Roof Warranties & Storm Damage
In my 25 plus years of dealing with homeowners and their roof replacements, I’ve found that when it comes to their existing roof they often have the idea that it should be covered under warranty.
People are often confused about how roofing materials warranties work, what they cover, and when they apply.
When replacing a roof, homeowners often opt for the longest and best warranty. That’s great, but what does that really cover? Well, you’ll be surprised to find that it actually covers very little.
The fine print breaks down to this:
The roof is covered for defects in materials or workmanship during the manufacturing process. That’s it! If the roof is defective by their standards, they’ll replace it. Period.
The installation is covered by the installation contractor.
This is why it is important to deal with reputable, long established, local roofing contractors when replacing your roof. They are more important that the roofing products you select. The contractor stands behind the installation of your new roof.
It is an extremely rare situation that would cause your roof to be replaced due to manufacturing defects.
Where issues arise is in applying the above to the real world.
For some reason there seems to be a disconnect in people’s minds between warranties and damage claims.
Let’s try to simplify the issue.
Think of your home like you think of your vehicle. Your vehicle came with a warranty, some parts of the vehicle may have had even longer warranties, such as your engine, or transmission (drive train). Now you are involved in an accident. Do you take your vehicle back to the dealer to have it repaired under warranty? Of course not. You immediately call your insurance company and they take over. They cover the damages.
It’s the same with your home and roof. If a tornado ripped your roof off you’d call your insurance company. But for some reason many people mistakenly believe that hail, storm, wind damage is covered by warranties. They simply are not.
Some expect the installation contractor to install a new roof for free.
As stated above, the installation contractor is liable for repairs or replacement should the installation be done incorrectly. In fact, roof replacement often require some cosmetic touch ups after completion and an occasional leak, or two, repaired. Water has a way of finding passageways that are unseen with the naked eye. That being said, storm damage does not fall under an installation warranty. The new installation is covered by the insurance company.
Always check references and BBB, Google ratings when selecting a roofing contractor. Make sure they are local and have years of experience. Google Guaranteed businesses are best as they have met stringent requirements to achieve this accreditation.
Understanding your rights can eliminate a lot of misunderstandings. A reputable roofing contractor will take the time to explain your rights and how they apply.
Never let a roofing salesman bully you, or scare you, into signing a contract. It is important for you to take your time and check out the company before signing anything.
I have served the DFW area for over 25 years with All Pro Roofing & Designers https://usallpro.com We specialize in insurance claims. We often get tough, previously denied, claims paid through our arbitration services.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Terry_McMurray/2919985
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