Roll Forming On-Site: How Nomads Roofing Creates Custom Metal Roofing Right at Your Property

By Kay LeRoy | Director of Marketing & Brand Development
Nomads Roofing

You just got a new roof, and you hear the word “warranty.” 

Great. Your roof is covered. 

But covered by who? 

And covered for what? 

That’s where roofing warranties can get confusing, because there may be more than one warranty connected to the same roof. 

A manufacturer warranty and a workmanship warranty are not the same thing, and understanding the difference can save a lot of confusion later. 

Start With the Roofing Material 

When you purchase a new roof, many of the materials come from a roofing manufacturer. 

That manufacturer may provide warranty coverage for its product. 

In simple terms, a manufacturer warranty generally relates to the roofing material itself and is subject to that manufacturer’s specific terms and conditions. 

If there is a qualifying issue with the product, the manufacturer’s warranty may come into play. 

But the manufacturer did not physically install the roof. 

That is where a workmanship warranty comes in. 

What Is a Workmanship Warranty? 

A workmanship warranty generally comes from the roofing contractor who installed the roof. 

Instead of focusing on the product itself, it addresses qualifying issues related to how the roofing system was installed. 

Think of it this way: 

Manufacturer warranty = the product. 

Workmanship warranty = the installation. 

They are connected to the same roof, but they address different types of problems. 

A Roof Problem Does Not Automatically Mean Something Was Installed Wrong 

This is an important distinction. 

If a roof develops a leak or another issue, that does not automatically mean the roof was installed incorrectly. 

There are many things that can affect a roofing system over time. 

Severe weather, falling debris, animals, aging components, later modifications to the home, maintenance issues, or work performed by someone else can all contribute to a problem. 

That is why the first step is not deciding who is responsible. 

The first step is figuring out what actually caused the issue. 

If the problem is tied to the way something was installed, a workmanship warranty may apply. 

If the issue involves a qualifying defect in the roofing material itself, a manufacturer warranty may apply. 

And sometimes, the issue may not fall under either warranty. 

Why Does Workmanship Coverage Still Matter? 

A roofing system involves much more than laying shingles across a house. 

Fastening, flashing, roof penetrations, ventilation components, starter shingles, ridge materials, valleys, and other details all have to work together. 

Even when quality materials are used, those materials still need to be installed according to the proper requirements. 

That is why workmanship coverage exists separately from material coverage. 

It gives homeowners a way to address qualifying installation-related issues without treating every roof problem as a product defect. 

Not Every Roof Problem Is a Warranty Issue 

Warranties are not the same thing as unlimited coverage. 

A roof can be affected by conditions that have nothing to do with defective materials or improper installation. 

Storm damage, tree limbs, wildlife, homeowner changes, future construction, or repairs performed by another contractor may all affect the roof. 

That is why finding the cause matters before deciding whether a warranty applies. 

Warranty Length Does Not Tell the Whole Story 

Homeowners naturally pay attention to numbers. 

“25 years.” 

“50 years.” 

“Lifetime.” 

“10-year workmanship.” 

Those numbers sound reassuring, but the length of the warranty is only part of the picture. 

What is covered? 

For how long? 

Are labor and materials treated differently? 

Are there exclusions? 

Does coverage change over time? 

Are there conditions the homeowner has to follow? 

A longer number on paper does not automatically mean broader coverage. 

What Does “Lifetime” Actually Mean? 

This can be especially confusing. 

When a roofing product is marketed with a lifetime warranty, homeowners may hear: 

“This roof is guaranteed for the rest of my life.” 

That is not necessarily what the term means. 

“Lifetime” is defined by the specific manufacturer’s warranty documents and may include limitations, conditions, or changes in coverage over time. 

That is why the actual warranty paperwork matters more than the wording in a brochure. 

Can a Warranty Transfer to the Next Homeowner? 

Sometimes. 

This can become especially important when selling a home. 

Some roofing warranties may allow a transfer to a future homeowner, but the rules can vary. 

There may be deadlines, paperwork, limits on how many times the warranty can transfer, or other conditions. 

Workmanship warranties can also have their own transfer requirements. 

So before telling a buyer that a roof warranty transfers, it is worth checking the actual terms. 

What Can Affect Warranty Coverage? 

Every warranty has conditions. 

Certain modifications, repairs, installation changes, maintenance issues, or work performed by others may affect coverage depending on the warranty. 

That is why homeowners should be careful about having someone alter the roofing system without first understanding whether existing coverage could be affected. 

Keep Your Roofing Paperwork 

Five or ten years after a roof replacement, you probably will not remember every product that was installed. 

Keep your roofing documents somewhere you can find them. 

That may include your contract, final invoice, warranty documents, product information, photos, and any registration paperwork associated with the roof. 

If you ever have a warranty question or sell the home, those documents can become very important. 

Ask Who Is Providing the Warranty 

If someone tells you your roof has a warranty, ask one simple question: 

“Who is providing it?” 

Is it the manufacturer? 

The roofing contractor? 

Are there multiple warranties involved? 

From there, you can begin to understand what each one actually covers. 

The word “warranty” by itself does not tell you enough. 

Understand the Cause Before You Blame the Product or the Installation 

Most homeowners hope they never need to use a roof warranty. 

But if something does happen later, the most important thing is understanding what caused it. 

A roof issue does not automatically mean the shingles were defective. 

It does not automatically mean the contractor installed something incorrectly. 

And it does not automatically mean a warranty will apply. 

The cause matters. 

Once that is understood, it becomes much easier to determine what type of coverage, if any, applies.