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Roof Warranties Explained: Manufacturer vs Workmanship

Every roofing quote says "lifetime warranty" somewhere. A new roof actually comes with two warranties from two different companies, covering two different kinds of failure. Here's what each one covers, what "lifetime" means in the fine print, and what to ask before you sign.

By Austin Roofing Company • Updated November 2026

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The short answer

The manufacturer warranty covers defects in the shingles. The workmanship warranty covers mistakes in how they were installed, and it comes from your roofer. A standard shingle warranty doesn't cover installation errors, so without a written workmanship warranty, a nailing or flashing mistake is your problem. "Lifetime" means for as long as you own the home, with full coverage for only the first 10 to 20 years. Neither warranty covers hail; that's your homeowners insurance. Get both warranties in writing, and ask whether your roofer is certified to offer the manufacturer's enhanced coverage.

Manufacturer vs Workmanship Warranty, Side by Side

The two warranties don't overlap. Each one picks up where the other stops, which is why a roof with only one of them has a gap.

Who backs it

Manufacturer: The shingle maker (GAF, Owens Corning, IKO, Malarkey)

Workmanship: Your roofer, or the manufacturer under some enhanced warranties

What it covers

Manufacturer: Manufacturing defects in the shingles and the brand's accessories

Workmanship: Installation errors: nailing, flashing, underlayment, and the leaks they cause

How long

Manufacturer: Limited Lifetime, with full coverage for the first 10 to 20 years

Workmanship: Whatever the roofer puts in writing; builder roofs often get one or two years

Who you call

Manufacturer: The manufacturer, usually with your roofer's help

Workmanship: The roofer who installed it

What it never covers

Manufacturer: Installation errors, hail, wind above the rated speed

Workmanship: Storm damage and defects in the shingles themselves

IKO's enhanced warranty says it plainly: IKO "does not warrant or guarantee or make any representation regarding the workmanship" of the contractor. The other brands' standard warranties work the same way. Installation is the roofer's responsibility unless you buy an enhanced warranty that says otherwise.

What "Lifetime" Really Means

"Limited Lifetime" means for as long as the original owner owns the home, and on most brands only for a single-family home owned by individuals. GAF, for example, limits corporate, condominium, and HOA-owned buildings to 40 years.

The number that matters is the non-prorated period, the years in which the manufacturer covers a defective shingle in full. After it ends, the manufacturer pays a shrinking share of the material cost, and labor and tear-off are usually not covered at all.

GAF: Smart Choice Protection

Full coverage: 10 years

After that: Prorated; reimbursement is reduced to reflect the use you have received

If you sell: Once; buyer notifies GAF within 1 year

Owens Corning: TRU PROtection

Full coverage: 10 years, shingles plus the labor to install them, not tear-off

After that: Prorated, starting at 80% and dropping 2% a year

If you sell: Once; buyer applies within 60 days

IKO: Iron Clad Protection

Full coverage: 15 years on most lines (10 on Cambridge), shingles plus an installation allowance, not tear-off

After that: Prorated, shingles only, no labor

If you sell: Once, in the first 10 years; buyer notifies IKO within 30 days

Malarkey: Right Start

Full coverage: 10 to 20 years by shingle line, not tear-off

After that: Prorated

If you sell: To the first buyer only

Selling the house changes the math. On GAF and Owens Corning standard warranties, a buyer who takes over after the full-coverage period gets two years of coverage, not a lifetime. Terms are from each brand's current published warranty; the exact terms are the ones printed on your registered certificate.

Enhanced Warranties Depend on Your Roofer's Certification

Every manufacturer sells a better warranty than the standard one, and only through roofers it has certified. These upgrades extend full coverage, add tear-off, and in the best tiers, put the manufacturer behind the workmanship too. Each one requires the brand's own accessories, such as underlayment, starter strip, and ridge cap, installed as a system.

GAF
System Plus

Longer non-prorated material coverage. No workmanship coverage.

Offered by: GAF Certified, Certified Plus, or Master Elite

GAF
Silver Pledge

Adds 10 years of workmanship (misapplication) coverage and tear-off.

Offered by: GAF Certified Plus or Master Elite

GAF
Golden Pledge

Up to 30 years of workmanship coverage.

Offered by: GAF Master Elite only

Owens Corning
System Protection

50 years of non-prorated material coverage, including tear-off. No workmanship coverage.

Offered by: Preferred or Platinum Preferred

Owens Corning
Preferred Protection

Adds 10 years of workmanship coverage.

