I did take a bunch of random photos—mostly because my neighbor said “you’ll thank yourself later.” Still not sure if I got the “right” ones, but hey, at least my roof isn’t leaking (yet).
That’s pretty much what I did too. My boss always says, “If you don’t have a photo, it didn’t happen,” so now I snap pics of everything—underlayment, flashing, even the nails. The paperwork is a pain, but I’ve seen warranties get denied just because someone used the wrong brand of ice shield or whatever. It’s wild how picky they can be. At least your neighbor gave you a heads up... most folks don’t even think about it until there’s a problem.
- 100% agree on the photos—I've got folders for every roof job, labeled by date and weather (because, why not?).
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“I’ve seen warranties get denied just because someone used the wrong brand of ice shield or whatever.”
Yep, seen it too. Manufacturer reps can be ruthless about that stuff.
- Always double-check the installer list. Had a client lose a 30-year warranty because their guy wasn’t “certified” for that shingle brand.
- Pro tip: snap pics of the packaging too. Sometimes they want proof you used their exact product.
- Paperwork’s a pain, but it’s nothing compared to fighting a denied claim... trust me.
That installer list thing tripped me up once. I figured as long as the guy had a good reputation and did solid work, it’d be fine. Turns out, nope—manufacturer didn’t care about skill, just that “certified” stamp. Had to redo a section after a storm, and the hoops they made me jump through for the warranty were wild. Totally agree on snapping pics of everything, even the boxes and wrappers. It’s a hassle, but way better than arguing with a rep months later.
- Ran into this with a flat roof replacement last year. Thought my usual crew would be fine, but the warranty paperwork was a nightmare because they weren’t on the “approved” list.
- I get why manufacturers want some control, but it feels like a money grab sometimes. The skill of the installer should count for something, right?
- Started keeping a folder of photos, receipts, even the delivery slips. It’s a pain, but after one denied claim, I’m not risking it again.
- Anyone else notice the “certified” guys sometimes charge more just because of that stamp? Not sure it’s always worth it, but the warranty hoops make it hard to argue.
Yeah, I’ve run into this too—especially with single-ply membranes. The manufacturer’s “approved installer” list can be pretty short, and sometimes it feels like you’re just paying for the paperwork. But I will say, when I did a green roof retrofit last year, the certified crew actually caught a couple of flashing details my regular guy would’ve missed. Still, the price jump stings. I keep a digital folder now with every doc and photo... it’s a hassle but after one denied warranty, I’m not skipping that step again.
