Two kinds: Labor and material or material only. Labor and material warranty coverage are what you should look for. Labor and material warranties will cover the full replacement of the faulty material — at no cost to you. A “material only” warranty covers just that, materials, and they’re the least amount of the costs involved.
Asphalt shingles are covered with ceramic granules to reflect water and light to protect the underlying material, and, ultimately, your roof. Your shingles experience erosion from water, UV light, and heat. UV light and heat dry the shingles out; water wears away at the granules, some of which have been loosened by heat and light. Unfortunately, the more granules lost, the faster your roof will deteriorate.
Many indicators suggest you may need a new roof -- persistent leaks, unexplained mold inside your home or business, curling shingles, ceramic chips in the gutter and near the drainage pipe on the ground, and flashing pulling away from the structure.
Curling shingles indicate that the oils are starting to evaporate, and the shingle is shrinking, exposing the plywood underneath. Water can then deteriorate the wood decking allowing water to enter your home or business.
Installing a new roof on top of the old one isn’t recommended. You may save money in the short run on the cost of removing the old roof, but it will also cost you more in the long run. Not only will the life expectancy of your new roof be significantly reduced, but you’ll also spend more on energy costs. As a matter of fact, the life expectancy of your roof can be reduced by one-half, and in most cases, your warranties.
Here’s why. The second roof layer causes your roof to lose airflow, which causes the shingles to overheat. This speeds up the rate at which the ceramic chips flake off and the shingles dry out. This also causes your home to retain more heat, causing your air conditioning system to work harder.
As much as 99 percent of all leaks occur at areas of penetration: chimneys, vents, flashing, air conditioning units, etc. Usually, this is due to installation errors. As much as 70 percent of the time it takes to install your roof should be spent making sure all penetration areas are installed and water-proofed correctly. We call this flashing detail. This is an aspect of the roof installation process that we take very seriously.