Why Do I Need a Roof Maintenance Plan if I Have a Warranty?
When your roof project was completed, your contractor likely provided a warranty. But did you know that most warranties have specific conditions and limitations? Neglecting proper roof care could render your warranty invalid or void.
In this article, we’ll explore the different types of warranties, the importance of maintenance plans, and how having both ensures comprehensive protection for your property and everything inside it.
Types of Roof Warranties and Why They are Important
A new roof is a significant investment, often costing thousands of dollars, and is designed to last for decades. If issues arise with your roof system, a warranty ensures that the problem is resolved without additional out-of-pocket expenses.
However, many property owners don’t give much thought to the warranty they receive after their roof installation. Roof warranties are crucial for protecting your investment, guarding against defective materials or poor installation, and preventing unexpected costs down the road.
When you install a new roofing system, you’ll typically have several warranty options. The three most common types include:
Contractor Roof Warranty
A contractor roof warranty is provided by the company that installed your roof. This warranty typically covers the workmanship of the installation, ensuring that any issues caused by improper installation—such as leaks or poor sealing—will be corrected at no additional cost to you.
Manufacturer Product Warranty
A manufacturer product warranty is issued by the company that produces the materials used in your roofing system. This warranty covers defects or failures in the roofing materials themselves. However, it’s important to note that this warranty is only valid if the contractor installs the materials correctly, so the installation must meet the manufacturer’s standards.
Manufacturer’s Full System Warranty
A full system warranty goes beyond just the materials and includes all components of the roofing system—such as flashings, accessories, and other parts. Offered by the material manufacturer, this warranty covers both the materials and the labor needed to repair or replace any part of the system within the warranty terms, providing comprehensive protection for your entire roof.
Types of Maintenance Plans and Why They are Important
The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) recommends maintenance and repair be performed at least twice a year. More importantly before and after severe weather seasons such as a winter in the Northern United States.
These inspections are to clean the roof system of natural debris, all gutters and waterways, and assess vulnerable points in the roof system to ensure that no degradation can leak in the future.
In addition to scheduled maintenance twice a year, it’s important to have a contractor inspect and perform needed repairs after severe weather such as high winds, hail, and severe storms. These inspections are to clear the roof of any debris such as metal from HVAC units or other penetrations and ensure that there is no damage to the roof system, flashings, copings, and other units.
A maintenance contract is an easy way for building owners and managers to ensure their commercial roof remains under warranty and in good condition while staying in their budget.
There are three main types of maintenance contract options:
- A contract that requires the contractors to visit the facility regularly for gutter and drain cleaning along with a visual inspection and report.
- A contract that requires gutter and drains cleaning, debris removal, along with a visual inspection, small general repairs, and a report.
- A contract that requires gutter and drains cleaning, debris removal, along with a full inspection, medium general repairs, roof survey and a report.

A maintenance contract is a great way to keep your facility in good shape while holding your contractor accountable for the performance of their work.
WHY DO I NEED A MAINTENANCE PLAN IF I HAVE A WARRANTY?
Now that you know the basics of roof warranties and maintenance plans, why do you need both?
The short answer: Warranties don’t make your roof last longer.
As the person in charge of your facility, it’s your responsibility to maintain your roof system. If you fail to have your roof regularly inspected, cleaned and having minor repairs performed, you may void your warranty when a leak comes through into your facility.
An average roof warranty requires at least one roof Inspection to be performed a year by an authorized contractor. This requirement is beneficial for the property owner and the company that issues the warranty. During the yearly inspection, the inspector will check for not only current problems but areas that could turn into problems in the future. This allows repairs to be made before they grow larger and become costly.
A good maintenance plan will go a step further; they will clean your gutters, mend your flashings and perform minor repairs for the cost of the program. Having a service team visit your roof regularly not only gives you peace of mind, but it expands your roof’s lifespan and keeps you within your warranty guidelines.
At Colco Roof, we take pride in the new roofs we install and the maintenance we provide for our customers and their commercial, industrial, and manufacturing buildings. Our S.M.aR.T (Service Maintenance and Repairs with Colco Roof) program is available for new and existing roof systems.
Choosing Colco Roof as your trusted roofing company will provide you with highly trained teams and award willing service. Our services are flexible and diverse; we can recoat, repair or replace your facility’s roof so that it lasts decades.