A new residential roof is a major investment that any homeowner expects to last. Fortunately, new roofs come with a valid warranty that most people would disregard without a second thought.
However, it’s essential in protecting you and your home from any defects in both materials and installation that can cost you more in the end. The warranty is designed to correct any problems from those defects without requiring you to spend more money.
While it’s better if your roofing warranty never needs to be used, some unknown circumstances can always happen. The last thing any homeowner needs is to submit a claim only to find their warranty null and void. Here are the following steps you can take to keep your warranty valid.
Get a Regular Inspection
A roof with a multi-year roof warranty requires regular inspection and basic maintenance once a year to keep it in effect. Roof inspection and maintenance is beneficial for both the property owner and the company issuing the warranty.
A yearly inspection is often done by a reputable independent third-party or by an inspector that works for the manufacturer. This does not only allow your contractor to spot and fix the current issues on your roof, but also discover any areas that can turn into significant problems in the future.
Roof inspection goes hand in hand with maintenance as it allows the issues found during the inspection to be repaired before they worsen and void your warranty later. Lack of regular maintenance can cause problems such as debris buildup and vegetation growth that can lead to leaks or roof collapse. Neither leaks or roof collapse are covered by warranty as it’s considered to be caused by neglect.
Hire a Reliable Licensed Contractor
Some homeowners will often switch to another company or an unlicensed contractor in an attempt to save costs. However, most contracts include language that voids the contractor’s warranty for several reasons, including faulty installation of shingles, mismatched roofing components, insufficient ventilation.
Unlicensed contractors might end up doing shoddy work, go over budget, leave a mess, and disappear when there are complaints. The last thing manufacturers want is to deal with or pay for the mistakes made by these undertrained and underqualified contractors.
Therefore, it is much safer to let a licensed roofer with years of experience and excellent safety record complete the job. A license proves that a contractor meets roofing quality standards. It also attests to their understanding of building codes. More importantly, it shows that they know what they’re doing.
Register Your Warranty
Never forget to send the warranty registration to the manufacturer. Some contractors may say it’s not necessary or online articles might say differently, but it’s better to send it anyway. An unregistered warranty might mean there’s no warranty. Completing your registration can also ensure that the process is expedited once you need to make use of your warranty.
The Fine Print
As a homeowner, choosing an effective roof warranty is crucial in making sure that your roofing system has protection for a long-time. This means carefully reviewing the fine print on your roofing warranty. A roofing system warranty can be complicated and confusing to understand without conducting comprehensive research and analysis on the coverage of the policy and terms.
Warranties have many variations. It’s up to the roofing companies to decide on the types of warranty to provide on workmanship. Each roofing materials manufacturer offers different warranties for different products. They determine what to consider as a defect, and therefore, covered by your warranty.
Fahey Roofing Contractors has the experienced and skilled contractors you need to help you with any necessary roof repairs and roof replacement. We serve various areas in West Virginia and Ohio. If you have more questions, visit our website today or contact us at (304) 826-1317 for West Virginia and (740) 523-0380 for Ohio to learn more.