If you are getting a new roof installed, it's common for the roof to come with a warranty. However, all warranties are not identical. There can actually be some big differences in roofing warranties that are offered that make them better or worse than another. Here are some things to consider when comparing warranties.

Warranty On The Material

The roofing material itself should come with a warranty, so be sure to ask your roofing contractor more about which manufacturer is making the roofing material and what type of warranty comes with it. The manufacturer should be a reputable company that has been in the roofing business for a while. That is because it's common for the material warranty to last few many years, and you want the company to still be in business if you ever need to make a warranty claim.

Another aspect of the material warranty to look into is if it is transferable to a new owner. It's likely that you will sell your house before the roofing needs to be replaced, and a transferable roofing material warranty is something you can use as a selling point to a potential home buyer.

It's also important to find out what will cause that material warranty to become void. For example, it may require that all future repairs are done by a certified roofing contractor and that doing a repair on your own will void the warranty. There may also be requirements on what roofing contractors can perform the installation, with certain contractors being authorized to sell and install the manufacturer's products.

If the warranty is not acceptable to you, ask about what other material can be used for your roof.

Warranty On The Labor

The roofing contractor that you work with should also supply a warranty of their own on the labor they perform. This should cover the labor to perform repair work due to a problem with the roof installation. You will also want to verify that the warranty on the labor is transferable, just like with the warranty on the materials. If you do need to make a claim on the materials, ask if the roofing contractor will provide the labor to replace the materials. If not, then you will be responsible for paying for all labor involved with installing new roofing materials.

Speak to your local roof repair contractor for more information about roof warranties to help cover the cost of repairs.