Let’s look at the broad subject of Warranties, extended warranties, and their cost in today’s market place first. The average aftermarket warranty uses only 12% of the cost of the warranty to pay for any claims. That means if you buy a 3 year extended warranty on a laptop, for instance, and pay $100 only $12 on average will be used to pay for any repairs. The other $88 goes to commissions, fees, and profit. If you buy a $2400 warranty on an automobile the average spent on repairs will be 12% or $288. You can see why these extended warranties are forcefully sold in dealerships and electronic stores.
“Mold and mildew are not covered by….any implied warranty”
When we look specifically at roofing warranties they are all similar. Look carefully at one of the largest manufactures, say CertainTeed, and you will see that very little is actually covered. CertainTeed sells an Algae Resistant shingle, here are the “Limitations” on that part of their warranty, “Shading, stains or discoloration to the shingles arising from outside sources such as, but not limited to, algae (unless blue-green algae as described in the section titled “Limited Algae Resistant Warranty”), fungus, moss, lichens or other vegetation, mold or mildew growth, or paints, chemicals or other similar materials. Mold and mildew are functions of environmental conditions and are not manufacturing defects. As such, mold and mildew are not covered by this Limited Warranty or any implied warranty.” That’s right only blue-green algae are covered. The problem is that the crushed limestone now used in asphalt shingles promotes the growth of fungus, moss, lichens, or other vegetation and mold or mildew growth. You will notice on the north side of trees and the northern slopes of many asphalt shingle roofs there is significant moss, mold, and mildew. The removal is a costly chemical roof cleaning which also reduces the life of the shingles.
Improper ventilation is a limitation as well. Any shingles applied to inadequately ventilated or non-ventilated decks, other than the shingles and deck systems described in the section titled “Insulated Decks and Radiant Barriers,” are subject to a reduced limited warranty period of ten (10) years and do not qualify for SureStart Protection.
“they offer no warranty for hail damage”
Even though asphalt shingle manufacturers advertise their shingles have the highest impact rating, Class 4, they offer no warranty for hail damage. “Damage caused by lightning, hailstorm, earthquake, fire, explosion, flood or falling objects is not covered”.
Wind damage claims caused by high winds are rarely ever made against asphalt shingle manufacturers because they are almost exclusively an insurance claim. In some cases, the wind warranty is voided if the homeowner doesn’t carry adequate home owner’s insurance.
Let’s say you cross all your “T’s” and dot all your cross “I’s” and you make a legitimate claim. Let’s even say the claim is due to a class-action lawsuit that was won due to a manufacturer’s defect. You would have to file about 10 to 15 pages of verified documents, one packet for every 100 square feet of roofing, or per square. These would include diagrams, digital photos, shingle samples, and a myriad of notarized documents. A fellow we spoke to did just that and ended up getting $2 per square for his trouble.
“walking on asphalt shingles can actually void your warranty?”
Did you know walking on asphalt shingles can actually void your warranty? “Damage caused by impact, including such things as tools, equipment, or foot traffic.” If the installation occurs in the middle of the summer and the shingles get so hot they melt and mar under foot traffic then you might be out of luck. On the other hand, if you have your shingles installed in the winter months you may not have a “sealed” or waterproof roof if its too cold to melt the seal tar strip, thus would void the warranty as well
Shingles that were too hot or cold when stored or installed can also have a voided warranty. “Misuse, abuse, neglect, or improper transportation, handling or storage of the shingles” may be cause for loss of warranty.
Are you recognizing a recurring theme here? It is very hard to make a successful claim on any asphalt shingle warranties due to all the limitations that are exclusively the manufacturer’s to interpret and apply. All quotations were taken directly from CertainTeed’s warranty page, a link provided below.
“4Ever metal shingle…. Will last 100 years”
Now let’s look at the 4Ever Metal Roof Warranty. The “coating” or paint has a 40 year warranty. This means the paint on the surface will last over 40 years, whereas shingles will last only 15 years on average. Unpainted the Galvalume will last an average of 130 years without rusting ( see my blog, “How long do metal roofs last and why do they last so long?”)If an asphalt shingle roof fails it no longer will shed water and will have all sorts of water penetration issues including rotting decks, mold, mildew, and possible odor penetration. The worst-case scenario with a failed warranty on a 4Ever metal shingle is cosmetic, your roof will not leak, and it will last 100 years or more.
For more information on our 4Ever metal shingles please visit our website at: AlphaRain.com or call us at 540-222-1642. We do have financing available.
