Roofing Contract Question

[Rich M.]

Recently, my daughter signed a contract with a roofing company. She elected to go with GAF singles for a number of reason, one being a long warranty. Being somewhat aware of the GAF requirements, I had the roofing company follow all of the requirements.

In the contract it lists the company’s warranty and the specific GAF warranty. Okay the roof is now on and I checked with the company to see if they are going to file the warranty registration with GAF, which has to be filed within 45 days of the roof install. So far the company has not responded back either by telephone or email. We have left two telephone calls and sent one email.

I checked with GAF and no paperwork has been filed at this time.
Plus, I learned something I did not know. It may be possible that the company is not registered with GAF as a contractor who can offer this specific warranty, which might be the reason no return calls from the company.

The company has been in business for 20 years and checking through BBB and the Maryland Home Improvement Commission revealed no red flags. All reviews were positive.

So the question is do I have a leg to stand on since this specific manufacture warranty is listed in the contract? My personal thought is I will have to eat this one because even though they had no right to offer the warranty, I can not show a monetary loss at this time. To me, they made a fraudulent claim by deception.

Any contract attorneys out there?

 

[matt_i]

I would attempt to find my way into a face-to-face meeting with someone high enough in the company to a) do something about it and b) care about it. You might have to drive to their place of business and drop in. I would do that first and see what comes of it and use it as guidance for future steps.

 

[AZ Pete]

I would also contact GAF to see if you can register the warranty. Perhaps since you insisted on following GAF specs and inspected the install, they will work with you.

 

[Rich M.]

I would also contact GAF to see if you can register the warranty. Perhaps since you insisted on following GAF specs and inspected the install, they will work with you.

Good thought. Worth a phone call. Should probably speak to someone higher up in the company.

I know that this warranty may not really mean something years down the road (seems like companies find a reason not to honor the warranties), but if something does happen, I may have a fighting chance.

I learned from experience. If it is not in the contract it never happened. I am learning now that if it IS in the contract, it might happen.

 

[mcbane]

I would also contact GAF to see if you can register the warranty. Perhaps since you insisted on following GAF specs and inspected the install, they will work with you.

+1

Manufacturers are often very reasonable. I used to manage large (measured in acres) roof jobs and the typical manufacturer was willing to send their own inspector to observe work and then issue a warranty directly to my employer.


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[Zeke]

Call the distributor. The roofing materials were likely delivered to the roof by the distributor and on the same invoice. If it was re-sheeted, get that invoice as well. As well as any tear off as the warranty may not cover a roof job over an existing roof. Proof of these deliveries and sub labor to that address is the first step.

 

[rburke65]

Good thoughts there Zeke....

 

[SGKent]

have you tried here? It looks like it is a self submitted form.

http://apps.gaf.com/WarrantyRegistration/Shingle.aspx

 

[Bluedodge]

No offense to the OP, but shingle warranties are a giggle.....

 

[Stuart in MN]

If they don't answer phone calls or emails, go to their office in person.

 

[Jrems]

I went through this last year, from what i remember for the warranty to be valid it must be installed by a certified gaf contractor, basically means the people putting the roof on need go to some type of class, also the warrenty gets super specific everything like underlayment ridgevents ect must he gaf, and before they warrenty you have to send like 4 square feet of shingles, pm me if you want all the fine print stuff

 

[2Busy]

I’ve unfortunately had severak issues with roofs that have failed over the years. In my experience, I think it’s rare for the shingle to structurally fail. All of my problems have either been 1) poor installation/workmanship (messed up flashings, loosening nails, etc.) or 2) weather-related (hail and tree damage). The likelihood of a good shingle like GAF failing because it didn’t perform as designed is low, IMO. I’d be far more concerned about the warranty with the installer than anything with the shingle manufacturer. All of my problems that weren’t weather-related occurred on relatively new roofs, 5 years and newer, which is when installation issues come to light. Never experienced shingles wearing out prematurely.

 

[finn]

Roof warranties are a joke.. I had shingles fail at around 17 years. First, the contractor, a rather large builder in a rural area, was long gone. It was a partnership that dissolved. If your roofer has been in business for 20 years and is a typical small business, the owner is likel nearing retirement age, and won’t be around in another ten or twenty years to collect from in the event a failure not covered by your homeowners insurance occurs.

Second, the manufacturers warranty is prorated and covers the cost of the shingles only, not the underpayment, flashing, ice and water barrier, etc.

I received a check fo about enough to cover a couple of bundles of shingles after I mailed in samples of the deteriorated shingles, and part of the original wrapping showing the production date code, as well as the invoice for the shingles that somehow was still around after 17 or so years.

Good for a laugh, I guess.

 

[Rich M.]

I went through this last year, from what i remember for the warranty to be valid it must be installed by a certified gaf contractor, basically means the people putting the roof on need go to some type of class, also the warrenty gets super specific everything like underlayment ridgevents ect must he gaf, and before they warrenty you have to send like 4 square feet of shingles, pm me if you want all the fine print stuff

You are correct. I did everything that GAF asked for, such as GAF underlayment, ridge vent, ridge vent shingles and starter shingles. Plus, i made sure the installers were putting in the required 6 nails. Yep, I was spot checking throughout the process. i think they figured out what I was doing so they had a little fun with me. They would shoot five nails in a row then pause and shoot the remaining nail.

My mistake was I did not check with GAF to ensure the roofing company was certified.

Like others are saying here and I am aware from owning houses for 40 years, the manufacture’s warranty may not mean much in the future, but with it I may have a chance at some recovery. Also, it irks me the manufacture’s warranty is in the contract, but it seems I have no recourse in holding the roofing company libel, even though the company is not certified to offer this warranty.

 

[Bretny]

No offense to the OP, but shingle warranties are a giggle.....

I laughed also. There just going to state its the installers fault or you didnt use such and such underlayment or our nails or something.