Warranty Basics

What Does a Roof Warranty Actually Cover?

The answer depends on which warranty you mean.

A new roof can come with protection from more than one source. The shingle manufacturer may protect against eligible product defects. The roofing contractor may provide separate workmanship coverage. Some qualifying roof systems can also receive an extended manufacturer warranty.

Homeowners insurance serves a different purpose. Depending on the policy, it may apply to sudden events such as qualifying wind, hail, or falling-tree damage.

The number of years on a warranty means very little until you understand what those years actually cover.

Two Different Responsibilities

Manufacturer Warranty vs. Workmanship Warranty

The easiest way to understand the difference is to ask what caused the roofing problem.

What Does a Manufacturer Warranty Cover?

A manufacturer warranty generally applies when a qualifying roofing product has an eligible manufacturing defect.

For example, a homeowner may notice an unusual condition in the shingles that the manufacturer later determines resulted from the manufacturing process.

The manufacturer reviews the claim and decides whether the condition meets the written warranty requirements.

What Does a Workmanship Warranty Cover?

A contractor workmanship warranty focuses on how the roofer installed the system.

The shingles themselves could perform exactly as intended while an incorrectly installed roof detail still creates a leak.

Good shingles cannot correct poor installation, and good installation cannot prevent a true manufacturing defect. That is why homeowners need to understand both types of coverage.

Warranty Language

“Limited Lifetime” Does Not Mean Everything Is Fully Covered Forever

The phrase "limited lifetime" sounds simple, but the actual warranty usually contains several important conditions.

For qualifying single-family homes, manufacturer lifetime terminology may relate to how long the original owner owns the property. The warranty can still include different coverage periods, exclusions, limits, and transfer requirements.

Look Beyond the Word “Lifetime”

Homeowners should look at what happens if they actually need to make a claim.

Compare what the warranty will actually do after a covered problem, not just the number printed beside the word “lifetime.”

Owens Corning Coverage

What Is the TRU PROtection Period?

Owens Corning uses the term TRU PROtection for the initial portion of certain roofing warranties.

During this period, qualifying manufacturing-defect claims receive stronger protection than they do during a later prorated period.

The length of TRU PROtection varies by warranty, shingle product, roofing system, and eligibility requirements.

What Happens After TRU PROtection?

Under certain Owens Corning warranties, the roof eventually enters a prorated period.

Proration reduces the amount the warranty provides for an eligible product defect based on how long the homeowner has already used the roof.

Optional Extended Coverage

What Is the Owens Corning Preferred Protection Warranty?

Zenobi Roofing Inc. is an Owens Corning Roofing Preferred Contractor. That status allows us to offer certain extended Owens Corning warranty options on qualifying roofing systems.

Under Owens Corning's current Preferred Protection overview, a qualifying roofing system can receive a 50-year TRU PROtection period for eligible manufacturing defects and 10 years of manufacturer-backed workmanship coverage.

Installing an Owens Corning shingle alone does not automatically qualify the roof for Preferred Protection.

What Does the Roof Need to Qualify?

For current Zenobi-specific warranty options, visit our roof warranty information page .

Zenobi Roofing Coverage

Zenobi Roofing's 10-Year Limited Workmanship Warranty

Zenobi Roofing Inc. provides a 10-year limited workmanship warranty on qualifying full roof replacements.

This warranty works separately from the Owens Corning manufacturer warranty. It focuses on qualifying leaks caused by a covered installation issue.

What Happens if a Covered Workmanship Problem Occurs?

Our current written terms provide for repair of the affected roof area when a qualifying workmanship issue causes the problem.

The terms also limit interior repair coverage to areas directly affected by a covered workmanship-related leak.

Full payment under the roof replacement contract activates the workmanship warranty.

We do not expect homeowners to figure out whether a problem comes from a shingle, the installation, a storm, or another part of the house before they call us.

We can look at the condition first and help determine the appropriate next step.

