the warranty term. Beyond 41 years of a Lifetime warranty, GAF contributes only 20%.
Special Installation
Typically, your GAF Shingles will be covered up to a maximum wind speed of 130 mph as long as your shingles are secured using 6 nails for each shingle and your roofer used GAF Starter Strip Products at the eaves and rakes. Without Special Installation, the maximum wind speed coverage is 110mph.AIC Roofing & Construction, Inc. has recently won the Consumer Protection Excellence Award. One of the requirements to win this award is to install at least 100 roofing systems with enhanced warranties for customers. Our commitment to consumer protection demonstrates we truly install quality roofs for our customers throughout Central Kentucky. Contact us today to learn more about the lifespan of your roofing warranty.
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