UnderstandingWarranties

H o m e o w n e r ’s G u i d e

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Products vs. ServicesThe purchase of a new roof system for a home is a significant expense. It involves purchasing a combination of products and services. It is veryimportant that the homeowner understands therole of the roofing contractor and the role of the manufacturer.

Protecting YourselfThe contractor chosen by the homeowner toinstall the roof will be expected to be competentand able to complete the work in a professionaland timely manner. If the specific details ofinstallation and timeliness have been previouslyagreed to between the homeowner and thecontractor, and written down, the outcome ofany specific dispute is much more predictable.Therefore it is in the interest of all responsibleparties concerned to establish in writing allpertinent details concerning the service to beperformed by the contractor and the expectations of the homeowner.

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Negotiate a written job agreement with thecontractor that defines the following issues:

• Products to be used

• Work start and completion times

• Work site appearance

• Insurance coverage in case of property damage

• Insurance coverage in case of personal injury

• License, code and permit requirements

• Price

• Payment terms and conditions

• Change order procedures

• Exclusions

• Unwritten representations

• Price fairness

The terms most difficult to define include pricefairness and unwritten representations. All of the other terms on the list can be defined veryquickly. The following sections will show you how.

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The Contractor: Reputation and PriceIn the matter of services or workmanship, thesigned agreement between the homeowner andthe contractor generally includes a written warrantyon workmanship. While the length of warrantiesmay vary, a good contractor will stand behind hiswork because he cares about his reputation andthe homeowner’s potential as a referral for otherwork. Clearly, the terms of the agreement and thegood reputation of the contractor are the mostreliable assurances of satisfactory workmanship.

In addition to the warranty, price is always a centralconcern. Price is not a measure of experience,reliability, competence, honesty or stability. Priceis a measure of the cost of the project. Some lowprices are bargains. Some low prices are invitationsto a bad dream.

Remember that as a homeowner you are shoppingfor a custom-made, one-of-a-kind, hand-craftedroof. Remember that this roof will help protectyour home, and that your home is probably thelargest single asset you own. And, think about thefact that when anyone looks at your home, 25%to 50% of what they see on most single familydwellings is the roof.

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Also remember to judge a price based on the totalservices a contractor will provide. Only after youunderstand these considerations should you thinkabout the price. For more information on how toevaluate the reputation of a contractor, see theCertainTeed brochure Choosing a Professional Roofer.

The Contractor: AgreementsThe buyer and the seller need to define thefollowing subjects and expectations in the clearestpossible language. The job agreement is the placeto define them. Although the contractor may insome cases furnish a separate warranty document,often the job agreement sets forth the foundationfor the negotiated terms of the contractor’spromises to the buyer.

Products to be usedSpecific, not generic, product brand names and colornames should be noted in the agreement. Mostprofessional contractors will offer the homeownera choice of good, better and best shingle productsusing appropriate manufacturer’s literature.

Work start and completion timesWork start and completion dates are estimates.The project duration should be firm (plus or minusa day or so), subject to the scope or nature of theproject changing from the original agreement. Theelement of bad weather must be taken into accountin holding firm to start and completion dates.

Work site appearanceWork site appearance should be discussed andwritten into the agreement. Cleanup procedures,equipment placement, landscape protection,product and equipment storage, approximatedelivery schedules, vehicle parking, electrical take-offs, access to water and other work siterelated matters can be handled with an attachedcheck list. Photos of similar jobs in progress canhelp the homeowner understand what to expect.

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Property damage or personal injury insuranceCurrent insurance certificates for workers’compensation* and general liability coveringroofing should be shown to the homeowner, andcopies can be attached to the agreement. This isespecially important because owners may assumea major liability risk in the event the contractor is uninsured or under-insured. Homeownersinsurance should not be presumed sufficientprotection against construction-related problems,especially personal injuries.

License, code and permit requirementsBusiness and contracting licenses can be attached.Responsibility should be assigned for codecompliance, building permits and any other localconstruction-related requirements.

Price, payment terms and conditionsPrice and payment terms and conditions shouldbe clearly defined in the project agreement.

Change order proceduresThere should be a written procedure for changeorders. Changes initiated by either the homeowneror the contractor can generate major misunder-standings, ill will and ultimately a visit to thecourt house with the attendant legal costs. But it is a simple matter to avoid. The projectagreement should state that no change may beimplemented unless first formalized in writingand signed by parties named in the agreement.

