Essential Things to Know About Commercial Roofing Warranties

Aug 05, 2023

When getting a new roof, among the first things you should consider are warranties. Property owners should be aware of what is and isn’t included in their roofing warranties. This coverage provided by the roofer and manufacturer is essential because it guarantees that the roof will perform as expected. It will also protect you against manufacturing defects, which could affect the lifespan of your new roof. 


What Are the Different Types of Manufacturer Warranties?


No Dollar Limit (NDL) Warranty

A Manufacturer’s NDL Warranty covers defective products or failure of products even when used correctly within the warranty period. The manufacturer would replace the defective products regardless of the cost. Even if fixing the problem costs more than the actual roof replacement, the manufacturer should still cover it. Premature aging and manufacturing defects are the usual material-failure-related issues.


Keep in mind that this guarantee will only cover materials directly purchased from the manufacturer. It means that an NDL Warranty will not pay for the cost of a roof leak that occurs due to fixtures on your roof, such as exhaust vents. This type of warranty usually does not cover labor costs to repair or replace the affected materials. Many manufacturers have an additional fee for this warranty. 


Labor and Material Warranty

Your manufacturer may cover your roof repair costs if the damage occurred due to defective materials or workmanship. Labor and material warranty has a certain dollar limit, usually depending on the size of your roof. You can quickly reach the limit of the coverage if you have a large roof. Most times, labor and material warranties are pro-rated. It means that the coverage for replacing or repairing damaged components reduces over the years. 


Material Warranty

Material warranties guarantee that the products of the manufacturers will not fail within a specified time. This type of warranty usually has a validity period of 10 to 30 years or more. Most times, you will not be asked to pay a fee for manufacturer material warranties. However, the materials your roofer uses are not directly from the manufacturer. This still depends on the manufacturer as some cover certain types of poor workmanship. 


Roof System Warranty

This type of warranty only covers the membrane of the commercial roofing system. It is not comprehensive and does not provide coverage for insulation or decking issues. A roof system warranty can have no dollar limit or limited coverage, improving its value and covering roof leaks due to poor workmanship or defective materials. Moreover, it is the most basic warranty that commercial and residential roofing manufacturers offer. 


What You Need to Know About Contractor Warranties

Roofing contractors typically offer workmanship warranties. Remember that even the strongest roofing products can fail when not installed correctly. Poor workmanship can lead to leaks and even early failure of your new roof. Contractor warranties cover the work done to install the products of the manufacturer. It may also cover the products your contractor uses to install the roof.

The length of the coverage of your roofing contractor’s warranty says a lot about their company. The longer the validity of the warranty is, the more confident commercial or residential roofing contractors is about their skills and the quality of the materials they use. 


How Do You Know Who Is Responsible for Your Roofing Problems?


When Are Property Owners Responsible?

As a property owner, it is your responsibility to handle costs not covered by the manufacturer’s and roofing contractor’s warranties. You also need to maintain your commercial roof regularly to keep your warranty valid. 

Many manufacturers and contractors state in their contracts that proper care is necessary to maintain the validity of warranties. Roof damage due to neglect is typically not covered by your warranty. By investing in routine maintenance, your roof will last longer, and you will also have the required documentation in case there’s an issue with the system. 


When Do You Need to Contact Your Roofer?

Your contractors are responsible for repairing and replacing defective products they used on your roof. They should also provide the labor necessary to correct installation errors at no cost as long as the warranty remains in effect. Check the coverage of your roofing contractor’s warranty as they are typically not as long as manufacturer warranties. At Total Roof Services Corp., we work with leading manufacturers to provide you with some of the most comprehensive warranties in the industry. You can only expect the best service if you choose us for your emergency roof repair or roof replacement needs. 


When Is It Necessary to Reach Out to the Manufacturer?

The manufacturers should replace their defective products without charge for the validity of the warranty. However, they are not responsible for replacing materials that the contractor supplies. They won’t also cover defects caused by improper installation. 


What Can Void a Commercial Roofing Warranty? 


Failure to Address Storm Damage

Extreme weather events can cause significant damage to your commercial roofing system. After a storm, it is always a good idea to have your roof checked by a professional. It’s not a good idea to wait until the next scheduled maintenance to get an inspection. Take photos of the affected parts of your roof, and have them addressed as soon as possible. 


Neglect or Not Maintaining the Roof

Poor maintenance is one of the most common causes of early commercial roofing system failure. If you don’t take care of your roof regularly, water can settle on the low spots of the system. Over time, the water will get too heavy and encourage algae growth. When the roof starts to leak, the water will enter your building. It means you will not only pay for the cost of repairing the roof, but also the affected parts of the interior. 


Be sure to document everything that is done to your roof. Your contractor or manufacturer may ask for proof of maintenance to keep your warranty valid. 


Unauthorized Changes to the Roof

Placing equipment or certain types of construction on your roof can damage the system. For instance, adding new air conditioning equipment to the rooftop can harm your roof. Anything that you are planning to change or add to your roof must be done by an authorized professional. If a tenant hires another contractor or does the project themselves, your warranty could be voided. 



Turn to Total Roof Services Corp. for your home’s and business’ roofing needs. Whether you need an emergency roof repair or a roof replacement, we’re here to help. Call us at (407) 495-4151.