Offered by: Preferred or Platinum Preferred

Owens Corning
Platinum Protection

Lifetime workmanship coverage, prorated after 25 years.

Offered by: Platinum Preferred only

IKO
ROOFPRO and CodePlus Iron Clad Extended

15 to 25 years of non-prorated coverage, including tear-off. IKO does not warrant workmanship.

Offered by: IKO ROOFPRO Select or Craftsman Premier

Malarkey
Certified Pro

20 years non-prorated, including tear-off. No workmanship coverage.

Offered by: Malarkey Certified Pro or Premium

Malarkey
Certified Premium

Adds 25 years of workmanship coverage.

Offered by: Malarkey Certified Premium only

The first two years are still on your roofer. Under GAF Silver and Golden Pledge, Owens Corning Preferred and Platinum Protection, and Malarkey Certified Premium, the installing roofer handles workmanship repairs in the first two years. The manufacturer steps in after that, or sooner if the roofer is unable or unwilling. A manufacturer-backed warranty is strong protection, and it still pays to hire a roofer who will answer the phone.

Registration is not automatic. Enhanced warranties exist only once the roofer registers them. Owens Corning, for example, requires the contractor to register within 60 days of installation. Ask for the certificate in your name, and check the roofer's certification in the manufacturer's online directory before you sign.

Sources: GAF residential warranties; Owens Corning roofing warranties (Preferred Protection, sample warranty); IKO ROOFPRO extended warranty; Malarkey warranty comparison chart.

What Voids a Roof Warranty

Read the exclusions before you sign, because most of them involve something that happens before or after the shingles go on. These conditions are written into the major brands' warranties.

  • Poor attic ventilation. GAF and Owens Corning both exclude damage from inadequate ventilation, and GAF states it is not an application error, so even an enhanced warranty does not cover it. In an Austin attic that bakes all summer, ventilation is part of the roof, which is why our roof installation work includes ridge and soffit vents.
  • Shingles over an old layer. Owens Corning's enhanced warranties require a clean deck with all existing roofing removed. Our asphalt shingle page explains why we recommend a full tear-off anyway.
  • Other trades on your roof. Owens Corning excludes damage from equipment and solar panel installation, and does not pay to remove and replace solar panels. Before anyone mounts panels, a satellite dish, or an HVAC line, ask how they will seal the penetrations.
  • Mixed or missing components. Enhanced warranties require a set number of the brand's qualifying accessories. A roof built with another brand's starter or ridge cap qualifies only for the standard warranty.
  • Missed deadlines. An enhanced warranty that was never registered, or a transfer the buyer never filed, leaves you with less coverage than you paid for.

Hail and Wind Are Insurance, Not Warranty

No roof warranty covers hail. GAF states that "hail damage is not covered," Owens Corning excludes "acts of God, such as hail," and IKO and Malarkey exclude hail in their warranties too, including on impact-resistant Class 4 shingles. The value of a Class 4 shingle shows up in your insurance premium, not your warranty.

Wind is covered only up to the shingle's rated speed, usually for the first 15 years. Standard ratings run 110 mph, rising to 130 mph with extra nails or the brand's starter strip, and higher on some premium lines. Even then the payout is limited: IKO's wind coverage pays for replacement shingles but not labor, and Owens Corning's tops out at the cost of hand-sealing.

So when a Central Texas storm damages your roof, the claim goes to your insurer. Our Austin roof insurance claim guide walks through it.

What Texas Law Adds to a Written Warranty

Texas law gives you some workmanship protection even before you read the contract. This is general information, not legal advice.

  • Repairs carry an implied warranty. The Texas Supreme Court has held that work to repair or modify existing property carries an implied warranty that it will be done in a good and workmanlike manner, and that warranty cannot simply be waived. A contract that spells out the manner and quality of the work in enough detail can replace it. Gonzales v. Southwest Olshan Foundation Repair Co. (Tex. 2013), applying Melody Home Mfg. Co. v. Barnes (Tex. 1987).
  • Breach of warranty is a consumer claim. The Deceptive Trade Practices Act lets a consumer sue for breach of an express or implied warranty, generally within two years. Business and Commerce Code §§17.50 and 17.565.
  • Get the terms in writing. The Texas Department of Insurance tells homeowners to "get a copy of all written, signed agreements, and warranty terms." TDI: Making repairs after a storm.

