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• Roof warranty claim advice and assistance

This document assists readers who have had an asphalt shingle roof failure or defect and who need to know how to obtain asphalt roofing shingle failurew warranty claims assistance. We include articles on how to identify common asphalt roof shingle failures, manufacturing defects, and other damage. Readers are also invited contribute roof failure information to the web author for research purposes. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

Roofing Warranties - Valuable or Worthless?

Background: Asphalt roof shingles are the most common covering used on residential properties in North America. Early shingles were made by saturating rag-felts with asphalt and by coating each side of the saturated felt with an asphalt-mineral filler-coat, covering the top surface of the shingle with mineral granules (sunlight and weather resistance) and coating the bottom surface with a material to prevent shingles from sticking together in storage or shipment. Beginning in the 1940's the felt mat was changed to a zero rag-content using wood fibers and cellulose (newspaper). More recently many manufacturers began producing shingles using a fiberglass mat to replace the felt. The fiberglass mat was thought to have good tear resistance, possibly slightly better fire resistance, and as the mat was generally thinner than the felt mat, we believe that there were also economic advantages for both the manufacturer (less asphalt used in the mat) and the roofing installer (lighter material, easier to install).

In certain instances specific roofing products have shown common early failure, failing in a characteristic pattern which is easily identified (such as the thermal splitting defect. Some manufacturers offer limited warranty coverage of their product. Many roofers also guarantee their work to be free from leaks, but usually for a time period substantially shorter than the manufacturer's rated life of the roof material.

In cases which we've handled in the 1990's to about 2004 and involving thermal splitting or tearing of fiberglass-based asphalt shingles, some manufacturers (such as GAF) offer a limited product warranty. Following a fairly involved claims procedure requiring documentation, photographs, and a sample of damaged material the manufacturer may elect to warrant the roofing material on a pro-rated basis depending on the age of the roof and its warranted life. Sometimes the manufacturer's warranty covers only material cost, not installation cost (labor, demolition, removal of old materials) unless the roofing contractor chooses to extend such coverage.

The cost of roofing material is not the main ingredient in roofing cost. Labor and possibly disposal of old roofing material are significant costs. Out of concern for future roof life, some roofers are reluctant to install new roofing atop failed material even where additional layers of roofing are permitted by local codes.

Some homeowners are reluctant to install as new roofing the same product which failed early in the first place. Manufacturers might have changed the formulation of the product to improve durability, but they are understandably reluctant to say so, out of concern for increasing product liability. Without assurance from the manufacturer that a product which failed early has been modified to correct the problem, we advise our clients to consider using alternative products with design and performance expectations having a better track record.

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Roofing Manufacturer Contact Information

• Atlas Roofing, for Atlas Shingle roofing shingle warranty claims, 802 Highway 19 N, Ste. 190, Meridian MS 39307 601-484-8900
• Bird Inc., for Bird Shingle roofing shingle warranty claims (obs. address: 1077 Pleasant St., Norwood MA 02062 617-5551-0656) is - an affiliate of CertainTeed Corporation - so try contacting CertainTeed: P.O. Box 860, 750 East Swedesford Road, Valley Forge, PA 19482 USA Phone: (610) 341-7000 Fax: (610) 341-7113 E-mail: corporate@certainteed.com
• Brookline School District v. Bird, Inc.
• BPCO Roofing, 9510 St. Patrick, LaSalle, P! H*R 1R9 Canada 514-364-0161
• Celotex Corpration for Celotex Shingle roofing shingle warranty claims, 4010 Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa FL 33607-5750 813-873-1700
• CertainTeed Corporation for CertainTeed Shingle roofing shingle warranty claims, (some folks spell it Certain Teed or Certainteed Roofing), Technical Service Department, 1400 Union Meeting Road, PO Box 1100, Blue Bell, PA 19422 - 1-800-345-1145 or 610-341-6212 FAX.
  A CertainTeed Roofing Product warranty claim form in .pdf form can be found at http://www.certainteed.com/NR/rdonlyres/93C5F27C-E0CC-4284-84CB-89DDCF39457E/0/internetclaimform71504.pdf and a second .pdf document is a FAQ or question and answer sheet about how to make a shingle or roofing product warranty claim to the CertainTeed Corporation - see http://www.certainteed.com/NR/rdonlyres/3564FD08-0533-4BA6-9B75-6AFE5832A145/0/WarrantyFAQs_2_.pdf .
  [Original address we had on file was: 750 E. Swedesford Rd., Box 860, Valley Forge PA 19482 610-341-7000]
• Elk Corporation for Elk Shingle roofing shingle warranty claims, 14643 Dallas Pkwy, Ste 1000, Dallas TX 75240-8871 214-851-0400
• GAF, for GAF roofing shingle warranty claims, 1361 Alps Rd., Wayne NJ 07470 201-628-3000 - Technical Services & Guarantee Status Office 1-800-ROOF-411
  GAF class action settlement - call 800-414-4370 for more information or see the GAF Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Website
• Globe Building Materials for Globe Shingle roofing shingle warranty claims, 2230 Indianapolis Blvd, Whiting IN 46394 219-473-4500
• IKO Chicago, Inc., for IKO Shingle roofing shingle warranty claims, 6600 South Central Ave., Bedford Pk, IL 60638 708-496-2800
• Malarkey Roofing, 3131 N. Columbia Blvd., Portland OR 97217 503-283-1191
• Owens-Corning Fiberglas, for Owens Corning Shingle roofing shingle warranty claims, Fiberglass Tower, Toledo OH 43659 419-248-8000
• PABCO Roofing for PABCO Shingle roofing shingle warranty claims, 1715 Thorne Rd., Tacoma WA 98241 206-272-0374
• TAMKO Roofing for TAMCO Shingle roofing shingle warranty claims, 220 W. Fourth St., Joplin MO 64802 417-624-6644
• Intec/Permaglas for Intec Shingle roofing shingle warranty claims (some spelled it Intek Shingles), POB 2845, Port Arthur TX 77643 404-724-7024
• NOTE: Some manufacturers may consolidate with others or may have ceased operation.

