Shingle manufacturers are continually trying to one-up their competitors. It started with the promise of a 10 year warranty, which was soon trumped by 15… and then 20… and then 25. Today shingle manufacturers have made it simple for homeowners because almost everything is LIFETIME! Technically, the word “Lifetime” means as long as the original individual owner(s) of a single family detached residence [or the second owner(s) in certain circumstances] owns the property where the shingles and accessories are installed. For owners/structures not meeting above criteria, Lifetime coverage is not applicable. This confusing disclaimer raises a good question, if manufacturers have enough faith in their product to offer a lifetime warranty to an individual residence, why does this confidence change if the same product is installed on a church? Homeowners are often confused by the answer: Marketing. Even though the term LIFETIME sounds all inclusive, a standard warranty provides 100% coverage on shingles ONLY against manufacturer’s defects for the first 10 years. Workmanship errors and problems that are not related to shingles are not covered under basic coverage. On top of this detail, shingle manufacturers protect themselves with pages of legal mumbo jumbo that is often overlooked by homeowners. When choosing a warranty, it is important that you have a professional explain the fine print.
