Roof System Warranties Explained [+ video]

This video blog is part of the Official RoofPal Microcast Series


When it comes to roof system warranties, there is a lot of information available that can be confusing and misguiding. A manufacturer’s warranty should serve as a guide to what the roofing contractor should do. But beware – unfortunately, some roofing contractors sell warranties that may contradict what the manufacturer offers.

What is a warranty?
A warranty is a written guarantee of the integrity of a product and of the maker’s responsibility for the repair or replacement of defective parts. Warranties are not iron-clad, all-inclusive insurance policies that cover any roofing problem. They don’t specify the roof won’t leak or that the materials are even suitable for the building on which they are installed. This is one of many reasons to always choose a reputable, professional roofing contractor and not just the lowest bid.

Warranties can be very confusing
For example, roof coating manufacturers typically offer a 10-year warranty with 3 applications over sprayed polyurethane foam (exceptions to this include Conklin 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 coatings). There are roofing contractors that offer 10-year warranties with only 2 applications of coating solely to save on material costs, claiming they roof system will last just as long. Make sure this is not the case, as this can void your warranty with the manufacturer if it conflicts.

In other cases, some roofing contractors offer 10-year “no leak” guarantees, which often does not cover their workmanship (only leaks). They sometimes also include in the fine print of the contract that you must re-coat the roof after 7 years. It would appear in this case you then are receiving a limited 7-year warranty instead of a 10-year “no leak” guarantee with an obligation for additional future costs.

Possibly the most egregious example of warranty confusion is when the exact same roof system is offered with warranty options for 10, 12 or 15 years. The duration of the warranty shouldn’t be your concern – the limitations should be. Paying more money for a longer warranty period will not extend the useful life of any roof system.

The best solution is to ensure the warranty your roofing contractor offers is aligned with the manufacturer warranty, and to establish with that roofing contractor an annual or twice-annually cleaning and maintenance program. You may not need to purchase an extended warranty because your roof will typically last longer than the warranty period if you have it properly and regularly cleaned and maintained.

A roofing contractor’s Workmanship Guarantee (also referred to as a Labor Warranty) typically provides broad and long-term protection with direct insurance and legal remedies, if it ever became necessary. Reputable roofing contractors typically include one to five-year warranties that are stated in brief, plain-English contract language clearly spelling out their obligation. What you want to see is no excessive fine print, no loopholes, and no “gotcha” clauses. Rather, a brief broad-based contractual warranty provision that covers both defective materials and defective workmanship without exclusionary language that limits the scope of coverage or applicability of the warranty.

Here are a few recommendations:
First, make sure the contractor you select is approved by the manufacturer to install and warranty the materials being recommended.

Second, consider if the roofing contractor you are selecting has been in business long enough to have earned a solid reputation in the industry, and that you trust will be in business long enough to honor the duration of your warranty.

Third, negotiate with the roofing contractor the best possible un-excluded Workmanship Guarantee or Labor Warranty. You should request that any ambiguous language or obvious loopholes are removed from the document. Also insist that the included base manufacturer warranty be No Dollar Limit (NDL).

Finally, establish a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule with the contractor who installs the roofing system. Your roof will last longer, be less likely to have leaks, and will help prevent your warranties from becoming void.

Find a Contractor here

ROOFING CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!

Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

Conklin's Rapid Roof III Takes a Beating and Still Clobbers the Competition

A side-by-side assessment of Rapid Roof III over foam and a similar competitive product illustrated the amazing superiority of the Conklin product compared to the competition.

A 2010 investigation of an Oklahoma City roof coated with both Rapid Roof and the competitor’s product compared a 10’ x 10’ area of each application, and showed the following:

• The depth of the damage from hail strikes was between an eighth and a quarter of an inch on the Rapid Roof sample, and up to six times deeper on the competitive sample.
• The distance between strikes was far greater on the Conklin sample than on the competitive sample, which showed a tight pattern of damage.
• The total number of strikes that showed damage was 13 on the Conklin sample, and 105 on the competitive sample!

A “veteran” of the Conklin Roofing Systems product line, Rapid Roof III has been taking on Mother Nature for over 25 years . . . and is still on a winning streak. And like all of our Conklin roof coatings, it’s unstoppable against the competition!

Find a Contractor here


ROOFING CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!
Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

Cold Call + Cool Roof Recommendation = A Sizzling Opportunity for Conklin IBO Delmarva Roofing & Coating, Inc.

When Conklin Roofing Systems Independent Business Owner Sheldon Swartzentruber made a cold call to Playtex® Products, Inc. to offer his roofing services, he was given a job nobody wanted – re-roofing the facility’s boiler room. Other contractors, it seems, had experienced problems with re-roofing the area over the boiler room because of the heat stacks, and no one was interested in that particular task.

A perfect job for Conklin’s spray foam roof system
Sheldon’s successful re-roof of the Playtex boiler room led to several more small jobs, until eventually Playtex began accepting his bids for larger jobs. Now his company, Delmarva Roofing & Coating, Inc., re-coats a section of roof per year for Playtex on average, and Sheldon has had the opportunity to try a number of Conklin systems on the expansive Dover, DE facility.

“To date, we have installed Conklin foam and coating on approximately 400,000 square feet of the facility,” says Sheldon. “The majority of jobs that we do for Playtex are spray foam systems,” he continues, “but we frequently use the Single-Ply system on sections of new construction, because architects tend to prefer membrane systems — and the 15-year warranty that we offer with them.” Sheldon’s team has applied Hy-Crown® membrane on approximately 180,000 square feet of the facility.

Old is New Again
Delmarva's next Playtex job involved renewing Conklin’s superior protection on the two original sections of foam and coating that were put down almost two decades ago – an 18,000 square-foot section, to which Sheldon originally applied a Conklin roof in 1991, and a 56,700 square-foot section that Sheldon originally coated with Conklin systems in 1993. “At that time,” says Sheldon, “I figured that each of those roofs would last about 12–15 years. Now almost 20 years later, the roofs are still problem-free and going strong — they’re just in need of a warranty renewal.”

In addition to the exceptional long-term performance of Conklin Roofing Systems, says Sheldon, “building owners like our roofs because they’re environmentally friendly, and also kind to the customer’s bottom line.”


Find a Contractor here



ROOFING CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!
Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

Why did roofing contractor Brian Ruisinger join the Conklin team?

Roofing contractor Brian Ruisinger (owner of PPI Roofing in Overland Park, Kansas) talks about the reasons he joined the Conklin team, how great Conklin's wide range of roofing products are, the importance of the "team environment" help and support provided, and how hard work and dedication has paid off very well financially.



Roofing contractors - if you are interested in learning more about joining the Conklin team, please contact Randy Patton of Patton Services at (309) 303-3128 or by emailing rpatton55@comcast.net.

Conklin IBO Mike Stout talks about a flat roof job using Conklin roof coatings

Mike Stout, owner of Stout Roofing & Construction in Havana, Illinois (and a Conklin Independent Business Owner) talks about a big job he is doing with Conklin roof coatings on a flat roof.



Roofing contractors - if you are interested in learning more about joining the Conklin team, please contact Randy Patton of Patton Services at (309) 303-3128 or by emailing rpatton55@comcast.net.

Why did roofing contractor Shannon Walker join the Conklin team?

Shannon Walker, owner of Horizon Roofing Inc. in Welch, Oklahoma talks about joining the Conklin team as someone who was brand new to the roofing industry.



Roofing contractors - if you are interested in learning more about joining the Conklin team, please contact Randy Patton of Patton Services at (309) 303-3128 or by emailing rpatton55@comcast.net.