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Where to Report a Failing Asphalt Shingle Roof

• Contact the installing roofer for assistance - s/he may be able to assist with a claim and certainly should want to know if you're having a problem with the roof.
• Contact the building supply company who provided your shingles - they may be able to assist with a claim.
• Contact the roofing manufacturer directly
• For large claims you may need assistance from an independent roofing consultant who can prepare failed-shingle samples, provide photographic and written documentation, and assist you with your claim.
• Roofing material test laboratories can also provide assistance in evaluating damaged roof material but usually this service is too costly for a small residential claim. Beware: there are some excellent independent roofing material test laboratories but if you find a company whose primary customer is the roofing manufacturer they may have a conflict of interest when testing for a supplier, installer, or private building owner.

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Roof failure basic field report information for Research Purposes

For research purposes we would also like to receive your reports of roofing product failures as we are actively researching roof failures, repair alternatives, and warranty claims procedures. We seek examples of failures on asphalt shingle roofs and claims experience in New York Pennsylvania Connecticut New Jersey NY PA CT NJ and in California, Oregon, Washington State CA OR WA, (both fiberglass and or non-fiberglass based shingles, GAF and all other brands). You can help by providing information. Email us to send a description of your roof shingle failure experience as outlined below or if necessary, to arrange for consulting in the NY metropolitan area. Regrettably the volume of web traffic precludes free email, telephone, or other consulting except for the elderly, disabled, and people of limited means.

• Roof type: e.g. asphalt shingle, fiberglass-based or asphalt shingle, organic-mat based
• Age of roof: date installed, or approximate age if known, or indicate unknown
• Roof Ventilation: none, ridge, soffit, gable-end, roof vents, power vents, blocked/unblocked at eaves or ridge, unknown.
• Shingle color, weight, rated or claimed life expectancy if known.
• City and State where building is located
• Contact information: Name, telephone, Email. Note: contact information is optional. Our privacy policy: 100% private. Your personal information is released to no one. Period.
• Describe conditions under which the roof failed, when the failure was first observed, and what related building damage occurred. Photos are helpful.
• Describe the results you obtained when contacting your roofer for assistance.
• Describe the results you obtained when contacting the roofing product manufacturer or local supplier for assistance.

Technical Reviewers

Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to the material. Content suggestions, technical corrections and content critique are invited for any of the content at our website.

• Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. (727) 595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com
• Hankey and Brown home inspectors, Eden Prairie, MN, technical review by Roger Hankey, prior chairman, Standards Committee, American Society of Home Inspectors - ASHI. 952 829-0044 - hankeyandbrown.com
• Arlene Puentes, a licensed home inspector, educator, and building failures researcher in Kingston, NY.
• Daniel Friedman - principal author
• Technical reviewers are invited to comment or ask questions - contact us

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