Warranties are an issue that comes up regularly throughout real estate transactions, whether you’re buying or selling a home. Warranties on anything from appliances to floor coverings provide the homeowner and the future home buyer peace of mind.
A transferable warranty on roofing might be one of your home’s most valuable possessions.
This page outlines what you need, how to transfer a manufacturer’s roofing warranty, and how much time you have after acquiring a home to finish the procedure.
What Is a Warranty?
Before we go into roofing warranties, let’s talk about warranties in general. A warranty is defined as “a guarantee of the integrity of a product and the maker’s duty for the repair or replacement of faulty components,” according to Merriam-Webster.
One of the essential terms in this context is “defective.” Most warranties only cover defective items, not issues caused by normal usage and aging.
Who Warrants Your Roof?
The roofing contractor or the roofing materials manufacturer may provide roof warranties.
Workmanship Warranties
The roofing contractor provides workmanship guarantees and generally covers the installation quality.
Manufacturer Warranties
Manufacturer warranties typically cover just the roofing materials and are based on the roofing contractor following the correct installation methods.
Contractor craftsmanship is sometimes covered in extended manufacturer warranties, such as the Wayne NJ Roofing Preferred Protection and Platinum Protection Limited Warranties.
While contractor workmanship guarantees are seldom transferable, this essay emphasizes how to transfer a manufacturer’s roofing warranty.
Understanding Your Roof Warranty
While evaluating a roofing warranty paperwork, look for the following information:
Who is covered
Warranties should define who is covered by the warranty. The original roofer or owner of the shingles materials is usually protected, and if the contract is transferable, a future owner of the shingles or roofing products is also covered.
What is covered
Details on which individual goods are covered and other eligibility criteria, such as appropriate installation by certified contractors, may be found here. You’ll also find out what to do if there is a flaw. For example, are labor charges for tear-off and reinstallation covered, or does the guarantee solely cover the cost of replacement material?
Time limits
Coverage durations may vary depending on the component (shingles vs. vents) and feature (algae resistance, wind resistance, etc.), so read the fine print carefully.
What is not covered
Your manufacturer’s warranty will typically specify several common situations that are expressly excluded, such as incorrect handling, installation and roof preparation mistakes, and debris impact damage.
Transferability
The criteria should be specified in a separate section if your warranty may be transferred to the next homeowner. However, it’s occasionally addressed in the “Who Is Covered” portions.
Claims process
There should be a section devoted to how to submit a claim, where to mail it, and how to handle disagreements.
Warranty Terms: Limited, Lifetime, and Limited Lifetime
While discussing warranties, the words limited and lifetime are often used. These terms may have multiple meanings depending on how they are used and the intents of the warrantor. They may also be related, as in “limited lifespan.”
When you encounter these terms in a paper, always pay careful attention.
What does a limited warranty mean?
Since all warranties include restrictions, all contracts are “limited.” Time, the source of the issue — such as wear and tear — and forbidden charges, such as labor or specific components, are typical warranty limits.
Essentially, a warranty might be restricted by several factors specified by the manufacturer. Always go through and understand the limitations of your contract, whether it covers your roofing materials or any other bought products.
What does a lifetime warranty mean?
Often, lifetime guarantees for roofing goods mean “for as long as the original owner owns the house.” The warranty contract should specify the manufacturer’s meaning of “lifetime” is.
If you have any questions, call your roofing contractor or manufacturer.
What does a limited lifetime warranty mean?
When you combine the two phrases, as in a “limited lifetime” warranty, you typically receive a guarantee with specific product and time coverage limitations.
What does an extended warranty mean?
The manufacturer may offer extended warranties, which give extra or longer coverage than standard warranties. Extended warranties are often more expensive and may be provided only under specified circumstances or for particular items.
Are Roofing Warranties Transferable?
As previously indicated, the ability to transfer a roofing warranty to a new owner is contingent on the warranty contract.
Transferable warranties often contain specific requirements that must be followed to ensure the transfer is completed appropriately.
In certain situations, there may be a fee connected with transferring the warranty from the original owner to the new owner.
Warranty transfer processes varied across manufacturers and even between product lines sold by the same manufacturer. The success of a transfer is also determined by whether it is completed within the period specified once a residence is sold.
Changing a Roof Warranty
Some crucial elements to remember while making a transfer are:
- Many warranties may only be transferred once. As a result, only the second owner of the roofing product is eligible for the roofing guarantee. Future owners will not be able to share the warranty again.
- Some manufacturers may charge a fee to transfer the warranty to the new owner.
- Some components’ warranty coverage may be limited depending on the roof’s age at the transfer time.
Let’s go through the procedure in an imagined situation using Wayne NJ Roofing goods to comprehend warranty transfers better. Note that each manufacturer is unique. Therefore this scenario illustrates what you would do in the event of a Wayne, NJ, Roofing warranty.
Let us begin with selling a single-family detached house to you by its original owner. Congrats! You have taken over as the new owner.
Thankfully, the roof on your new house was built using Wayne NJ Roofing shingle materials, all of which came with a Standard Product Limited Warranty.
When transferring a warranty, there are three things you must know and do:
1. Deadlines: You must submit all relevant papers and a transfer request to Wayne NJ Roofing, The first occupant of the roofing or shingles real estate transaction.
2. Ownership history-Proof of ownership information is generally available on a county website or via construction permits. Additional permissible papers are as follows:
- a copy of the deed or closing paperwork indicating the former owner and
- the new property owner’s name and the date of the transfer.
Date of installation and evidence of Wayne NJ Roofing product purchase. Since the eligible guarantee depends on the installation date, you must know when the shingles were placed.
Hopefully, the seller saved their original manufacturer warranty and contractor agreement. If so, you may need to conduct some detective work by contacting the contractor who handled the installation and requesting a contract copy.
The rationale for the above conditions is simple. This evidence is necessary so that Wayne NJ Roofing can verify that you are the second owner of the shingles or roofing goods, not the third, fourth, or fifth and that their products were utilized on the roof.
How can homeowners help with a warranty transfer?
Maintaining good records may make the warranty transfer a breeze. After your roofing job is finished, register your warranty using the manufacturer’s instructions. Next, acquire any essential papers, including a copy of the contract. This makes the warranty transfer process easy for the new homeowner.
What if the vendor needs the warranty documents?
You may still transfer a warranty if you’re buying a house and the prior owner didn’t maintain correct records. To begin, contact the contractor or supplier to get confirmation of purchase. It would help to mention the month and year the shingles were put in.
Benefits of Transferable Roofing Warranties
Warranties demonstrate to customers that the manufacturer stands behind their goods. Roofs are one of the most expensive care expenses for homes, and a good roof may endure for many years, making it a worthwhile investment.
If your roof is made of long-lasting, dependable Wayne NJ Roofing products, remind potential buyers that a manufacturer’s warranty guarantees the roofing materials. The possibility of transferring the roofing warranty might be a selling point.
Pro Tip: When purchasing a property, inquire about the roof and get the necessary papers for a warranty transfer, if available.
Ask Your Roofing Contractor About Warranty Options
Choose an independent roofing contractor from the Wayne, NJ, Roofing contractor network if you need a reroof or new roofing installation. Working with a Preferred or Platinum Contractor member entitles you to enhanced warranties on chosen materials and craftsmanship, giving you even more confidence in your investment.