A new roof is a significant investment for any property owner. Thankfully, the return on that investment is pretty significant too – an effective umbrella for your home or commercial building, protecting it from the elements all year round.
To maximise that return, you want to make sure your roof continues to do its job over the years. That’s where a new roof warranty can help…
What do roof warranties cover?
Broadly speaking, there are two types of cover which can be included in a roof warranty – materials and workmanship.
Material warranties
Material or product warranties are provided by manufacturers, guaranteeing that their products will stand the test of time for a specified number of years.
If any tiles are found to be defective within the warranty period, manufacturers or suppliers will replace them at no extra cost. In some cases, this only covers materials which were faulty on delivery – so they won’t replace materials damaged during the installation process.
Workmanship warranties
On the other hand, workmanship warranties protect you from any issues with your roof that arise from its installation. Put simply, if your roof starts leaking within a few months or years of its installation, your roofing contractor will be liable to fix it at no extra cost.
In many cases, however, this excludes damage that cannot be attributed to the roofer themselves. For example, any impact damage from a fallen tree, or alterations made after the installation, will not be covered. Similarly, if anyone has been up on your roof and caused damage – such as an aerial installer – your roofer will not be accountable.
How long do they last?
The length of new roof warranties can vary from contractor to contractor. To start with, some roofers simply won’t offer one. It’s well worth steering clear of these traders, as a lack of a proper warranty isn’t a great sign of trust in their own work.
Other roofers will offer warranties varying from 2-3 years, right up to a decade. The general rule of thumb is: the longer the warranty, the better. However, it’s worth noting that some disreputable roofers won’t honour their warranty at all. The minute something goes wrong with your roof, they’ll be impossible to reach.
Here are some additional trust factors to consider if you want to make sure your warranty is worthwhile…
Are they certified?
Roofers with certifications and accreditations have already been vetted for their reliability and trustworthiness. Look for Trustmark, the Confederation of Roofing Contractors, and the Property Care Association, as a minimum.
How long have they been around?
Roofers who don’t honour their warranties face a short career. Without being too harsh on newcomers, roofers that have been around for over a decade provide an additional trust factor.
Are they well reviewed?
Whether it’s Trustpilot, Google or just Facebook, reviews are a great way to see whether other customers have had issues with a roofer. If they’re regularly dodging issues with roofs they’ve installed, it’s pretty likely to be mentioned in their reviews.
Get a warranty for your new roof
Whether it’s domestic or commercial, new roofs provide peace of mind that your property is protected from the elements. But they should also come with the assurance that you’re protected from any issues – and that means a proper warranty.
At DPR Roofing, we install top quality new roofs with warranties of up to 10 years. That’s paired with recognised accreditations, 30 years’ experience, and great reviews from a long list of happy customers, so you know we’ll be there when you need us.
To get a quote for your new roof, give us a call on 01226 670 008 or email [email protected].