By McElroy Metal
Installing a new roof is an investment, not just in terms of money but in the protection of your customers’ property. It’s a vital component of the property that provides protection and greatly impacts property value. With its 50-to-60-year life expectancy and warranties, metal roofing has an acknowledged advantage.
Metal Roofing Warranties
Like other products, metal roofing warranties generally contain a list of excluded items and requirements (such as maintenance) to keep warranty coverage in force. From clearing snow, leaves, or debris from the roof to regular roof inspections, it’s important to understand the requirements. The conditions generally include the kind of regular maintenance homeowners or building owners should be carrying out anyway.
Metal roofing warranties also include a length of coverage. It’s pretty typical to see a 30-to-40-year coverage; however, you can also find companies touting “lifetime” coverage. Many of these so-called “lifetime” warranties are prorated extensively or contain requirements that most owners can’t or won’t meet. It’s important that customers complete their due diligence, read warranties thoroughly, ask questions and understand the warranty.
When dealing with a metal roof installation, generally, four different types of warranties are available.
Substrate
Some substrates, like Galvanized steel or aluminum, don’t offer warranties. Others, like Galvalume® steel, can offer a warranty of up to 45 years. That’s a long time and a big difference to consider when selecting materials. Not every manufacturer covers Galvalume, so it’s important to understand what you’re offering to your customers.
In the case of a Galvalume product, if metal roofing panels deteriorate to the point of perforation, your customer may get relief through a warranty claim.
Paint/Finish
A paint or finish warranty is the second type of warranty that might apply to metal roofing product offerings. As the name implies, this warranty covers the coating on top of substrates like Galvalume, Galvanized and Aluminum.
Typical finish warranties include a length of coverage, an acceptable level of color change (referred to as fading), and paint degradation, commonly called chalking.
While reviewing finish warranties, it’s obvious that you’ll want to compare warranty length. Beyond the warranty length, reviewing and understanding the amount of color change allowed is critical.
Some manufacturers may lead with a big number for years of warranty coverage yet allow such great degrees of color and chalk that the product could technically be within the warranty guidelines yet appear a completely different color than when sold. Again, with the sale of any size roof, it’s important to explain the warranty thoroughly so customers understand the warranty up front.
Workmanship Warranties
Along with warranties for the materials, licensed contractors typically offer a workmanship warranty. Workmanship warranties can be extensive, between five and 10 years.
The metal roofing workmanship warranty only covers the work completed by the installer, such as proper clip, fastener and trim installation for a standing seam project. If these fail, then you should repair the roof within the warranty period, usually without additional cost.
Again, there will be maintenance requirements to maintain the warranty, so explain those to the customer.
Weathertightness Warranty
Weathertightness warranties provide a guarantee the roof won’t leak for a specific period, usually around 20 years. This type of warranty is very rare for residential projects and is more often seen in high-end commercial and architectural projects.
Each manufacturer tends to offer their own program, so it’s always best to chat with the top manufacturers before offering this warranty.
Why Do Warranties Matter?
A new metal roofing installation is a good value, but still a significant investment, and a warranty improves the overall value and ownership experience in several ways:
Saves customers money – A metal roof offers impressive longevity and performance, but if things do go wrong, a warranty can offer the peace of mind that things will be sorted out.
Offers customers confidence – With decades-long manufacturer warranties, you can offer the confidence that a roof will look and perform at its best for years to come.
Investment protection – A roof is a big investment. Working with a reputable manufacturer and tier-one supplier offers you and your customers the best chance for success.
Boost property value – A longer material warranty adds value for anyone looking to sell the property.
A metal roofing warranty is essentially an extension of the installation and is as important as the choice of materials, color or anything else. It is the support that ensures customers their metal roofing ownership will be an enjoyable one. MR
