It’s important to keep in mind that many warranties can only be transferred once. Are Roof Warranties Transferable? There is a prohibition on the warranty being transferred to a subsequent buyer if the second owner decides to sell the property.
In this article, we’ll discuss roof warranties in depth, including how they function and whether or not they may be transferred to a new owner.
Roof warranties: What are they?
A product warranty is a written promise by the manufacturer to fix or replace any parts that fail within a certain period of time. Warranties, only manufacturing defects, do not cover normal wear and tear and age.
When installing a new roof on your house, you should be given not one but two written guarantees. There are two warranties involved here: one from the roof’s original manufacturer guaranteeing the quality of the material and another from your roofing company guaranteeing the quality of the installation.
The manufacturer’s warranty on a product is final and cannot be changed by the homeowner or the contractor in any way. The manufacturer also has no say in the length of your roofing contractor’s workmanship warranty.
- Workmanship Warranties: Roofing contractors often offer warranties regarding the quality of their work which often extends to the installation process.
- Manufacturer Warranties: Roofing material manufacturer warranties often only cover the materials themselves, presuming that the contractor who installed them did so correctly.
Sometimes, with more extensive manufacturer warranties, the contractor’s labor is also covered. Roofing manufacturer warranties are more likely to be transferrable than contractor-issued workmanship warranties. This piece will, therefore, focus on that.
A word of caution, we see alot of storm chasing companies selling the warranties that they have provided for the clients when they leave town to local roofing companies. A storm chaser is a company that will follow the major storms across America and do roofs in the area the storm touched. This is a problem becasue the local roofer then has to cover the warranty if there is an issue. This is where the local company will lose money, so the warranty is not as valuable as a warranty that came directly from the local company. Stay away from the storm chasers!
Chris Stevenson | Roofer in Lakewood, Colorado.
What impacts your roof warranty?
Improper handling, installation and roof preparation problems, and damage from debris impact are just a few examples of the most common situations that are typically expressly not covered by your manufacturer’s guarantee. Filing a claim, where to send it, and how to resolve disagreements should all have their own sections.
Homeowners are regularly taken advantage of by contractors who mislead them into thinking that the product warranty includes the contractor’s labor. The manufacturer’s warranty covers the product, but the craftsmanship is covered by the contractor’s.
To make up for the unreasonably long warranty durations, the warranties include various exclusions and limits. Sometimes, when their products fail, they’ll give the warranty bearer a discount on a replacement roof. This guarantees that the customer will continue doing business with them.
Manufacturers’ definitions of “limited” determine the actual scope of coverage. A lifetime warranty on a roof may be the most confusing aspect of a roof’s warranty for some people.
Warranty Terms
The warrantor’s context and intentions can give rise to varying interpretations of these terms. The words “limited” and “lifetime” are frequently heard in conversations about warranties.
They can also be used in tandem, as in the phrase “limited lifetime.” You should always pay great attention when you see these terms in a paper.
Limited warranty
There are always caveats attached to guarantees, and that’s why they’re all considered “limited.” Time limits, wear and tear as a cause of failure, and expenses like labor and certain parts are common exclusions from warranties.
Generally, a few things can cause a manufacturer’s warranty to be null and void. If you’ve recently purchased roofing materials or anything else, it’s important to review the warranty carefully and make sure you understand its limitations.
Lifetime warranty
The term “lifetime warranty” refers to a warranty that is good for the duration of the product’s useful life and covers any flaws in materials or craftsmanship. Most roofing materials’ “lifetime” warranties only cover them “for as long as the original owner owns the home.”
If you’re ever confused, don’t hesitate to ask your roofer or the roofing contractor for clarification.
Limited lifetime warranty
When you see the words “limited” and “lifetime” combined, it usually means that there are restrictions on the type or duration of coverage that you can expect.
Extended warranty
The terms and conditions of an extended warranty are not necessarily the same as the original warranty. It’s an extension of the regular manufacturer’s warranty given to buyers of brand-new products.
It’s not uncommon for extended warranties to come at an additional cost and to be limited to specific circumstances or items.
Can a Roof Warranty Be Transferred?
A special kind of warranty called a “transferable warranty” stipulates that if the item or building covered by the warranty is sold, the warranty will be transferred to the new owner. Roofs are a little different from other product warranties since their warranties extend for decades. This is usually between twenty and fifty years, but not everybody might live in the same house for that long.
Whether or not the warranty on a roof can be transferred from one owner to another is spelled out in the contract. Transferable warranties usually have strict guidelines that must be followed to make sure the transfer takes place correctly.
Although roof warranties might be complicated, their purpose is to protect homeowners from financial loss due to manufacturing faults or sloppy installation (from roofers). Contractor and manufacturer warranties differ in terms of what constitutes a qualifying circumstance, length of coverage, and restrictions for transfer.
How it works
Warranties on roofs can be transferred from some manufacturers to others. Procedures for transferring warranties between manufacturers and even within a manufacturer’s own product lines are quite variable.
- Transferring a warranty from the original buyer to a new one may incur fees.
- If the transfer is not finalized within the allotted time frame, the sale of the residence will not go through.
- Typically, when a homeowner sells their property, they can pass on the remaining time on their roof warranty to the new buyer.
