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Warranties

Decoding the Legal Protection for Your Investment

Roofing 101: Understanding Manufacturer's Warranties

Many homeowners assume their roof purchase is fully protected by comprehensive “lifetime” warranties, but the reality involves important limitations and conditions that are often overlooked. A proper roofing warranty system includes two distinct types of protection: workmanship warranties from your contractor and manufacturer warranties covering the materials themselves. Understanding the specific coverage each provides helps you make informed decisions and maintain realistic expectations about your roof’s long-term protection.

Complementary Protection Systems

Two Essential
Warranty Types

Workmanship Warranties

These contractor-provided guarantees protect against installation errors and mistakes made during the roofing process. If your roof fails because products weren't installed correctly, you depend on your contractor's workmanship warranty for remedy—making your choice of roofing professional particularly important.

Manufacturer's Warranties

These provide LIMITED coverage against manufacturing defects that cause premature product failure. It's critical to understand that these warranties don't guarantee your roof will maintain its original appearance throughout its lifespan. Natural deterioration from weather exposure is expected and not considered a defect for warranty purposes.

Evaluating Major Manufacturers' Protection

Standard Warranty Coverage Comparison

While most asphalt warranties appear similar at first glance, important distinctions affect your long-term protection. Initial examination might suggest IKO and BP offer superior coverage with 15-year non-prorated periods compared to GAF and CertainTeed’s 10-year periods. However, the likelihood of identifying manufacturing defects during early stages is minimal, making long-term coverage differences more significant.

Critical Differences

The most substantial distinction involves maximum liability provisions. GAF and CertainTeed offer coverage for the “reasonable cost” of warranty claims, while IKO and BP cap liability at $40 and $45 respectively per 100 square feet of defective material when replacement matching cannot be provided.

Long Term Warranty Coverage

Item Amount
Roof Size2,500 sq. ft.
Roof Price$7,000.00
Labour Total$3,500.00
Shingle Install Labour$1,800.00
Tear Off Cost$900.00
Disposal Cost$300.00
Shingle Material$2,700.00
Vents & Flashings$400.00
Underlayments$400.00

Comparison of Manufacturer's basic lifetime coverage

Manufacturer Non-prorated Period
(incl. labour coverage)		 Max Liability (after non-prorated period)
($/square)		 Wind Warranty
(years)		 Standard Wind
(km/h)		 Max Wind
(km/h)		 Algae Resistant Warranty Period
(years)
GAF Timberline HD 10 N/A 15 130 210 10
CertainTeed Landmark 10 N/A 15 130 210 10
IKO Cambridge 15 40 15 130 210 10
BP Everest 15 45 15 180 220 10

* Maximum wind coverage is only applicable for tear-off installations with 6 nails/shingle and where starter strip shingles are installed at both the eave and gable edges of the roof.
** 1 roofing square = 100 sq. ft.

Long Term Warranty Coverage

Time Elapsed 181–206 Months
Year 16–17		 207–480 Months
Year 18–40		 432/480 Months
Year 41+
GAF Timberline 70–66% of Reasonable Cost
Calculation = 1-(n/600) × RC 		65–20% of Reasonable Cost
Calculation = 1-(n/600) × RC 		20% of Reasonable Cost
Calculation = 1-(480/600) × RC
CertainTeed Landmark 70–66% of Reasonable Cost
Calculation = 1-(n/600) × RC 		65–20% of Reasonable Cost
Calculation = 1-(n/600) × RC 		20% of Reasonable Cost
Calculation = 1-(480/600) × RC
IKO Cambridge 30–21% of Max Liability
Calculation = 1-(n/260) × ML 		20% of Max Liability
Calculation = 1-(384/480) × ML 		10% of Max Liability
Calculation = 1-(432/480) × ML
BP Everest 20% of Max Liability
Calculation = 1-(384/480) × ML 		20% of Max Liability
Calculation = 1-(384/480) × ML 		10% of Max Liability
Calculation = 1-(432/480) × ML

n – refers to the number of months that have passed since the shingles were installed
RC – refers to the reasonable cost of replacement shingles
ML – refers to Maximum Liability outlined in Basic Warranty coverage table

Understanding "Lifetime" Coverage

Asphalt Shingle Warranty Realities

The Truth Behind "Lifetime" Terminology

The term "lifetime" entered the asphalt roofing industry in 2010 when GAF introduced the first "Lifetime" asphalt roofing system. Competitive pressures quickly drove other manufacturers to create similar offerings to protect market share, creating potential confusion about what "lifetime" actually means in roofing context.

