FAQ: WARRANTIES
Rick Langheim answers some common questions. Have others? Give us a call!
1. Do you do warranty work?
Absolutely.
We provide coverage on any work we perform — repairs, too.
If the problem is covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, we will work with the manufacturer and make sure that all work is performed within their product specifications.
We will also notify you ahead of time when items are not covered by a warranty so there are never any surprises.
2. What’s covered in most warranties?
Warranties are extremely detailed. They define the legal obligations and remedies between the manufacturer, installer and building owner and protect everyone involved. They can cover the roofing materials and might also cover the costs to repair and replace them. As a building owner or owner representative, you will be involved in determining which warranties are best for your situation, and if you’re a property manager, you’ll need to understand what’s covered if you need to make a claim.
To cover your building contents and operations, which can be a much higher value than your roof, make sure to review your situation with a commercial insurance specialist.
3. What is my responsibility in maintaining my warranty?
4. How long are your warranties for re-roofing and roof construction?
On new roofing systems we offer a two-year workmanship in conjunction with the manufacturer’s warranty. Manufacturer warranty periods start with 10 years. Standard is 15-20 years and a 30-year warranty is the best. Four factors determine the warranty period of your roof:
- Substrate
- Insulation
- Membrane
- Details (i.e., patterns of flashing details)
A 20-year warranty is solid and most popular. The manufacturer’s inspector will typically look for the roofing system to cover a clean substrate (although it may still qualify for a 20-year over an old roof), have two layers of insulation and a 60-80 mil membrane instead of a 45 mil membrane. Better flashing details, which takes more time and skill to install, can earn a warranty upgrade to 25 or 30 years. We like the inspectors to be tough and look at every little thing because it cross-checks our guys. We are often able to provide the warranty even before the inspector visit because of our reputation and rapport with manufacturers.
In addition to this FAQ, Sentry has produced a series of blog posts on warranties:
