The Sol Vista Roofing team has found that not enough of our metro Denver commercial roofing clients read the small print of their roof warranties. Most of the time, those clients never expected to actually need to file a commercial roof warranty claim.
If and when the time comes that you do need to use your commercial roof warranty, you should have a basic understanding of your responsibilities and coverage. Multiple factors can void a roof warranty, and as a Denver commercial roofing contractor, we want to help you avoid that by understanding some of the basics.
To begin, keep in mind there is a difference between a material warranty and a workmanship warranty. The material warranty protects against defective roofing material and is provided by the material manufacturer. The workmanship warranty protects against faulty installation and is provided by the roofing contractor. A third warranty type is common for commercial projects: No Dollar Limit (NDL) warranties. NDL warranties typically guarantee both material and workmanship, and are the focus of this article.
While every commercial roofing warranty is unique, there are some things they all have in common. The Sol Vista Roofing team has created this list of the key things you should know to protect your Denver commercial real estate investment.
Typical Commercial Roof Warranty Requirements
Roof Inspections Are Required
A lot of our commercial roofing Denver customers fail to realize that there is often a clause requiring preventative maintenance and inspections, including documentation, to validate your warranty. Check your specific warranty language that describes how and when inspections should take place and schedule them in advance. At Sol Vista Roofing, we can help plan your inspection schedule and ensure each inspection is documented with photos to keep your warranty valid.
Monetary Limitations
Commercial roof warranties commonly have a maximum allowable repair cost that they cover. So if a defect results in the need for a full roof replacement, the entire expense may not be covered by the manufacturer. Ask your Denver commercial roofing contractor about warranty caps and whether there is an upgrade option to a no-dollar-limit warranty.
Natural Disasters
A natural disaster (or “Act of God”) clause in your warranty means in the event of a natural disaster, your warranty would not cover the cost of repairs. In this scenario, you would need to depend on your commercial property insurance provider to help with the damage repair. Due to the amount of damaging hail and wind we receive in the Denver area, we suggest reviewing your commercial property policy to ensure you are covered to your satisfaction.
Abusing the Roofing System
If your commercial roof has regular foot traffic, it’s possible your warranty could be voided due to “abuse”. If you anticipate heavy foot traffic on your Denver flat roof, ask about abuse clauses and how abuse is defined.
Failure to Act on Repairs
If your roofing system needs repair and you don’t act on the repairs in a timely manner, your warranty could be voided. We recommend you take action at the first sign of damage, and work with a professional Colorado-based commercial roofing contractor.
Failure to Pay for Roofing Materials
We have seen a small number of our commercial roofing Denver CO clients fail to pay their roofing bills. If you have outstanding invoices for a roofing installation or materials, your warranty will not take effect until they have been paid. Keep in mind as well, commercial roof warranties often come at an additional expense to the property owner due to the manufacturer’s requirement to inspect and certify the roof upon completion.
If you are in the market for a new flat roof, the Sol Vista Roofing team is here to help. We are your flat roofing Denver CO based experts and we pride ourselves on helping our clients find the best roofing and warranty for their property. Call our team at 720-712-3516 today to learn more.
