Running a roofing business comes with its fair share of risks—customer complaints, unexpected repairs, and miscommunication about what’s actually covered after the job is done.
Without a clear roofing warranty in place, those problems can quickly eat into your profits and your reputation.
Keep reading to learn what a roofing warranty is, what it should include, and the best practices for creating your own.
What is a roofing warranty?
A roofing warranty is a document that outlines the protection you offer customers after a roofing job is complete. It explains what’s covered—like materials, workmanship, or installation errors—and how long that coverage lasts.
This helps build trust with customers and protects your business from future disputes.
What does a roof warranty cover?
Many manufacturers’ warranties provide coverage for at least 10 years. A standard roofing warranty will often cover labor and material costs to address issues like:
- Defective shingles, tiles, or other roofing material
- Roof leaks caused by faulty workmanship
- Cracked or broken beams due to poor materials or installation
Benefits of a roofing warranty
A roofing warranty doesn’t just offer benefits for your clients. Here’s how your business will benefit from a roofing warranty:
- Builds customer trust and demonstrates your professionalism by showing you stand behind your roofing work.
- Protects your business from disputes by clearly outlining what’s covered.
- Sets client expectations so you can avoid misunderstandings about what’s included and for how long.
- Boosts roofing sales. When potential customers feel confident their roof is covered, they’re more willing to hire you.
Residential vs. commercial roofing warranties
Typically, residential and commercial roofing warranties vary in coverage, length, and transferability.
Residential roofing warranties cover issues with materials and workmanship, but don’t usually cover external damage due to weather or vandalism.
Warranty length can be anywhere from 10 years to a lifetime warranty, and owners often pay for part of any repairs. Coverage can be carried over to at least one subsequent homeowner.
Commercial roofing warranties, on the other hand, can cover all aspects of the roof, not just the build and materials. They often have longer terms than residential warranties and cover the entire cost of roof repairs.
Because they have more coverage, they tend to be more detailed. They also may not transfer to other building owners.
Roofing warranty coverage options
There are normally three warranty options: limited, extended, and lifetime.
- A limited warranty has certain limitations on length and coverage. For example, a roofing manufacturer’s warranty might only be 10 years, or could only cover defects in materials and workmanship.
- An extended warranty builds on the terms of a limited warranty, giving you longer and greater coverage. This type of warranty usually comes with a higher price tag because it covers more potential issues.
- A lifetime warranty lasts for the length of time that a person owns the home. This can provide excellent long-term coverage if the owner lives in the home for several decades.
A roofing contractor may choose to offer just one type of warranty coverage. That said, they could also offer multiple warranty options with added fees for longer policies.
What should be included in a roof warranty?
Think of your warranty as a contract that exists to protect both your customer and your business. With that in mind, your roofing warranty should include terms and conditions like:
- Definitions that may need explanation for legal reasons (e.g., “owner,” “manufacturer”)
- General provisions that define the type of product warranty (e.g., limited warranty, extended warranty, or lifetime warranty) and exactly what roofing material is covered
- Warranty term, meaning its length, start date, and any conditions that could delay the start of the warranty period (e.g., an unpaid roofing invoice)
- A claims procedure that outlines when and how to make a warranty claim with the manufacturer
- Replacement costs that may be covered by the customer (e.g., the customer pays the first $3,000 of roofing repairs, with the warranty covering the remainder)
- Exclusions that aren’t covered by the warranty (e.g., roof damage due to extreme weather, fire, vandalism, structural defects, improper maintenance, etc.)
- Cancellation of warranty, or conditions that would void the warranty (e.g., roof repair completed by another roofing contractor)
- Roof access requirements stating that the homeowner must provide reasonable access to allow for maintenance and repairs under the warranty
- Assignment of warranty, which allows for warranty transfer to one or more future property owners
- Terms for additional repairs that are required to maintain the warranty but aren’t covered by it (e.g., repairing roof damage caused by weather)
- Terms for roof inspections to regularly monitor the ongoing state of the roof
- Spaces for signatures, both for yourself and for the customer, along with space for the signing date
Best practices for creating a roofing warranty
When you’re creating your roofing product warranty, follow these best practices to create the best possible policy:
- Keep it simple and use plain language that the customer can easily understand.
- Explain warranty coverage clearly and in detail so the customer knows what is and isn’t included in the policy.
- Provide value for customers by giving them a warranty that protects their home as much as possible.
- Talk to a lawyer and get them to review your warranty policy before you start sharing it with customers.
You can create your roofing warranty from scratch or use a free online roof warranty template.
Before offering a warranty on your roofing services or products, make sure you consult a licensed attorney. Warranty laws can vary from state to state—a legal professional will ensure your bases are covered and protect you from disputes or liabilities down the road.