Who answers for what
The manufacturer answers for what it made. The contractor answers for what they did on your roof. Faced with a leak, you first need to know which of the two is involved.
Reading the warranties side by side is one of the checks to make when choosing a roofer.
What the contractor promises
The workmanship warranty comes from the roofer. It covers what their crew did: the fastening, the seams, the flashing, the edges of openings.
On a recent roof, water often gets in through an installation detail rather than a defect in the material. The workmanship warranty is often the one that gets used.
Each contractor sets its duration and scope. It also has a weakness that no text corrects: it is only worth something while the company is in business and returns its calls. The company's soundness matters as much as the promised duration.
What the manufacturer promises
The manufacturer's warranty comes from the company that produces the shingles or the membrane. It covers manufacturing defects. Read three things in it.
- What it requires of the installation. The manufacturer describes how its product must be installed: the underlayment, the fastening method, attic ventilation, the accessories that go with it. An installation that does not follow these instructions can put the warranty at risk.
- What it reimburses. The warranty sometimes reimburses the material alone, sometimes also the labour needed to replace it.
- What you must do to get it. Some warranties require registration after the job, and some transfer to a buyer according to the manufacturer's conditions. Know whether you or the roofer handles the registration.
Two documents, not one
A "work guaranteed" line at the bottom of a quote is not enough. Ask for two separate written documents.
From the roofer, a document that states:
- their company and your building's address
- the day the warranty starts, to confirm with them
- how long it lasts
- what it includes and what it leaves out
- how to make a claim
From the manufacturer, the full text of the warranty or its certificate, the exact name of the products installed and, if the warranty requires it, confirmation that it has been registered.
What the warranties leave out
Both warranties generally exclude what is due neither to the product nor to the installation.
- An extraordinary storm.
- A roof left without maintenance, for example a drain that stays clogged.
- Work done afterward by another company.
- Equipment whose fastening goes through the roofing.
A heat pump, an antenna or a deck to install on the roof? First call the roofer who did the roofing and ask how to proceed so their warranty holds.
Your other recourses
The written warranties and the contract do not necessarily sum up everything that protects you. To find out where you stand on your rights, contact the Office de la protection du consommateur (Quebec's consumer protection office) or a legal adviser.
Frequently asked questions
If I can only negotiate one, which should it be?
Keep both warranties: they do not cover the same problems. In the first years, the workmanship warranty is often used more. An installation defect often shows up early.
My roofer has gone out of business. Do I still have a warranty?
The warranty of a roofer who has gone out of business becomes hard to enforce. The manufacturer's warranty stays in place, under the conditions written in it.
I am selling my house. Does the buyer benefit from the warranties?
The buyer benefits if the warranty texts provide for it. Some warranties can be transferred to the buyer, sometimes through a step to complete within a set time. Reread them before putting the house up for sale.