Are you getting estimates for a new roof? Do you keep hearing about an enhanced or extended warranty when talking to different roofers?
Every roofing material and components come with an individual warranty out of the wrapper to protect against defects. These warranties are almost always prorated and lose value as the years go by.
This doesn’t provide long-lasting peace of mind or confidence if there’s a problem down the road. A new roof backed by an enhanced warranty does the exact opposite.
But what is it? What does it cover? How do you get it?
For over 30 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has provided homeowners with the information needed to make decisions so they get a quality roof with long-term protection. An enhanced warranty plays a crucial role in this, so let’s break it down.
By the end of this article, you’ll learn the answers to:
An enhanced roofing material warranty (also called extended) covers the entire roof system instead of an individual component. This means if just one of the manufacturer’s components fails, they’ll replace the entire roof instead of just the defective area.
Enhanced warranties are also non-prorated, unlike standard material warranties. However, the length depends on the manufacturer.
For example, CertainTeed (our preferred brand) has three different levels: 3-Star, 4-Star, and 5-Star. 3-Star provides 20 years of coverage, while 4-Star and 5-Star provide 50 years of coverage.
While 4-Star is the same length, 5-Star also comes with a workmanship warranty (10 to 25 years) from CertainTeed. As I said, this is different for every shingle manufacturer.
So, you’ll need to talk to your roofing contractor about their preferred brand and the enhanced warranties they offer.
Every roof replacement will not be eligible for an enhanced warranty. This is simply because your roof needs two big things to qualify for an enhanced material warranty.
Let’s break down how a roof qualifies for an enhanced roofing material warranty.
The first enhanced warranty qualification is getting a manufacturer roof system. This means the shingles and specific roofing components must come from one manufacturer instead of mixing and matching from multiple.
Shingle manufacturers simply won’t offer extended coverage on a roof system that doesn’t have the right combination of their products. The main components (also called accessories) required are usually underlayment, starter shingles, and capping for ridges and/or hips.
However, this could vary by manufacturer and coverage level, so you’ll need to talk to a roofing contractor or even research the shingle brand you’re considering.
Getting everything from a single manufacturer is one thing, but the roof must also be installed by one of their certified roofing contractors. All the main manufacturers provide certifications to established companies with good reviews if they pass the installation knowledge testing and certification exams.
So, having one of the certifications is the only way a roofer can offer an enhanced warranty. They usually have a preferred brand they’re certified with, but it’s possible to have multiple.
However, the shingle manufacturers decide who they want to certify in their products. The top ones usually pick six to ten roofing companies in a given area, which is why certifications usually carry weight.
That’s why every homeowner should strongly consider hiring a certified roofing contractor for their roof replacement. But while being certified is great, it’s not the only thing to consider when making a hiring decision.
An enhanced roofing material warranty is well worth it, especially ones with a manufacturer-backed workmanship warranty. The main reason is you’ll get a quality roof system of name-brand materials instead of potentially getting a “Frankenstein” roof made of cheap, generic components.
It also ensures everything comes from one place and keeps the entire roof under one manufacturer’s umbrella if there’s ever a problem. Enhanced warranties can also be transferred to a new homeowner once, which is a great selling point when your home is on the market.
However, a manufacturer roof system backed by an enhanced warranty will be more expensive. So, it’s really up to your budget and how long you plan to live in your home.
I still recommend talking to a certified roofing contractor about an enhanced warranty. But with the number of companies opening and closing daily, getting added protection on your investment is worth the peace of mind.
After reading this article, you know what an enhanced warranty is and how to qualify for one. As I said, I recommend investing in an enhanced warranty for the roof quality and peace of mind.
However, you’re the only one who can make this decision. Just talk to a certified roofing contractor about warranty options and strongly consider them.
But remember, the enhanced warranty length and coverage depend on the shingle manufacturer. On top of this, not every manufacturer offers one.
That’s why you need to know the leading manufacturers. This narrows down your options and lets you learn more about their shingles to find the right one for you.
Check out The Top 5 Shingle Brands to learn the top shingle manufacturers used in residential roofing.