Why Florida Homeowners Shouldn’t Skip on Roofing Ventilation

By Marissa Robinson • 05 Aug, 2023
When homeowners are getting a roof replacement project done, some contractors are a bit surprised when they realize that some homeowners don’t pay much attention to their roof’s ventilation. After all, proper ventilation does offer plenty of benefits to your roof and your home, especially if you live in an area that experiences as much heat as Florida does. As such, it’s highly recommended that you learn the importance of having proper roof ventilation in your home. Here’s why Florida homeowners should never skimp out on roofing ventilation systems.  They Keep Your Home Cool Roof vents are good tools to use if you want to control the temperature around your home. If you live in an area as hot as Florida, they can help you keep your home cool by preventing your attic and the rest of your home from retaining hot air and heating up, making your living space cooler and comfortable in the process. Apart from that, since poorly ventilated homes will force you to crank up your AC unit, having proper roof ventilation can help you keep utility costs down by reducing your reliance on your air conditioner. They Protect Your Roof Apart from keeping your home cool and reducing the costs of your monthly energy bills, proper roofing ventilation can also help you preserve the roof of your Florida home and help it last for a significant amount of time. This is because, with correct ventilation, the excess heat and moisture that becomes trapped in your attic can escape, preventing it from baking the shingles inside out. Planning to improve your roof’s ventilation? Simply turn to Total Roof Services Corp,. the number one pros to approach when it comes to storm damage roof repair and commercial roofing services. Give us a call at (407) 495-4151 to schedule a free consultation today!

5 Reasons Metal Roofs Are Considered Green Roofing Options

By Marissa Robinson • 05 Aug, 2023
When it comes to the topic of residential roofing projects, you’ll be pleased to learn that you have a wide range of choices when it comes to the material. After all, as the homeowner, you’re more than free to choose between materials like asphalt, slate and even concrete tile. However, while each material has its own sets of advantages and disadvantages, and each are considered green roofing options to a certain degree, there is another green roofing material that you shouldn’t forget to consider: metal roofs. Believe it or not, despite the fact that they’re more commonly associated with barns and industrial buildings, metal roofs have been considered a green roofing option by the roofing industry for a while now. But why are these considered green options? 1. Metal Roofs Are Energy-Efficient According to roofing industry pros, metal roofs are considered a green roofing option for one obvious reason: they’re energy-efficient when properly installed in your home. This is because if a metal roof is properly installed in your home, and you choose one that has a light color, your roofing system can reflect solar heat, allowing you to reduce your monthly cooling costs by 10% to 25%. Apart from that, if you live in an area where cooling costs are higher than heating costs, and you decide to coat the metal roof with shiny or granular coatings, you can still maximize the roof’s reflective capabilities and improve your monthly energy savings even further. 2. They Can Be Recycled Even now, whenever homeowners decide to have their old residential roofing systems replaced, they often have their roofing contractor dispose of it in a landfill, adding further to the trash that is already there and further harming the environment in the process. This is where metal roofs become a green roofing option as, when the time comes your metal roof has to be replaced, metal recycling outlets will be more than willing to take your old roof in and repurpose it for different use. This prevents your metal roof from winding up in a landfill and harming the environment even further. 3. They Can Be Installed Over Existing Roofing Systems Apart from being recyclable, metal roofing systems are also considered green roofing options because they can be installed over your existing roofing system so long as your local building codes allow it. Again, this helps you avoid tearing off your old roof and disposing of them in a landfill, helping you protect the environment as a result. However, keep in mind that doing so can cause a whole host of problems, such as trapped moisture, so it’s best that you install a vented metal roof with the aid of a professional roofing company. 4. Metal Roofs Are Impervious to Fire, Rot and Pest Damage Alternatively, the roofing industry also considers metal roofs as green roofing options due to the fire, rot and pest resistance that they have. This means that if you live in an area that’s prone to wildfires, and you have a metal roof, there’s a high chance that your metal roof can stay intact even when the wildfire affects your home. Thanks to its pest and rot resistance, on the other hand, your roof can also last longer before needing a replacement, once again letting you avoid contributing to landfills that can harm the environment. 5. They’re Incredibly Durable and Long Lasting Finally, roof repair and replacement experts also say that the roofing industry considers metal roofs as green roofing options for the sole fact that they’re incredibly durable. Believe it or not, there’s hardly anything that can actually threaten a metal roof that’s properly installed, and, with the proper maintenance, this same durability allows a metal roofing system to last longer compared to your average roofing material. This lets you avoid having to replace your roof immediately, reducing the amount of trash that you contribute to your local landfill. How to Find the Best Metal Roofing Contractor for Your Project Replacing your old roof with a new metal roofing system is a complicated home improvement project that homeowners should never attempt to do on their own. Instead, you should make it a point to find the best metal roofing contractor to get the job done. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can accomplish this. For instance, you can always ask for trusted referrals from a friend, neighbor or family member who recently had a metal roof installed. If this isn’t an option, on the other hand, you can always reach out to the metal roof manufacturer or roofing organizations and associations for any suggestions and recommendations. On the other hand, if you want to find a metal roofing contractor on your own, you’re always more than free to look for one on the Internet. If you opt for this option, you can always do a quick Google search or visit websites such as Angie’s List® or the Better Business Bureau to find a contractor that specializes in installing metal roofing systems. Once you’ve picked a few companies, check the reviews of previous clients to see if they have any history of unresolved complaints. After you’ve narrowed down your options even further, you can now meet with your potential contractors to interview them, discuss terms and receive estimates from them. After you’ve received the estimates, pick one that agrees with your budget the most so you can finally have your new metal roofing system installed. Looking for someone who can perform an emergency roof repair project for your home? Look no further than the experts of Total Roof Services Corp. to get the job done. With a decade’s worth of experience in the roofing industry, we are committed to giving homeowners like you only the best when it comes to products and customer service. Give us a call at (407) 495-4151
Share by: