Commercial roofing warranties have significant differences from their residential counterparts—even across commercial roofing types—that are worth knowing. In today’s post, local roofing contractor Genesis Roofing shares the basics of commercial roofing warranties.
Types of Commercial Roofing Warranties
Commercial roofing warranties typically have two types of coverage: warranties from manufacturers, and warranties from installers or roofing contractors. While they may sound similar to their residential counterparts—factory and workmanship warranties, respectively—there are fundamental differences:
Manufacturer Warranty
Manufacturer warranties cover the roofing materials or, in some cases, the complete roofing system. It generally covers roofing problems caused by manufacturing errors and/or factory defects. There are four types of commercial manufacturer warranty:
1. No Dollar Limit (NDL) Warranty — Not all manufacturers offer NDL warranty coverage, but choose this if given the option. NDL warranties typically include coverage for material defects regardless of cost of replacement materials. It may not cover roof replacement or repair labor costs, or problems that may be covered by other warranties.
2. Manufacturer’s Material Warranty — Some commercial roofs are built using materials from different manufacturers. In this type of warranty, the manufacturer will only provide coverage for their products, and only under specific conditions.
3. Manufacturer’s Labor and Material Warranty — This type of warranty covers materials and labor, up to a certain dollar limit. The bigger the roof area, the faster that dollar limit will be reached.
4. Manufacturer’s Roof System Warranty — This type of coverage is also known as “membrane only” because the coverage only extends to the main roofing material.
Roofing Contractor Warranties
Roofing contractor warranties cover problems related to the contractor’s workmanship. It is just as important as manufacturer warranties. After all, even the best roofing systems fail if they’re not installed properly. Roofing contractor warranties are typically shorter than manufacturer warranties, as problems caused by faulty installation usually manifest within the first few years after installation.
Things Not Covered by Commercial Roofing Warranties
Do not make the mistake of neglecting your roofing insurance just because it has warranty coverage. As described above, commercial roofing warranties do not cover everything. Your insurance coverage will act as your safety net for conditions like storm damage (outside of the roof’s rated wind resistance) or impact damage caused by falling trees. Also, keep in mind that, like residential roofing, neglecting maintenance may void its warranty.
Genesis Roofing is your leading provider of residential and commercial roof repair services. Give us a call at (515) 202-1667 or fill out our contact form. We serve customers in Des Moines, IA, and nearby areas.