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| Frequently Asked Questions | ||
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Why Are Warranties Important? |
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| 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 Roof? | ||
| Based on our state-of-the-art manufacturing process, the odds of having a problem with a new GAF roof are minuscule. On the other hand, while serious problems with GAF 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? | ||
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GAF’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. |
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| What Should I Look For In A Roofing Warranty? | ||
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Basically, there are two types of coverage that you should
ask your contractor about: coverage against manufacturing defects in the materials
and coverage against workmanship errors. |
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| Tell Me About Coverage Against Manufacturing Defects... | ||
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As far as we know, all manufacturers provide a warranty against
manufacturing defects for their roofing products, although your exact coverage will
vary depending on the brand. For example, most architectural shingles carry a Lifetime*
limited warranty against manufacturing defects, while most 3-tab shingles carry
a 20, 25, or 30 year limited warranty against manufacturing defects. Each warranty
has its own specific terms and conditions, so it’s important to read each warranty
carefully.
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| What Is GAF’s “Smart Choice® Protection Period”? | ||
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GAF’s warranties come with a special provision called
the Smart Choice® Protection Period that provides extra coverage
against manufacturing defects during the critical early years of your new roof.
During this period, in the event that you experience a manufacturing defect on covered
components, GAF 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. |
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| What Is The GAF Weather Stopper® System Plus Ltd. Warranty? | ||
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The GAF Weather Stopper® System Plus Ltd. Warranty provides coverage against manufacturing defects for all major GAF 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's factory-certified contractors, and is a low-cost way to get up to 50 years of non-prorated coverage (against manufacturing defects) on your new roofing system. For the small additional cost of the System Plus ltd. warranty, this is probably the best value you can get for your investment. |
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| How Can I Also 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” business, the majority of roofing contractors are out of business within five years — far less than the life of your new roof — making their 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? | ||
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GAF's Golden Pledge® Ltd.
Warranty was the first manufacturer’s warranty to cover both
manufacturing defects and the contractor’s workmanship
(see Golden Pledge® Ltd. Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions). Whether
or not your contractor remains in business, GAF will stand behind his workmanship
for 25 years! The Golden Pledge® Ltd. Warranty is available only
through GAF Master Elite™ Contractors, who are factory-certified by GAF. The
warranty even includes an inspection by GAF’s factory-trained inspectors after your
new roof has been completed to ensure 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. |
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| How Do I File A Claim If I Have A Manufacturing Defect On My GAF Shingles? | ||
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Before you proceed, if possible you should locate a copy of
your GAF 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. |
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*The word “Lifetime” means as long as the original individual owner of a single
family detached residence (or the second owner 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.
**Inspection is limited to the GAF covered components on your roof, and excludes incidental components such as gutters, skylights, etc. |
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