Understanding Your Commercial Roof Warranty

Commercial roofs are significant investments. Although it’s easy to forget about the new roof on top of your building—it’s brand new, after all, and shouldn’t have any problems—it still needs attention. The same is true of your commercial roof warranty.

Your new roof should always come with a warranty that protects your investment against poor workmanship, weak materials, or any combination of the two. 

Long-term manufacturer-backed commercial roof warranties save you a lot of money, but you have to know what type of warranty you have and what requirements are necessary to keep it in order. One small mistake could cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.

Our commercial roof warranty guide covers the basics you need to know before signing your contract and highlights the benefits you can expect from your warranty.

What is a Typical Commercial Roof Warranty?

Commercial roof warranties are guarantees offered by manufacturers, contractors, or both that cover the roofing system of a commercial building. Multiple types of warranties are available depending on your contractor and the materials they use.

To protect against defects in materials, workmanship, and roof installation, your commercial roof warranty typically lasts between 5 and 20 years, with coverage terms varying based on the manufacturer’s and/or contractor’s policy. 

Like any insurance policy, a commercial roof warranty aims to ensure that the roofing system functions as intended and provides the necessary protection for the building. If something goes wrong, a full commercial roof warranty is in place to prevent unexpected repairs from costing you money.

Types of Commercial Roof Warranties

Each contractor and manufacturer uses a different type of commercial roof warranty, so it’s essential to understand what options are available to you. Also, don’t be surprised if the manufacturer/contractor uses different names for the same type of warranty.

Manufacturer Warranty

Manufacturer warranties are offered by the manufacturer and included with the purchase of the commercial roofing system. These typically last for 5-20 years and protect against defects such as cracks, splits, and leaks in the material.

Contractor Warranty

A contractor warranty is provided by the contractor and is separate from any manufacturer warranty. 

The length of a contractor’s warranty can vary, but most contractors guarantee their work for two years. 

This warranty protects against issues related to the installation: leaks, improper flashing, and incorrect slope.

Labor and Materials Warranty 

A labor and materials warranty is often offered jointly by the manufacturer and the contractor and provides comprehensive protection against defects in materials and workmanship.

Prorated/Non-Prorated Long-Term Warranty

A non-prorated long-term warranty includes continuous protection over time. 

On the other hand, a prorated warranty reduces the amount it covers for replacement or repair over time. 

Be sure to understand the terms of your warranty, as this determines your responsibility for repairs.

No-Dollar-Limit Warranty 

The best kind of warranty is an NDL (no-dollar-limit) warranty; different manufacturers call it by other names. 

Under this kind of warranty, the manufacturer will pay for the materials and labor required to replace the roof if the roof system fails. 

With a 20-year warranty, if a roof fails on the 19th year, 11th month, and 29th day, the manufacturer will replace the roof — as long as the building owner has complied with the warranty requirements.

Key Differences Between Manufacturer and Contractor Warranties

When securing a commercial roof warranty, you’ll typically encounter two primary types: manufacturer warranties and contractor warranties. While both aim to protect your investment, they differ significantly in what they cover, who provides them, and their typical durations. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring comprehensive protection for your commercial roofing system.

Manufacturer Warranty

As the name suggests, this warranty is offered directly by the company that produces the roofing materials (e.g., the membrane, insulation, fasteners).

Manufacturer warranties primarily focus on defects in the materials themselves. 

This includes issues such as premature aging, cracking, splitting, or manufacturing flaws in the roofing components that can lead to leaks or failures.

These warranties typically offer longer terms, often ranging from 5 to 20 years, and sometimes even longer, depending on the specific product and system.

The manufacturer’s responsibility is generally limited to replacing or repairing the defective materials. They typically do not cover issues arising from the installation process.

Contractor Warranty (Workmanship Warranty)

This warranty is provided by the roofing contractor who installs your commercial roof.

A contractor warranty, also known as a workmanship warranty, specifically addresses issues related to the installation of the roofing system. 

This includes problems like improper flashing, incorrect slope, poor seaming, or other errors made during the roof’s construction that lead to leaks or system failures.

Contractor warranties are typically shorter than manufacturer warranties, often lasting for 1 to 5 years, with 2 years being a common industry standard. 

