Had a roofer out yesterday to check out some leaks we've been having. Nice guy, seemed pretty knowledgeable, and after he gave us the estimate, he casually mentioned they offer a 20-year warranty on their work. I was kinda shocked, honestly. Most places I've talked to before only give like 5 or maybe 10 years tops. Twenty years seems...I dunno, almost too good to be true?
He said it's because they use better materials and stand by their workmanship, but I'm still a bit skeptical. Feels like there might be some fine print or something I'm missing, you know? Has anyone else had roof work done with a warranty this long? Did it actually hold up when you needed it, or was it just a sales gimmick?
- 20-year warranties aren't unheard of, but they're definitely on the longer side. Usually, it's a sign the roofer is confident in their materials and workmanship.
- BUT...always read the fine print. Some warranties have strict conditions—like mandatory annual inspections or maintenance by the same company. Miss one inspection, and your warranty could be toast.
- Also, check if it's prorated. A lot of long-term warranties gradually cover less and less as the years go by. So at year 15, you might only get partial coverage.
- Ask specifically what's covered: leaks from workmanship errors, material defects, storm damage? Big difference between those.
- Had a client once who thought they had a solid 15-year warranty. Roof leaked after 8 years, but turns out it didn't cover flashing issues (which was exactly what failed). They ended up paying out-of-pocket anyway.
- Bottom line: long warranties can be legit, but don't assume anything. Get it all in writing and read carefully before signing anything.