ExclusionsExclusions and limitations are boilerplate conditionswhich experienced contractors, aided by theirlawyers, have inserted in agreements. In a jobagreement, they are inserted to avoid misunder-standings and costly disputes. They are insertedinto warranties to reduce liability. Because theyare negative in tone and content, few contractors

*Workers’ compensation insurance not required in Texas

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will point them out. But the homeowner shouldtake the time to read them because they are veryeducational. Typical exclusions/ limitationsinclude damage caused by so-called “Acts of God”(such as weather events), damage caused by hidden,rotted roof decking and asbestos.

Another typical limitation which the contractorwill usually insist upon is any problem caused by a defect in the manufacture of purchasedproducts. Which brings us to the manufacturer’swarranty which covers the shingles.

The Manufacturer:WarrantiesUnlike the workmanship warranty, which isgenerally negotiated in the job agreement, theproduct warranty is set in concrete by themanufacturer. It is limited. It is fixed. It is rigid.It cannot be altered by actions of the homeowneror the contractor. It is the responsibility of thecontractor and the homeowner to read andcomprehend all of the terms and conditions of the warranty.

The shingle warranty will typically address:

• Finished job appearance

• Methods of installation

• Finished system performance

• Warranty transferability

Finished job appearanceThe appearance of a finished job can be affectedby a number of variables including color, deckmovement or failure, patterns, staining and damage.

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ColorManufacturers typically warn against reliance by the homeowner on sample boards and printedmaterials for color specifications. Shingle colorappearances can also vary to the eye according toweather conditions, time of day and the age ofthe shingle being observed. Some manufacturersexclude color variations entirely from warrantycoverage. Others exclude color variations whichresult from the positioning of granules on theshingles. (Granule position variations can result in micro shadows on shingles in isolated sectionsthat appear and disappear depending on sunlight angles.)

Deck movement or failureProblems caused by the failure of the deck ornailing surface over which the shingle is installedare excluded from warranty coverage by all shinglemanufacturers. Deck movement due to improperlyinstalled decking or moisture permitted byinadequate roof ventilation can cause visuallyobjectionable ridging in the shingles.

Objectionable patternsStrange color patterns may result when shinglesare not installed according to manufacturers’application instructions. Manufacturers’ warrantiesdisclaim liability for incorrect installation.

Misalignment of the cut-outs in some shingles issometimes a problem. This is ordinarily caused bypoor workmanship or shingles which are out ofdimensional tolerances. (CertainTeed dimensionaltolerance standards are the most stringent in the industry.)

StainingStaining of new shingles is often caused by thetransference of oils or minerals to the face of theshingle below. This happens in the packagingbefore application. Normally, natural weathering

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will wash away these stains. If the stainingremains after 60 days the manufacturer should be advised immediately.

Aged shingle staining is normally caused by algae (often misnamed “fungus”) formation. This is not covered by the manufacturer’swarranty, unless algae-resistant shingles werepurchased. Warranty terms covering algaeresistance vary among manufacturers.

DamageDamage by alterations such as additions,equipment installations and remodeling arealways excluded. If other work is being done on your home, schedule the shingle work so that the completed shingle job will not beaffected by other operations or workers.

Damage to shingles caused by mechanical ice and snow removal is also excluded, as is damagecaused by cleaning agents, solvents, chemicals,paints and coatings.

Damage by wind in excess of the wind warrantylimitation is excluded.

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Methods of InstallationInstallation can be affected by a failure to followinstallation instructions, improper fastening andcertain special situations.

Installation instructionsEach manufacturer specifies the approved methodsfor the installation of each of its products. Installationmethods vary from manufacturer to manufacturer,and from shingle to shingle. Shingles installed usingincorrect methods may cause unattractive patternswithout recourse to warranty coverage. To helpavoid this result, ask your contractor to attach theappropriate manufacturer’s installation sheet to the job agreement and note in the agreement whichmethod will be used.

Installation instructions are also found on the shinglewrapper. However, alternate methods not found on the wrapper can sometimes be used. These arespecified in the manufacturer’s installationinstruction sheets.

FasteningThere are two fastening systems used to secureshingles. One is mechanical, either nails or staples.The other is adhesive, commonly known as sealant.

The specifications for mechanical fasteners aredetailed on the shingle package and the installationinstruction sheets. These specifications involve thefastener type, size and placement. All manufacturers’warranties require correct mechanical fastening.

