Is a 20-year shingle really warranted for 20 years?

Why should I buy an additional warranty?

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.

All roofing products come with a limited warranty against material defects. The warranty coverage may be limited to the product that fails – not the entire roof system, and may only include the cost of replacing the materials – not the cost of labor to install them.

It could also be true that after a designated period of time the product is warranted at a pro-rated rate where you will only be reimbursed for the depreciated value of the product covered. In other words, with a standard limited warranty, the reimbursement for a 20 year shingle during the 19th year on your home may be very small.