Who is Responsible For What?
Once the building owner has officially hired a roofing contractor, he or she can take steps to ensure the relationship is a productive one. It’s important to clarify at the outset the events that are and are not covered by the roofing warranty, so that everyone is on the same page and fully understands its contents. In the past, some roofing manufacturers and contractors have been less than forthcoming about the scope of warranty coverage. In some manufacturer’s warranties, roof damage from acts of God and third parties, such as when a satellite dish installer screws the dish directly to the roof, are not covered. The building owner should be aware of these types of warranty issues
Prior to issuing a warranty, to ensure that each roof installation meets our standards, Duro-Last’s Technical Representatives perform an evaluation consisting of four elements:
- Quality of the welding.
- Quality of the detail work.
- Contractor’s adherence to specifications such as for roof attachment and sealant requirements.
- Overall aesthetic quality of the job.
It’s important to identify the responsibilities of the manufacturer, the contractor, and the building owner once the roof has been installed and the warranty has been issued. With some roofing systems, the contractor is responsible for making repairs covered under the warranty for the first two years after the roof is installed, while the manufacturer is responsible for any warranty work for the duration of the warranty period.
Similarly, the building owner or facility manager should be aware of his or her responsibilities in upholding the warranty.
For instance, some warranties require the building owner to report any roof leaks within 30 days so that the leak can be repaired before the interior of the building is severely damaged. The building owner should also ask the contractor about charges involved in performing any repairs (including potential premium charges for “after hours” work), and the amount of time typically needed to respond to emergencies.
As with most business partnerships, knowing what to expect upfront makes a project run much more smoothly.
