| Frequently Asked Questions | ||
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Why Are Warranties Important? |
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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. |
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| What Are The Chances Of Having A Problem With My New GAF-Elk Roof? | ||
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Based on our state-of-the-art manufacturing process,
the odds of having a problem with a new GAF-Elk roof
are miniscule. On the other hand, while serious
problems with GAF-Elk roofing materials are rare, if
you were to have a problem, it can be as expensive
to fix as your roof originally cost. So while the
risk of having a problem is low, the cost if you do
have a serious problem can be high. |
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| What About Problems With Installation? | ||
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GAF-Elk’s studies indicate that more than two-thirds
of the problems that people experience with their
new roofs are due to the contractor’s workmanship —
not the roofing materials. This is an important
distinction to keep in mind when deciding on
warranty coverage. |
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| What Should I Look For In A Roofing Warranty? | ||
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Basically, there are two types of coverage that you
should ask your contractor about: coverage against
material defects and coverage against workmanship
errors. |
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| Tell Me About Coverage Against Material Defects... | ||
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To the best of our knowledge, all roofing products
come with a warranty against material defects,
although your exact coverage will vary depending on
the brand. For example, a typical shingle warranty
will cover material defects for a period of 20, 30,
40 years, or more. The warranty on the other
components of your roofing system can vary from as
little as a few months to several years. It is
important to remember that coverage against material
defects is provided by the manufacturer, so you
should select a brand from a manufacturer who is
financially strong and therefore more likely to be
in business for as long as you own your roof — which
could be several decades! |
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| What Is GAF-Elk’s “Smart Choice® Protection Period”? | ||
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GAF-Elk’s warranties come with a special provision
called the Smart Choice® Protection
Period that covers you against material defects
during the critical early years of your new roof.
During this period, in the event that you experience
a material defect on covered components, GAF-Elk
will provide you with 100% replacement materials and
the reasonable cost of labor to install them. This
is important because some roofing warranties may
only provide replacement materials, but not the
labor to install them. |
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| What Is The GAF-Elk Weather Stopper® System Plus Ltd. Warranty? | ||
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The GAF-Elk Weather Stopper® System Plus Ltd. Warranty provides coverage against material defects for all major GAF-Elk components on your roof (not just your shingles) — so you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that, if any covered roofing component fails, it will be covered by the warranty (see ltd. warranty for complete coverage and restrictions). The warranty is available through GAF-Elk Certified Contractors, and is a low-cost way to get up to 50 years of non-prorated coverage (against material defects) on your new roofing system. |
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| How Do I Get Coverage Against Workmanship Errors? | ||
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Many roofing contractors provide their own warranty
against errors in workmanship, sometimes for as long
as ten years or more. Obviously, that coverage is
only good for as long as the contractor remains in
business. Since roofing is a “high-turnover”
occupation, the majority of roofing contractors are
out of business within five years — far less than
the life of your new roof — making the warranty
worthless and leaving you with nowhere to turn in
the event that you have a workmanship problem. |
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| Are There Any Manufacturers Who Will Cover The Contractor’s Workmanship? | ||
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Until relatively recently, there were no
manufacturers that provided warranty coverage
against errors in the contractors’ workmanship.
Recognizing this obvious need, GAF-Elk introduced
the Golden
Pledge® Ltd.
Warranty —
the first manufacturer’s warranty to cover both
material defects and the contractor’s workmanship (see
ltd. warranty for complete coverage and
restrictions). Whether or not your contractor
remains in business, GAF-Elk will stand behind his
workmanship for 20 years! The Golden Pledge® Ltd.
Warranty is available only through GAF-Elk Master
Elite™ Contractors, who are factory-certified by
GAF-Elk. The warranty even includes an inspection by
GAF-Elk’s independent inspectors after your new roof
has been completed to insure proper installation. It
is the strongest, safest warranty available in
roofing today. Your Master Elite™ Contractor
can provide a price for the warranty when he gives
you a quote for your new roof. |
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| How Do I File A Claim If I Have A Material Defect On My GAF-Elk Shingles? | ||
| Before you proceed, if possible you should locate a copy of your GAF-Elk warranty and a copy of the contractor’s invoice, contract, or original estimate. You will also need to provide the date applied, proof that you were the owner when the shingles were installed (or that the warranty was properly transferred to you), and the number of squares applied (1 square = 100 square feet). Then call our Warranty Service Department toll-free at 1-800-458-1860, and let us know the nature of your complaint. | ||