Coverage Limitations and Exclusions

In warranty language, "lifetime" specifically refers to the period the original individual owner(s) of a single-family detached residence owns the property where the materials are installed. For properties not meeting these criteria, lifetime coverage doesn't apply, and second owners receive coverage only under specific circumstances.

The Prorated Reality of Long-Term Protection

Asphalt warranties typically divide into non-prorated and prorated periods. During the non-prorated period (typically 10-15 years), coverage includes reasonable costs for replacement shingles AND labor to install the defective areas. Critical exclusions include tear-off, metal work, flashing, disposal expenses, and other costs incurred during replacement.

Premium Protection for Quality Installations

Extended Warranty Options

Leading manufacturers now offer enhanced warranty options through certified installation contractors. Dayus Roofing’s status as a GAF Certified Master Elite contractor—one of the industry’s most demanding certifications—enables access to these premium protection packages.

Both GAF and CertainTeed offer extended non-prorated warranty options with substantial additional coverage including:

  • Extended non-prorated coverage periods (up to 50 years)
  • Inclusion of tear-off costs
  • Coverage for disposal fees
  • Transferability to second owners
  • Third-party inspection services


For the typical $7,000 roof installation example, extended warranties provide up to $6,060 more coverage at the 25-year mark compared to standard protection—a dramatic difference that provides significant peace of mind for long-term homeowners.

Extended Warranty Comparison

Warranty BASIC WARRANTY BETTER
GAF SYSTEM PLUS / CertainTeed 4 STAR		 BEST
GAF GOLDEN PLEDGE / CertainTeed 5 STAR
Material Defect Coverage
100% Coverage Period 10 years
(3 or 5 yrs. on 3-tab shingles)		 50 years
(20 yrs. on 3-tab shingles)		 50 years
(20 yrs. on 3-tab shingles)
Covers roofing system? Shingles Only Yes – All products by manufacturer Yes – All products by manufacturer
Installation labour included? 10 years
(3 or 5 yrs. on 3-tab shingles)		 Lifetime
(25 or 30 yrs. on 3-tab shingles)		 Lifetime
(25 or 30 yrs. on 3-tab shingles)
Workmanship Coverage
100% Coverage Period 2 yrs. 2 yrs. 25 yrs.
(20 yrs. on 3-tab shingles)
Flashings Misapplication Covered? No 2 yrs. 25 yrs.
(20 yrs. on 3-tab shingles)
Installer Certified? No Yes Yes
Tear-off Costs Included? No Yes
(Material defects only)		 Yes
(Defects or workmanship)
Disposal Costs Included? No No – GAF
Yes – CertainTeed		 Yes
(Defects or workmanship)
Peace of Mind
Exclusive 40-Point Factory Inspection No No Always – GAF
Random – CertainTeed
Transferable Yes Yes Yes

Understanding Premium Material Protection

Alternative Roofing
System Warranties

Metal Roofing Warranties

While metal roofing systems typically outlast asphalt alternatives, their warranties include important limitations:

  • Product-specific coverage without guaranteed leak protection
  • Coverage limited to metal materials and installation labor only (excluding flashings and underlayment)
  • Minimum slope requirements (typically 4:12 or greater)
  • Service fees for warranty claims
  • Limited fade and chalk protection (30 years)
  • Maintenance requirements, especially in industrial areas
  • Hail protection covering perforation only, not cosmetic damage
  • Severely prorated coverage after transfer or extended ownership

Rubber Roofing Warranties

Premium rubber systems like EuroShield offer impressive protection with notable terms:

  • Protection against manufacturing defects resulting in leaks
  • Coverage against non-uniform color change from normal weathering
  • Limited transferability (100% for first 10 years)
  • Comprehensive coverage (materials and labor) during initial period
  • 50-year non-prorated coverage with specific restrictions

Delivering expert roofing solutions and reliability to Windsor-Essex homes and businesses since 1920.

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