Unfortunately, hurricanes are a common occurrence in Florida. When they do occur, thousands of people experience the aftermath of roof damage caused by high winds and heavy rainfall. Sometimes the damage is so bad that the roof has to be replaced, which can be an unforeseen costly expense. However, most newer roofs come with warranties that cover the costs of the materials and workmanship needed to fix the problem. Before you go ahead and make a claim, you’ll need to understand what roof warranties actually cover and how to prevent your warranty from being void. Harbor Roofing is here to help you and give you all the information you need.
Understanding Roof Warranties: What They Actually Cover
When you get a new roof installed, it often comes with a 10 to 15-year warranty. Multiple types of warranty cover different things, but there are two main ones: Manufacturer and Contractor warranty.
Manufacturer vs. Workmanship warranty:
- Manufacturer Warranty: The warranty that covers defects of the installed products.
- Workmanship Warranty: This warranty covers any improper installation, such as failure to use the correct additional materials or installation of materials on your roof without the proper sealing products.
In most cases, you’ll receive a 10 to 15-year warranty for the roofing materials from the manufacturer and a similar warranty for the installation process and quality from the roofing company you hire. It is important to know that these warranties often only cover defects in materials or improper installation by the roofing company.
Many manufacturers offer upgraded warranties on material up to 50 years of coverage, but there are limitations. In addition to the limitations, the manufacturer will require the roofers to install all components to make up a complete roofing system from one manufacturer. This means that you can’t mix and match products from different manufacturers like GAF and Owens Corning. These warranties are often also transferable one time to a new owner if the house gets sold.
Some manufacturers, like GAF and Owens Corning, provide extra coverage options or extended warranties when you choose one of their certified roofing contractors, such as Harbor Roofing. When you contract these roofing companies, you can be sure that the installation will follow the correct protocols, installation methods, and use the correct materials.
Hurricane Roofing Damages: What is Covered and What isn’t
Now that we’ve discussed the general coverage of Roof warranties, we can dive deeper into the coverage of damages caused by hurricanes. Unfortunately, Hurricanes are a “common” thing in Florida. And your roof is the part of your house that takes the brunt of the impacts. High wind, flying debris, and heavy rain can all cause damage to your roof, and roof warranties don’t cover all of it. To give you a better overview of what most roof warranties cover, we have included examples of the most common inclusions and exclusions.
Roof Damages Warranties Will Cover
When you choose products from trusted roof manufacturers, the materials often come with warranties that will cover the cost of replacement in case the materials don’t do what they’re supposed to do. For example:
- GAF Standard Warranty: GAF covers damage caused by manufacturing defects, such as shingles or accessories that crack, blow off, or fail to seal properly.
- GAF Wind Proven Warranty: GAF is the first roofing manufacturer to offer a limited wind warranty without wind speed limitations. Which means that your roof will be covered even when there are wind speeds above 157 mph. However, to qualify for this warranty, the roof must be installed with the combination of four qualifying GAF products, such as the GAF Shingles with LayerLock Technology.
Damages Roof Warranties Won’t Cover
Most roofing warranties have specific clauses that exclude damage from “acts of God” or other specific scenarios from coverage. We have listed a few of the most common damages that your warranty won’t cover.
- Damage from high winds: Most roof warranty policies have coverage until specific wind speeds. The most basic policies will cover wind speeds up to 110 mph. However, in the past 9 years, Florida has been hit with 6 Category 3 or higher hurricanes. That indicates that those six hurricanes had sustained wind speeds from 111 mph to more than 157 mph. For these damages, there are extended policies that you can get. For example, a GAF Timberline HDZ, is rated for winds up to 130mph. If there is a gust higher than 130mph during the life of the roof, the warranty is void.
- Damage from improper installation: If you have used a contractor without the required certifications and, as a result, have leaks or loose shingles, your warranty on the materials will be void.
- Leaks or damage caused by lack of maintenance: When you install a new roof, the roofing contractor will often tell you how many times per year you should have it cleaned. If you ignore the maintenance of your roof for extended periods of time, the warranty on your materials and installation can be void.
What Can Void Roof Warranty
In addition to specific weather-related situations, other things can void your roof warranty if you don’t follow the proper process. If you have damage, leaks, or other problems with your roof after a hurricane, it is important that you contact the correct contractors. If you want to make a claim, you should contact the original installer again to inspect the roof and what caused the damage. However, if you don’t follow the right protocol, your roof warranty can be void. We have listed some of the reasons your warranty can be void:
- Unauthorized repairs: If you allow another company to make repairs to your house without having an inspection done, the roofing company or the material manufacturer can void the warranty.
- Improper maintenance of your roof: If, during the inspection, the contractor notices that you didn’t take care of your roof the way you should have, then the company might void your warranty.
When you’re using Harbor Roofing, you can be sure that the installation of the roof will be done according to all the correct methods, making sure that your warranty won’t be void.
Common Causes For Denied Roof Warranty Claims
In addition to the causes that can void your warranty, we have also included the most common reasons for denied roof warranty claims.
- Age of the roof: Most basic roof warranties cover damage for only 10 years. If your roof is older, your claim might get denied.
- Previous damages: If your roof was broken or had damage before, and it wasn’t repaired with the correct materials or with the correct installation process, the manufacturer might deny your claim.
- Policy Exclusions: If the roofing warranty explicitly excludes any weather damage, or if the Hurricane had wind speeds above the limit mentioned in your warranty policy, the company will deny your claim.
Whenever you’re looking to get a new roof installed, you should always research these warranty policies before agreeing to hire a contractor or using a manufacturer’s materials.
