Why Are Warranties Important?
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A new roof is a big investment, typically
involving thousands of your hard-earned dollars and lasting 25,
30, 40 years or more. As with any big investment, knowing in advance
what your warranty covers could save you thousands in the event
that problems arise with your roof. |
What Are The Chances Of Having A Problem
With My New GAF Roof?
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Based on our state-of-the-art manufacturing
process, the odds of having a problem with a new GAF roof is about
1 in 1000! On the other hand, while serious problems with GAF roofing
materials are rare, if you were to have a problem, it can be as
expensive to fix as your roof originally cost. So while the risk
of having a problem is low, the cost if you do have a serious problem
can potentially be high. |
What About Problems With Installation?
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GAF’s studies indicate that more than two-thirds
of the problems that people experience with their new roofs are
due to the contractor’s workmanship—not the roofing materials. This
is an important distinction to keep in mind when deciding on warranty
coverage. |
What Should I Look For In A Roofing
Warranty?
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Basically, there are two types of coverage
that you should ask your contractor about: coverage against material
defects and coverage against workmanship errors. |
Tell Me About Coverage Against Material
Defects...
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To the best of our knowledge, all roofing
products come with a warranty against material defects, although
your exact coverage will vary depending on the brand. For example,
the typical shingle warranty will cover material defects for a period
of 20, 30, 40 years or more. The warranty on the other components
of your roofing system can vary from as little as a few months to
several years. It is important to remember that coverage against
material defects is provided by the manufacturer, so you should
select a brand from a manufacturer who is financially strong and
therefore more likely to be in business for as long as you own your
roof—which could be several decades! |
What Is GAF’s “Smart Choice® Protection
Period”? |
GAF’s warranties come with a special provision
called the Smart Choice® Protection Period that covers you against
material defects during the critical early years of your new roof.
During this period, in the event that you experience a material
defect on covered components, GAF will provide you with 100% replacement
materials and the reasonable cost of labor to install them. This
is important because some roofing warranties may only provide replacement
materials, but not the labor to install them. |
What Is The GAF Smart Choice®
System Plus Ltd. Warranty? |
The GAF Smart Choice® System Plus
Ltd. Warranty provides coverage against material defects for all
major GAF components on your roof (not just your shingles)—so you’ll
have the peace of mind of knowing that, if any covered roofing component
fails, it will be covered by the warranty (see ltd. warranty for
complete coverage and restrictions). The warranty is available through
GAF certified contractors, and is a low-cost way to virtually double
the normal coverage against material defects on your new roofing
system. |
How Do I Get Coverage Against Workmanship
Errors? |
Many roofing contractors provide their own
warranty against errors in workmanship, sometimes for as long as
ten years or more. Obviously, that coverage is only good for as
long as the contractor remains in business. Since roofing is a “high
turnover” occupation, the majority of roofing contractors are out
of business within five years—far less than the life of your new
roof—making the warranty worthless and leaving you with nowhere
to turn in the event that you have a workmanship problem. |
Are There Any Manufacturers Who Will
Cover The Contractor’s Workmanship? |
Until recently, there were no manufacturers
that provided warranty coverage against errors in the contractors’
workmanship. Recognizing this obvious need, GAF recently introduced
the Golden Pledge® Ltd. Warranty—the only manufacturer’s warranty
that covers both material defects and the contractor’s workmanship
(see ltd. warranty for complete coverage and restrictions). Whether
or not your contractor remains in business, GAF will stand behind
his workmanship for a full twelve years! The Golden Pledge® Ltd.
Warranty is available only through GAF Master Elite® Contractors,
who have been factory-trained to insure proper installation. The
warranty even includes an inspection by GAF’s independent inspectors
after your new roof has been completed to insure proper installation.
It is the strongest, safest warranty available in roofing today.
Your Master Elite Contractor can provide a price for the warranty
when he gives you a quote for your new roof. |
How Do I File A Claim If I
Have A Material Defect On My GAF Shingles? |
Before you proceed, if possible you should
locate a copy of your GAF warranty and a copy of the contractor’s
invoice, contract, or original estimate. You will also need to provide
the date applied, proof that you were the owner when the shingles
were installed (or that the warranty was properly transferred to
you), the number of squares applied (1 square = 100 square feet),
and the date applied. Then call our Warranty Service Department
toll-free at 1-800-458-1860, and let us know the nature of your
complaint. |