Commercial Roofing Warranties: A Primer

Commercial roofing warranties vary between manufacturer, roofing system and roofing contractor, among other factors. However, they all have fundamental things in common.

Types of Warranties

Warranty coverage on commercial roofing systems can be classified into two categories: manufacturer warranties and contractor or installer warranty. The same classifications also apply to most types of residential roofing warranties, but with significant differences.

Manufacturer Warranty

Manufacturer warranties provide coverage for roofing materials or, in some cases, even the complete roofing system. Roofing problems caused by factory defects or manufacturing errors are generally covered by manufacturer warranties. There are four types of commercial roofing manufacturer warranties:

1. No Dollar Limit (NDL) Warranty 

An NDL warranty will provide coverage for manufacturing defects regardless of the cost of replacement materials, hence the name. It’s important to note that NDL warranties typically don’t include coverage for labor costs.

2. Manufacturer’s Material Warranty 

It’s not unusual for a commercial roofer to build a roof using materials from different manufacturers. Under a manufacturer’s material warranty, they will provide coverage only for the materials that they’ve manufactured.

3. Manufacturer’s Labor and Material Warranty 

This provides coverage for both materials and labor, up to a certain dollar limit. The bigger the roof, the faster the dollar limit can be reached.

4. Manufacturer’s Roof System Warranty 

Sometimes referred to as a “membrane only,” a manufacturer’s roof system warranty provides coverage to the main roofing material.

Contractor Warranty

Contractor warranties provide coverage for roofing problems caused by installation errors and other workmanship-related causes. This type of warranty is generally shorter in years than manufacturer warranties because workmanship-related problems usually make themselves known within the first few years after installation.

Warranty Exceptions

Warranty exceptions are items and conditions that are not covered by manufacturer and contractor warranties. As the property owner or manager, you need to make sure that you’ve read and understood the warranty exceptions as stated in the paperwork. Warranty exceptions typically include unauthorized modifications, DIY repairs and weather conditions for which the roof isn’t rated. It is also important to keep up with scheduled maintenance and inspections as not doing so may void its warranty coverage.

Christian Brothers Roofing is your leading provider of commercial and residential roofing services. Give us a call at (270) 715-1999. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.