This shorter period reflects the contractor’s direct responsibility for the initial quality of their work.

The contractor’s responsibility is to correct any defects in their workmanship. 

They generally do not cover defects in the materials themselves, as that falls under the manufacturer’s purview.

Why Both Warranties Are Important

It’s important to have both a strong manufacturer warranty and a reliable contractor warranty. 

A manufacturer’s warranty protects you from faulty materials, while a contractor’s warranty safeguards against errors during installation. 

Without both, you could find yourself in a situation where a roof failure occurs, and you’re left to cover the costs because the issue falls into a gap between the two types of coverage. 

For instance, if a leak develops due to improperly sealed seams (workmanship error), the manufacturer’s warranty likely won’t cover it. 

Conversely, if the roofing membrane itself fails prematurely due to a manufacturing defect, your contractor’s workmanship warranty won’t apply.

Ideally, your commercial roofing project should include both types of warranties to provide a comprehensive safety net for your investment.

Understanding Prorated vs. Non-Prorated Warranties

When evaluating commercial roof warranties, it’s crucial to understand the distinction between prorated and non-prorated options, as this directly impacts your financial responsibility for future repairs or replacements.

A non-prorated long-term warranty offers continuous and consistent protection throughout its entire duration. 

This means that if your roof experiences a covered failure at any point during the warranty period—whether in year 5 or year 19 of a 20-year warranty—the manufacturer or contractor will cover the full cost of repair or replacement according to the warranty terms. 

There is no diminishing value to the coverage as time progresses, providing maximum peace of mind and financial security.

On the other hand, a prorated warranty reduces the amount the warranty covers for replacement or repair over time. 

This type of warranty is structured so that the coverage diminishes with each passing year. 

For example, if you have a 20-year prorated warranty, the manufacturer might cover 100% of the costs in the first few years, but that percentage will decrease annually. 

By the later years of the warranty, the coverage might only be 20% or even 10%, leaving you responsible for the vast majority of the repair or replacement costs.

It is essential to read the terms of your warranty carefully to determine whether it is prorated or non-prorated. 

This distinction significantly impacts your potential out-of-pocket expenses should your commercial roof require extensive work as it ages. 

How Long Do Most Roofers Guarantee Their Work?

A professional roofing contractor often takes full responsibility for the first two years of a roof’s life, covering materials and labor for any issues that arise. 

A high-quality roofing contractor has a team with technical expertise and training that enables them to recognize and remove any subpar materials during installation, so issues with materials should be rare. 

But if something does come up, it is under warranty. 

Beyond that initial two-year period, the manufacturer picks up the warranty.

What Voids a Commercial Roof Warranty?

Understanding the compliance aspect of a commercial roof warranty is essential. More often than not, the requirements exist to help you, not make life harder for you (or your commercial roof). 

Most warranties require an annual inspection and maintenance program. Make sure you read the fine print, as this is the easiest out for a manufacturer if a problem with your roof becomes a significant issue. 

If you don’t perform annual inspections and maintenance, the warranty won’t cover any damage your roof sustains.

If, for example, a building owner turns to their roof warranty for a roof leak after a storm and an inspection reveals that the roof has not been maintained, that repair is not covered, and the building owner has to pay out of pocket.

Here are a couple of other factors that void commercial roof warranties:

• Improper installation or maintenance
• Natural disasters or “acts of God”
• Unauthorized repairs or modifications
• Neglect of regular maintenance and inspections
• Expiration of the warranty period

Ridgeworth Roofing, Your Trusted Commercial Roofing Partner for over 50 Years

After purchasing (or before), read your warranty carefully. Know what’s covered. Ask your professional roofing contractor to explain any terms you’re unsure about.

At Ridgeworth Roofing, we are committed to being a professional roofing contractor you can trust to help you stay in compliance. We maintain records of every commercial roof inspection and service along with photo documentation as proof that the service and repairs have been completed, which can be provided to the manufacturer as proof of compliance.

Contact Ridgeworth Roofing today if you need a new commercial roof or regular maintenance. Our team of roofing experts with 50+ years of experience is ready to help.