One of the most frequently discussed topics in commercial roofing involves the role of roofing warranties and their contribution to roof-system quality. Although some industry stakeholders may caution that warranties are mere marketing gimmicks that only help promote lower quality and provide an easy out for roof-system manufacturers, my personal involvement with billions of square feet of warranted roofs reveals a much different story. In fact, my experience suggests that manufacturer roof-system warranties have made a significant contribution to increasing the long-term performance and sustainability of modern commercial roofing systems.
Before I started my roof-consulting business eight years ago, I had the opportunity to serve as a key executive for a major commercial roofing manufacturer. During my 22-year tenure, my personal signature was printed on more than 2 billion square feet of roof-system warranties. As a result, I had a very keen interest in the fundamental principles of roofing warranties and how they must be treated from a technical and business perspective, especially by a large, publically traded roofing manufacturer.