Sealant is the adhesive used on many, but not all,shingles to secure against wind damage. Somemanufacturers’ warranties require that sealant becompletely adhered in order for the warranty tocover wind damage complaints. Others (includingCertainTeed’s) warrant against wind damageregardless of the adherence of the sealant.

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Special situationsSpecial situations include very low-slope and very steep-slope applications, as well as ice damprotection at the eaves. The methods to deal with these are specified on the shingle packageand also found in the shingle applicationinstruction sheets.

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Finished SystemPerformanceThe finished system’s performance is governed by the duration of the selected shingle, properventilation and avoiding ice dams.

DurationThe duration of the warranty is commonly used as a rule of thumb to measure the value of the warranty to the homeowner. This can bemisleading. The upfront provisions as they relateto shingle age are more important than thewarranty duration. Thus, comparing the value of a 30-year warranty to a 40-year warranty is not as straightforward an exercise as it mightseem at first glance.

Most warranties are subject to some form ofprorating which recognizes that the remaininglife of the shingle diminishes as it ages. However,it is widely agreed that most defects caused bythe manufacturing process will appear in the early years after installation. Because of thisphenomenon, CertainTeed has added SureStartTM

protection to its warranty.

SureStart provides that in the case of a defect in manufacture, CertainTeed will pay labor andmaterial costs to replace or repair the defectwithout prorating for the first three, five or tenyears after installation, depending on the shingle.Tear-off and disposal costs are included in theSureStart coverage for lifetime products asindicated in Table 1 of the current asphalt shingleproduct warranty. Your contractor can provideyou with a copy of this warranty. For an addedmeasure of assurance, SureStart PLUSTM warrantyprotection extends the duration of SureStartprotection when a CertainTeed credentialedcontractor installs an Integrity Roof System.TM

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VentilationIt is vital that every homeowner understand thatall manufacturers require that FHA minimumproperty standards for ventilation be observed.This is because poor ventilation has been provento increase attic temperature substantially in thesummer months, promote ice dam formation atthe eaves of the roof in the winter in the presenceof snow, and increase the chance of condensationthat can cause deck movement or deterioration.These conditions can cause premature shingleaging and perhaps leaks. Older homes are seldomventilated to FHA standards. Manufacturers willreject claims for problems that can be traced toinadequate ventilation.

Ice damsAll shingle manufacturers exclude from warrantycoverage leaks caused by water backup behind ice dams, which can form on the eaves of theroof. These leaks can be easily prevented. Properventilation will minimize the chances of ice damformation, and WinterGuardTM waterproofingshingle underlayment, properly installed, willprevent leaks in spite of ice dam formation andwill also prevent leaks from wind-driven rain. (See our Protecting Your Home From Ice Damsbrochure for more information.)

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Warranty TransferabilityThe warranties for CertainTeed shingles aretransferable by the original property owner to the subsequent owner provided that the firstsubsequent property owner gives written noticeto CertainTeed within 60 days from the date ofreal estate title transfer. Upon transfer of thewarranty during the product’s SureStart orSureStart PLUS periods, the remaining durationof the warranty for the new owner is the same asit would have been for the original owner.

For product warranties transferred after theSureStart or SureStart PLUS period has elapsed,the remaining duration of the transferredwarranty will be two years from the date of real estate title transfer.

The information in this publication is providedfor background purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Readers should not act on information in this publication withoutseeking specific advice in matters which are of concern to them.

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You’ve got questions? For answers, or to find the professional contractor nearest you, call our Consumer Hotline at 800-782-8777.

CertainTeed Corporation20 Moores RoadMalvern, PA 19355

Professional: 800-233-8990Consumer: 800-782-8777www.certainteed.com

Code No. 20-20-1718, © 2017 CertainTeed Corporation, Printed in U.S.A.

Easy selection. Long-term protection. And a #1 rating with building and remodeling professionals.

What’s behind our #1 rating?Builders and remodelers across America know certain thingsto be true of CertainTeed. For starters, we’ve been inthe roofing business for over 100 years, and we havethousands of satisfied homeowners. The process ofbuilding that satisfaction begins the moment you turn to us.

CertainTeed offers you the broadest range of color andstyle choices. But you’ll see it’s not style over substance.You’ll get a roof that’s made from the highest qualitymaterials and backed by a strong warranty program. It’s our promise to you: quality made certain, satisfaction guaranteed.

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