- Manufacturer warranties typically can be transferred only once, from the original homeowner to the first succeeding owner. Even though the warranty is still in effect, it cannot be transferred to a new homeowner if they decide to sell the property.
- It is important to inform the roofer and the warranty provider of the transfer of ownership before selling your home.
Some exclusions may apply, so it’s worth asking about. However, manufacturers and contractors all have slightly varying policies on what kinds of problems are covered. These include how long the warranty lasts, and whether or not it follows you if you move.
For a complete understanding of your roof replacement, it is essential to have a talk with your roofing contractor. You should cover all the terms of your product warranty and the craftsmanship warranty.
Can your roof warranty be transferred when buying a house?
A roof’s warranty may not exist, may not transfer, or may not even offer the same coverage from one roof to the next. Looking to purchase a new house? Take these measures to ensure and verify the exact coverage that will come with the home.
- The manufacturer should be informed of the change (if required)
If you do your homework, you can find out that the manufacturer needs to be notified of the roof warranty transfer within a particular amount of time after the sale. They might even charge an administrative fee to complete the paperwork. Don’t overlook this step if you want to prevent any future surprises caused by a faulty roof product or poor installation.
- Check what is and isn’t covered by the warranty.
You should consider the worth of a roof warranty throughout the entire house-buying process. When deciding how much to offer on the house, this is something to consider.
Roofing warranties usually take time and can be used as a negotiating chip between buyer and seller. Unfortunately, not all product warranties include the cost of installation or removal.
- Ensure the roofing company had registered the warranty properly before handing it off.
Roofing contractors typically have a short window of opportunity to register the roof with the manufacturer once the roof has been installed. The homeowner is responsible for registering and paying for any applicable warranties for them to be effective.
Unless this is done, the warranty cannot be sold to the buyer.
- Make sure you know how many times you can transfer the warranty and that it can be transferred.
While some roof warranties can only be transferred once, others can be passed on an unlimited number of times. Some manufacturers may not allow a warranty to be transferred to a new owner.
How to transfer a roof warranty
When selling a home, you should start the process of transferring the roof warranty right away. Changes in ownership should be communicated to the roofing company and the manufacturer.
Transfers must be completed within the transfer window (and any associated fees must be paid). A minor fee may be required to transfer the warranty from the original manufacturer to the new homeowner.
When purchasing a new house or having an existing roof replaced, it is important to review and verify the actual coverage of your roof warranty.
Think about the following:
- What the terms of the warranty are, and what it covers.
- Check that the roofing company’s warranty was properly registered so that it can be transferred.
- Whether the warranties are nontransferable or only transferable once.
Unfortunately, not all reputable roofers will stand behind their promises of a superior warranty. Many premium manufacturers insist on extensive training and certification for roofing contractors before they will honor their warranties.
Accordingly, the roofing warranty is only transferable to the product’s subsequent owner. No new owner will be able to resell the warranty to a third party. The age of the roof at the time of the transfer may restrict the coverage of some components under warranty.
How to do it
In order to fully comprehend the ramifications of your roof replacement, it is essential to discuss the matter with your roofing contractor and learn about the warranties covering both the materials and the work. It is important to read the tiny print, ask the correct questions of your roofing contractor, and adhere to the regulations outlined in the warranty in order to maximize your protection.
The ownership of a warranty must be transferred properly. There are some things to keep in mind when transferring a warranty that must be followed.
- Deadlines: All transfer requests and necessary documentation must be submitted prior to the closing date of the real estate transaction.
- Date of installation and receipt or other proof of purchase: They are required in order to validate the warranty period.
- Evidence of ownership: It can usually be found in county records, such as building permits or on the county’s website. A copy of the deed or the closing documents indicating the previous owner’s and new owner’s names and the property transfer date is also acceptable.
- An administrative fee may be required to complete a warranty transfer from one owner to another.
- Notify Manufacturer of Transfer: Usually, you’ll have to inform the warranty provider of the transfer of ownership within a certain time frame.
The reasoning behind the aforementioned prerequisites is simple. This paperwork will ensure that the roofing company knows you are the second owner of the roofing supplies and not the third, fourth, etc., and that their products were used in the roofing project.
Frequently Asked Questions
A decent roof is an investment since it may protect property for many years without needing to be replaced. Product warranties show customers that the company producing the item has confidence in its quality.
If you have a roof with a transferable warranty installed, prospective buyers will be more interested in buying the home. Before purchasing a home, inquire about the roof’s condition and, if possible, request the transfer of the roof’s warranty.
Several crucial details should be scrutinized in the roofing warranty.
1. Manufacturer’s Defects.
A product warranty that covers “manufacturer’s defects” and not specific problems that could happen to the object as it matures deserves special attention. Proving after the fact that a fault in your roofing product caused its failure will be difficult and expensive for a homeowner.
Look for warranties that also cover things like cracking, splitting, fading, granule loss, and so on; unfortunately, many manufacturers hide behind “defects” warranties, and if the product simply degrades and fails due to “normal weathering conditions,” they can escape liability because the product technically did not have a manufacturing “defect.”
2. Transferability.
Depending on the terms of the warranty, it may be possible to transfer it to the new owner once, twice, or as many times as the house is sold while the warranty is still active. With the average home sale occurring every seven years, manufacturers can profit by restricting warranty transferability.