The Complete Roof

Are All Parts of a Roof Covered by the Shingle Manufacturer?

No. The in-progress roof pictured above helps show why.

A complete roof can include shingles, underlayment, ice and water protection, starter shingles, ridge materials, flashing, decking, pipe boots, ventilation, fasteners, and several other components.

Different Components Can Have Different Coverage

Manufacturer coverage depends on which products that manufacturer makes or includes under the specific warranty.

Owens Corning's current roofing warranty documents, for example, exclude non-Owens-Corning components such as wood decking, certain flashing, fasteners, and pipe boots from that manufacturer warranty.

One contractor may install the entire roof, but that does not mean one manufacturer warranty covers every material in the system.

This is also why proper roof flashing around chimneys, skylights, and transitions matters independently of the shingle warranty.

Weather Damage

Does a Roof Warranty Cover Hail, Wind, or Falling Trees?

Usually, homeowners need to separate storm damage from warranty problems.

Manufacturer warranties focus primarily on qualifying product defects. Contractor workmanship warranties focus on covered installation problems.

Hail, falling trees, debris impact, and severe weather come from outside events rather than product manufacturing or contractor workmanship.

Wind coverage can also include product-specific limits and installation requirements.

Identify the Cause First

After Installation

Can Solar Panels or Other Later Roof Work Affect the Warranty?

Yes, depending on the work and the damage involved.

Solar panels, satellite dishes, HVAC equipment, gutter guards, coatings, carpentry, and other later projects can alter or penetrate parts of the roofing system.

Manufacturer warranty documents may exclude damage that later alterations cause. Likewise, the original roofer generally cannot take responsibility for damage another contractor creates after the roof installation.

Before another contractor drills, cuts, fastens, mounts, or changes something on a newer roof, ask how the work will affect the roofing system and its warranty.

Selling the Home

Can a Roof Warranty Transfer to the Next Homeowner?

Some warranties allow a transfer, but homeowners need to pay close attention to the deadline.

Owens Corning's current guidance gives a qualifying second owner 60 days after the real-estate transfer to complete the required warranty transfer process.

Zenobi Roofing's current workmanship terms allow one transfer for the remaining warranty period when we receive written notice within 30 days of the property transfer.

Do Not Wait Until After the Deadline

Before selling the home, gather the roofing contract, warranty documents, installation date, and product information so the next owner can act within the required time.

Comparing Estimates

How Should You Compare Roof Warranties Between Contractors?

Do not compare warranties only by looking for the largest number.

Two estimates can both advertise a "lifetime warranty" while providing very different protection.

Six Questions Worth Asking

Compare the actual written warranties instead of relying on one line in an estimate that simply says “lifetime.”

Installation Matters

A Warranty Does Not Replace Proper Roof Installation

Warranty protection matters. Even a carefully installed roof can develop a legitimate product concern, and homeowners should have clear protection when a warranty covers the problem.

But no warranty can turn poor roofing work into good roofing work.

The Details Still Matter

Contractors still need to handle decking preparation, underlayment, ice and water protection, flashing, ventilation, fastening, starter shingles, field shingles, and ridge materials correctly.

The photo above shows why we look at a roof as a complete system rather than only the finished layer of shingles.

Learn more about how those components work together on our roof replacement page .

If you are comparing roofing materials too, read our guide to metal roofing versus asphalt shingles .

Before You Sign

Ask to See the Warranty Before the Roof Is Installed

Homeowners should understand their warranty before a problem ever happens.

Before signing a roofing contract, ask which manufacturer warranty applies, whether the contractor offers an extended option, what workmanship warranty comes with the project, and whether the manufacturer requires registration.

Keep Your Roofing Documents

Save the roofing contract, final invoice, warranty confirmation, shingle information, and installation date together after the project.

Those records can make a future warranty claim or home sale much easier.

The best time to understand a roof warranty is before you ever need to use it.

For current details about Zenobi Roofing's workmanship coverage and Owens Corning warranty options, visit our roof warranty information page .