Roof Warranties and Maintenance

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I’m Dan Hounsell, editor of Maintenance Solutions magazine. Today’s topic is, roof warranties and maintenance.
More than anyone else in facilities, maintenance and engineering managers understand the importance of roofing systems. Their departments receive the first call if a leak develops, their staffs inspect and maintain the systems, and they are key players in deciding whether to repair or replace a roof.
So why, roofing system manufacturers wonder, do so few managers seem to understand the warranties that dictate everything to do with installing, inspecting, repairing, and replacing roofs?
Says one manufacturer, “About 99.9 percent do not read their warranties. They don’t know if it covers materials, materials and labor, or is a no-dollar-limit warranty.”
This lack of awareness among managers is puzzling for many reasons, but especially because their specification processes generally demand a warranty.
“Many owners require a warranty, but they never look to see what’s covered,” he says.
As a result, myths, misconceptions and misunderstandings abound when it comes to specifying, installing, repairing and replacing roofing systems.
Perhaps the biggest misconception involves the very nature of the document. Too often, managers believe a warranty covers certain materials and activities when, in fact, it does not.
“Generally, warranties are not replacement guarantees,” the manufacturer says. “Rather, they might provide coverage for labor and material costs for the repair of leaks in a roof system based on the individual manufacturer’s definition of the system spelled out in its warranty form.
He adds, “Warranties are not intended to be commercial insurance policies in the conventional sense. If they were, the costs of warranties would be significantly higher.”