Harbor Roofing Warranty: Complete Coverage For Peace Of Mind
Harbor Roofing prides itself on the work it delivers. Our focus is to install every roof with the attention, care, and precision as if it were our own roof. We work with multiple manufacturers to source our roofing materials, and can offer different warranty packages.
GAF Roof Warranty Policies
By keeping our standards high and ensuring the highest quality possible, Harbor Roofing has become a GAF Master Elite Certified roofing company. This gives us the possibility to offer three different GAF warranty policies:
- GAF Systems Plus: This Warranty Policy will cover your materials and the installation and, if needed, the tear-off costs for 50 years.
- GAF Silver Pledge: All the benefits of GAF Systems Plus Warranty with an additional 10-year workmanship coverage for misapplication of GAF products, and the costs of disposal if needed.
- GAF Golden Pledge: All the benefits of GAF Silver Pledge Warranty, but the workmanship coverage for misapplication is extended from 10 to 25 or 30 years.
- GAF Wind Proven Warranty: An industry’s first warranty policy which covers your roof against high wind speeds without speed limitations. To qualify for this warranty, a combination of four GAF qualifying products have to be installed on your roof.
GAF is the largest roofing and waterproofing company in North America, making it one of the most trustworthy brands for your roof. They’re known for the durability of their products and specialty products that can withstand high winds. Visit their website to see the details and requirements to qualify for these warranty packages.
Owens Corning Warranty Policies
The second manufacturer we work with is Owens Corning, and we offer two of their extended warranty policies.
- Owens Corning System Protection: Extended product defects coverage from 10 to 50 years.
- Owens Corning Preferred Protection: All the benefits of the Owens Corning System Protection with an additional 10-year workmanship coverage.
Owen Corning is known for manufacturing durable and reliable products to protect your home from different types of weather.
Additional insurance for homeowners
Roof warranties don’t cover all the damage caused by hurricanes. This is why, in addition to upgrading to a warranty package, we highly recommend purchasing extra insurance to cover damage. For example: homeowner’s insurance. This insurance is not legally mandated, but is often a requirement for the lender who gives you your mortgage. We have listed some of the things that get covered by this insurance:
- The costs of repairing or replacing your home and personal property in case of fire, theft, or wind damage.
- It often includes liability insurance in case someone gets hurt on your property.
- Additional living expenses are often covered as well. If your house becomes uninhabitable for a period of time, your homeowner’s insurance can cover expenses too. These often cover things such as costs of food, temporary housing, and other costs.
However, homeowner’s insurance policies can vary, so make sure you review all the coverage details before signing a contract. While most homeowner insurance policies cover damage from hurricanes, they don’t cover flood damage. If you want complete protection, we also recommend considering flood insurance.
How to Protect Your Roof Before and After a Hurricane
While you can’t predict the strength or intensity of hurricanes, you can prepare the roof of your home for multiple scenarios. We have listed different things to help you think of ways to protect your roof before and after hurricanes.
Regular Maintenance
One of the best things you can do to ensure your roof is in the best possible state before and after a hurricane is to follow the correct maintenance protocols. From cleaning the roof, to checking your gutters and making sure there are no damages or weak spots.
Choosing For More Durable Roofing Solutions
For most people, placing a roof on their house or getting it replaced is a large investment, which often leads to people choosing cheaper materials. However, we recommend talking to one of our experts, who will help you choose the best possible products within your budget. It might cost slightly more, but it can help you save money in the long run. At Harbor Roofing, we offer solutions for most budgets and deliver high-quality work at competitive prices.
Getting Additional Warranty Coverage
The average lifespan of roofs in Florida is 15-25 years. However, most standard warranty policies only cover the first 5 to 10 years after installation. By choosing the additional coverage from GAF or Owens Corning, your roof is protected for much longer. In addition, the extra coverage from GAF and Owens Corning is offered only by specialized roofing contractors who ensure high-quality installations.
Making Sure Your Roof Is In Good Condition For The Next Hurricane
After a heavy storm has passed, it is recommended to get a certified crew to do an inspection of the current state of your roof. These often don’t cost much, and they can detect possible weak spots or hidden damages. While the damages might not be a problem right away, they can lead to leaks or other problems with your roof. This gives you time to budget and plan for repairs in case they’re needed.
Everything you need to know about Roof Warranty
Most newly placed roofs will come with a limited time warranty on defective materials or improper installation. However, the damages often go unnoticed until it is too late. This is why you should only hire contractors you can trust, like Harbor Roofing. We are a GAF Master Elite and Owens Corning Preferred certified roofing company with nearly 30 years of experience. When you choose our services, you can be assured that we will install your roof with the quality and attention to detail it deserves. Our extended warranty packages will cover up to 50 years of defective materials and up to 25 years of workmanship costs.
Interested? Then quickly fill out one of our contact forms or give us a call. One of our experts will come by to measure your roof and provide a free, complete budget estimate.
FAQ
Do Roof Warranties Cover Damages To Personal Items Caused By Hurricanes?
No, most roof warranty policies only cover defects in materials or improper installation of these products, and the costs to fix the problem.
Why Should You Consider Extended Warranties?
Most warranty policies cover only the first 10 years after your roof is installed. However, your roof has a life span of 15-30 years, depending on the materials used. The extended warranties cover the materials used and sometimes the workmanship needed to replace defective materials for 25 to 50 years.
Do I Need To Replace My Roof After Every Hurricane?
No, in most cases, it is not necessary to replace your entire roof after a hurricane. However, we do recommend that you get a yearly check done when storm season is over. By doing this, you make sure your roof is in the right condition for the next year.
