A Roofers Guide On Manufacturing Defects
A manufacturing defect means that the shingle was not manufactured to product specifications or met specific standards. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology and quality control measures, Most major shingle manufacturers go to great lengths to ensure that their shingles are made well. However, with any manufacturing product, defects will inevitably occur.
Manufacturing Defects To Be Aware Of
Shingle Blisters: Shingle blisters can result from an expansion in gas from moisture trapped in the shingle substrate or volatile resins and organics in the shingle’s construction. Some building professionals believe that blisters may adversely affect the system’s life span.
Thermal Expansion: Defective shingles can crack because of thermal expansion and contraction. This is because the shingles do not meet industry standards for tear resistance.
Color Differentiation: Roof discoloration comes from manufacturing defects. The shingles have not been properly cured, and the pigment of the asphalt leeches out of the shingles, causing dark streaks on your roof.
Granular Loss: premature bald patches are a primary indicator of a defective asphalt shingle. These will either be uniformly distributed when replacing an entire roof or smaller areas where the defective product was used to make repairs.
Extractive Bleeding (Oil Streaks): Extractive bleeding occurs on asphalt shingles when an excessive amount of bitumen is released from the shingle surface - we pose that this effect may occur because some of the bitumen was not well bound in the asphalt mix.
You’ve Encountered A Manufacturers Defect - What Next?
The first step is contacting a professional contractor to inspect the roof to identify the materials used and confirm that a defect is present. Once it’s confirmed that the manufacturer is at fault, you’ll need to file a claim with the manufacturer. Some major manufacturers are CertainTeed, GAF, Atlas, and Owens Corning.
CertainTeed Claims Center: https://certainteedroofing.secure.force.com/Warranty/warranty_claim
GAF Claims Center:
https://residentialclaims.gaf.com/?_ga=2.167826273.1955874896.1612001342-111762822.1612001342
Atlas Claims Center:
https://www.atlasroofing.com/warranty/contact
Owens Corning Claims Center:
https://www.owenscorning.com/en-us/roofing/warranty/submit-claim
Once on the company website, the claims process is simple. The manufacturer asks a few relevant questions, such as the house’s age and what year your roof was installed. The manufacturer will also typically ask you to take multiple pictures. It would be wise to have the contractor who inspects your roof take said photos for safety concerns. These include but are not limited to ventilation points, soffit vents, the entire roof, and specific defective shingles. It’s not uncommon that the manufacturer will request that you remove two faulty shingles from the roof and send them in for evaluation.
Most of the time, the roof’s value is prorated, but this will depend on the manufacturer. The prorated amount is what you will receive in the form of a refund check. The manufacturer calculates this amount by referring to their files indicating how much the cost would have been at the time. Additionally, most shingle companies offer ten years non-prorated on their best value laminate shingles. They will cover the cost of the materials they manufactured for the first ten years. They will also likely cover the labor and dump fees as well.
Of course, if your roof is past the time in which the company covers its product (usually ten years), you’re not going to be able to get a full roof replacement. The only money that you may receive will cover the materials. Remember, if the roof predates the late 1990s, it’s likely the manufacturer didn’t put their company name on the felt papers and other materials. Therefore, you will have to prove the source of the materials.
If your warranty claim falls within the ten-year non-prorated warranty, the manufacturer will pay for the entire roof (covering all the materials they make and are used in your home). For example, they would probably cover the shingles, edge metal, gutter apron, snow and ice barrier, felt, pipe boots, and maybe vents. They wouldn’t cover the coil nails and other materials that they do not directly manufacture.
If you think you have a potential defect or are in the market for a new roof, give Fortitude Roofing a call. We put a great emphasis on the quality of the roof we install. All of our estimates are free, and we promise no sales gimmicks, just an honest assessment of your needs. (252) 515-1016.
Areas we service: Morehead City NC - Emerald Isle NC - Atlantic Beach NC - Havelock NC - Beaufort NC - Newport NC - Swansboro NC - Jacksonville NC - New Bern NC - Havelock NC - Trent Woods NC - Peletier NC - Stella NC- Hubert NC - Richlands NC