New Homes: Watch the Builder's Warranty Clock

A new home's roof comes with the builder's workmanship warranty, often just one or two years on the roof, and usually the manufacturer's standard warranty, not an enhanced one. The builder chose the installer, the shingle, and the warranty tier. Our new construction vs replacement guide covers the questions to ask your builder, including whether the manufacturer warranty will be registered in your name.

The practical step is timing: have the roof inspected before the builder's warranty runs out, while problems are still the builder's to fix. We do this often in the newer subdivisions we cover for roofing in Leander, Buda, and Kyle.

7 Warranty Questions to Ask Before You Sign

  1. 1
    Who backs the workmanship warranty, for how many years, and is it in writing?
  2. 2
    Which manufacturer warranty am I getting, by name? Is it the standard warranty or an enhanced one?
  3. 3
    Are you certified to offer that warranty? (Check the manufacturer's contractor directory yourself.)
  4. 4
    Who registers it, and when will I get the certificate in my name?
  5. 5
    Who handles a workmanship problem in the first two years, and who handles it after that?
  6. 6
    Does it transfer if I sell, and what is the buyer's deadline?
  7. 7
    What voids it? Ask about ventilation, solar panels, and repairs by other companies.

Our Warranty, in Plain Terms

Every roof replacement and installation we do carries two warranties, both in writing:

  • A 10-year workmanship warranty from us, covering how the roof was installed.
  • The manufacturer's Limited Lifetime warranty from GAF, Owens Corning, or IKO, covering the materials.

We put the two in separate writing, so you always know which one covers what and who to call.

We're certified by GAF, Owens Corning, IKO, and Malarkey, so we can offer enhanced warranties without steering you to one brand. With GAF we hold Certified Plus status, which lets us offer System Plus and Silver Pledge. With Owens Corning we're a Preferred Contractor, which lets us offer System Protection and Preferred Protection. GAF's Golden Pledge and Owens Corning's Platinum Protection are reserved for each brand's top contractor tier. If a quote promises one of those, check the roofer's tier in the manufacturer's directory. See our GAF directory listing, or meet the family behind the company on our about page.

Roof Warranty Questions, Answered

What is the difference between a manufacturer warranty and a workmanship warranty?
The manufacturer warranty comes from the shingle maker and covers defects in the materials. The workmanship warranty comes from your roofer and covers mistakes in how the roof was installed, such as nailing and flashing errors. A standard manufacturer warranty does not cover installation errors, so you need both.
Is a lifetime shingle warranty really lifetime?
Only in a narrow sense. "Lifetime" means for as long as the original owner owns the home, and full, non-prorated coverage lasts only the first 10 to 20 years depending on the brand and shingle line. After that, the manufacturer pays a shrinking share of the material cost, and the warranty usually drops to about two years if the house sells.
What warranty should a roofer offer?
A written workmanship warranty with a stated number of years, plus the manufacturer's warranty registered in your name. Reputable roofers commonly offer five to ten years of workmanship coverage or more. Ours is ten years, in writing, separate from the manufacturer's Limited Lifetime warranty.
Does a roof warranty cover hail damage?
No. GAF, Owens Corning, IKO, and Malarkey all exclude hail from their shingle warranties, including impact-resistant Class 4 lines. Hail damage is a homeowners insurance claim. Wind damage is covered only up to the shingle's rated wind speed, usually for 15 years.
Does a roof warranty transfer when I sell my house?
Usually once, and only if the buyer acts in time. Owens Corning gives the buyer 60 days to apply, IKO 30 days, and GAF one year. If the sale happens after the non-prorated period ends, coverage for the new owner typically shrinks to two years.
What voids a roof warranty?
The most common causes are inadequate attic ventilation, installing new shingles over an old layer, damage from other trades such as solar installers, missing the manufacturer's required accessories, and an enhanced warranty that was never registered. Hail and wind above the rated speed are excluded from the start.
What happens to my workmanship warranty if the roofer goes out of business?
A roofer's own warranty goes with the roofer. Some enhanced manufacturer warranties, such as GAF Silver Pledge and Owens Corning Preferred Protection, include workmanship coverage the manufacturer stands behind if the installing roofer is unable or unwilling to make the repair. That is one of the best reasons to ask for one.

Get Both Warranties in Writing

Our free written estimate names the shingle, the manufacturer warranty, and our 10-year workmanship warranty, line by line, before you sign anything.

(512) 640-2658

See what's included in a new roof on our roof replacement page.