Commercial Roof Warranties: What You Need to Know

Owning a commercial property is a major investment, and engaging in regular upkeep is a priority for most responsible business owners. However, even the most accountable commercial investor can get caught in a tough place with an unexpected repair or replacement expense. Without a good warranty, this may involve a hefty price tag. 

A roof warranty is one of the best investments you can make for your commercial property. The roofing structure is one of the most costly (and most vulnerable) parts of your building, so having a reliable warranty in place is a must-do. Most roofs come with a manufacturer’s warranty, but there are also after-market warranties that can be purchased. With that said, these detailed documents are often created to the advantage of the seller or manufacturer, rather than the building owner. 

Shamrock Roofing and Construction, a commercial roofing contractor in the St. Louis area, suggests looking for the following items when reviewing your roof warranty document. Paying attention to these details may help avoid costly errors or misunderstandings in the future.

Maintenance Clauses

Many warranty contracts require the owner to engage in regular maintenance for the warranty to remain valid. These requirements are often spelled out in the fine print, so check your warranty carefully. 

Warranty providers don’t want to be responsible for damage due to negligence, so documented proof of maintenance is often required before the warranty terms will be honored. While most roofing contractors in St. Louis will tell you that annual maintenance is a good idea regardless, you’ll definitely want to know if this is a mandatory clause in your warranty contract before moving forward with any claims.  

Exclusions

Commercial roofing structures experience a lot of pressure from elements like wind, rain, snow, and other natural causes. In these scenarios, even the most responsible building owner can experience roof damage. 

Unfortunately, the verbiage in many warranties will exclude certain parts of the roof as eligible for repair. The fine print outlines whether roof repair or replacement qualifies under UCC guidelines, so make sure you thoroughly vet your paperwork before signing on the dotted line.  

Unauthorized Upgrades

Before hiring a team of roofing contractors in St. Louis to install a new solar panel, satellite dish, or other appliance or upgrade, make sure to consult the language in your warranty. Many commercial warranties explicitly prohibit roof modifications without prior authorization. Moving forward with this type of project could invalidate your protection plan. 

Need Help Navigating Roofing Warranties? Call Shamrock Roofing and Construction

Whether you need a roof inspection to maintain your warranty or you want more information on TPO roofing or other commercial roof types, our team at Shamrock Roofing and Construction is here to help. We specialize in all commercial roofing needs in and around the St. Louis metro area. Contact us today to learn more about our full suite of commercial roofing services.