| Frequently Asked Questions |
Why Are Warranties
Important? |
| |
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-Elk Roof? |
| |
Based on
our state-of-the-art manufacturing process, the odds of
having a problem with a new GAF-Elk roof are miniscule.
On the other hand, while serious problems with GAF-Elk
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
be high.
|
|
| What About Problems With
Installation? |
| |
GAF-Elk’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? |
| |
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... |
| |
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,
a 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-Elk’s “Smart
Choice® Protection Period”? |
| |
GAF-Elk’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-Elk 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-Elk Weather Stopper® System Plus
Ltd. Warranty? |
| |
The GAF-Elk Weather Stopper® System Plus Ltd.
Warranty provides coverage against material defects for
all major GAF-Elk 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-Elk Certified Contractors, and is a
low-cost way to get up to 50 years of non-prorated
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
relatively recently, there were no manufacturers that
provided warranty coverage against errors in the
contractors’ workmanship. Recognizing this obvious
need, GAF-Elk introduced the Golden Pledge® Ltd. Warranty — the first manufacturer’s
warranty to cover 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-Elk will stand behind his
workmanship for 20 years! The Golden Pledge® Ltd.
Warranty is available only through GAF-Elk Master
Elite™ Contractors, who are factory-certified by
GAF-Elk. The warranty even includes an inspection by
GAF-Elk’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-Elk
Shingles? |
| |
Before
you proceed, if possible you should locate a copy of
your GAF-Elk 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), and the
number of squares applied (1
square = 100 square feet). Then call our
Warranty Service Department toll-free at
1-800-458-1860, and let us know the nature of your
complaint.
|
|
