How long is a contractor warranty?

[Toni]

I had a roof put on my home about 5 years ago. They took off the old one and put new shingles on. My roof is leaking on to the ceiling. 75% of the plywood is wet. Is there any type warranty contractors give?

[Big D]

Hey Toni,
Sorry to hear about your roof issues. We just had a new roof installed this last summer and it came with a five year warranty if we installed thirty year shingles. Pull out the paperwork that the contractor gave you when they finished your roof and call them right away. Also the shingle manufacturer may offer a much longer warranty ours came with a fifteen year warranty by the shingle manufacturer. And one other BIG thing is too call the folks that carry your homeowners insurance...chances are that your insurance will cover replacement costs if you have the paperwork.
Good Luck

[Marc Martyn]

Find out what the warranty of the shingles is. Also, was the contractor licensed, bonded and insured. If the shingles were not installed as to manufacturer's guidelines and not meeting building code, the manufacturer warranty may be void. If the roof was not installed properly, you may be able to recovery the cost of the materials and labor through his bond or insurance. If the contractor is not cooperating with you, call Washington State Labor & Industries. They can look into the matter for you.

About insurance. Be careful about filing a claim for water damage until you know the exact cause of the leak. When insurers hear water damage, they have an excellent excuse to raise your rates. When you talk with them, be sure to ask clearly if the repairs covered by the insurance will raise your premiums.

Payment of the repairs. Find out who pays the contractor doing the repairs, the insurance company or you then reimbursed by the insurance company. I had a customer who had water damage and I was one of several contractors doing repairs. The insurance company would not pay me directly when I was finished. I found out that the company was not going to pay out anything until all the work was completed. This left me hanging out to dry for a couple of months without being paid. My customer finally took out a loan to pay me because it was taking so long to get the money. I had done work for her before and she wanted me to be paid. The insurance company finally coughed up the money for all the repairs, after dodging her for one reason or another, 18 months later.
This was a major national insurance company known by all of us.

[hewesfisher]

Personally, I would not contact my insurance company until I was ready to pursue that option. Even if you just call to inquire about what is covered, you may still be faced with a possible rate hike even if you don't file a claim. Notifying your carrier of the possibility of filing will go on your claim history regardless of whether you file. I know because it happened to me, and that was with a major national insurance company whose initials are SF.

I'm not saying do not call or do not file a claim, but I'd exhaust all other options first before resigning myself to filing a home owner's claim with my insurance carrier.

[saltyseadog]

most good builders would stand by their work. did you ask around about them? If thats not a option hunt them down

[Toni]

I got a low income loan through Pierce County Housing. They had contractors they work with. 3 came and gave a bid then I picked the bid. They are suppose to be licensed and bonded. I don't even know the brand of roofing material it was but I think they said 15 year on it.
With it being wet through so much of the wood (now frozen) to me, it meant it was wet before the freeze and it was the way the contractors put it on. How could all of it fail like that?
Someone said maybe they put 15 weight felt paper down and that helped it fail?

[fishaholictaz]

Sounds like they used a cheap 3-tab style shingle and in that area they are worn out in 5 years. PM me with what contractor you used I know a lot of them back there. I am pretty sure I know witch one it was and they will not help you:-& I worked with a lot of roofing companies in pierce and Thurston Co. and there are not many good ones.

[Toni]

Sounds like they used a cheap 3-tab style shingle and in that area they are worn out in 5 years. PM me with what contractor you used I know a lot of them back there. I am pretty sure I know witch one it was and they will not help you:-& I worked with a lot of roofing companies in pierce and Thurston Co. and there are not many good ones.

They were general contractors working with Pierce County Housing. Not a roofing contractor.

[fishaholictaz]

Someone said maybe they put 15 weight felt paper down and that helped it fail?

All the companies I worked with used 15 standard.

[fishaholictaz]

Sounds like they used a cheap 3-tab style shingle and in that area they are worn out in 5 years. PM me with what contractor you used I know a lot of them back there. I am pretty sure I know witch one it was and they will not help you:-& I worked with a lot of roofing companies in pierce and Thurston Co. and there are not many good ones.

They were general contractors working with Pierce County Housing. Not a roofing contractor.

Well then I can almost guarantee they were installed wrong. Can you get me some pictures easy? If they were installed wrong then you can sue the contractor...

[Marc Martyn]

They were general contractors working with Pierce County Housing. Not a roofing contractor.

All contractors in this state are required by law to be bonded and insured to obtain a business license. To do work for Pierce County Housing or any other government agency, they had to have a state license and carry probably 1 million dollars in insurance and be bonded. If they were generals, they could have subbed out the roof work. Regardless if the roofers were licensed or not, the general contractor would most likely be liable for any faulty work.

Contact the Pierce Co. Housing and they should have some information on the contractors.

Last year when you guys had the snow over there, did you shovel your roof? Many roofs are ruined by shoveling the snow right down to the shingles. Frozen shingles when walked on could crack. When shoveling my roof, I always leave about 3-6" of snow on the roof for cushion.

[Toni]

They were general contractors working with Pierce County Housing. Not a roofing contractor.

All contractors in this state are required by law to be bonded and insured to obtain a business license. To do work for Pierce County Housing or any other government agency, they had to have a state license and carry probably 1 million dollars in insurance and be bonded. If they were generals, they could have subbed out the roof work. Regardless if the roofers were licensed or not, the general contractor would most likely be liable for any faulty work.

Contact the Pierce Co. Housing and they should have some information on the contractors.

Last year when you guys had the snow over there, did you shovel your roof? Many roofs are ruined by shoveling the snow right down to the shingles. Frozen shingles when walked on could crack. When shoveling my roof, I always leave about 3-6" of snow on the roof for cushion.

No shoveling. It was done by the general contractors they didn't sub it out. They did sub out the gutters. I am waiting to call every one Monday.
I found a date I think it was done Nov. 2003.

[fishaholictaz]

Can you find the style and rating for the material? Marc has given you some great advise and pointed you n the right direction..

[Toni]

Can you find the style and rating for the material? Marc has given you some great advise and pointed you n the right direction..

No they have all that information. That was one thing I didn't like about them doing it. I didn't even get the paperwork for the hot water heater.

[fishaholictaz]

That is bad! I would sat they used no paper.... Or their nails are all wrong. I know moss will damage a roof so be careful that they don't try to pin that as the cause. Also I noticed their pattern is off on a few courses toward the top of the picture...

[fishaholictaz]

Is the leak coming all the way from the top down? On both sides?

[Toni]

My daughters boyfriend who also roofs (metal now) says that the top looks dry but it might be the heat rising. Is the moss bad enough to do this damage? This is this years moss growth.I do it in the spring. Is that wrong?

[fishaholictaz]

No it isn't bad enough that is why I said don't let them fool you. LOL If it isn't coming from the top it has to be the the installation of the field and the nail placements. If you can look to see if the nails are over the little gaps or in the middle of the big tabs.

[Toni]

I have to go to work so it may be a while before I can. Also, I think they do cover the placement because I asked about it when I saw that the nails were 2 inches through the wood. They said the roofing covered the nails so that wasn't a problem.

[fishaholictaz]

It is where they put the nails it is very important here is a little help...