All You Need To Know About Roof Tile Warranties

As durable as roof tiles are, like all other roof materials, they are vulnerable to the elements. If you are building or considering a roof replacement, it’s essential that you know your rights when it comes to obtaining a satisfactory warranty.

Warranties can vary

Companies have different approaches when it comes to the warranties they can offer. If you’ve searched for warranty information, you might have already discovered that most roof tile companies may boast that their tiles have a 50 year minimum lifespan. Many Australian roof tile companies match or even exceed the standard time frame for roof tile warranties, but some don’t. When getting a quote on roof tiles from a builder, be sure to ask about the company's warranty on the roof tiles. Some companies may offer only a couple of decades or maybe a few years.

What should your roof tile warranty cover?

Ideally, should your roof tiles fail within the warranty period, your contractor should fix the problem at no added cost to you. However, warranties have very important exclusions which express circumstances in which a roof tile repair will NOT be covered. This is why you MUST read all roof tile warranty documents from top to bottom.

Common reasons/situations that may not be covered by a roof tile warranty:

• Surface marks: small blemishes to roof tiles are not covered as they don’t affect the integrity of the product.
• Discoloration: a fading roofing tile which does not impair the product’s performance, as the company will likely not pay for a respraying.
• Efflorescence: which is caused by the migration of salt, commonly associated with structures that are built in coastal regions. It causes a white-greyish discoloration and is a natural process which does not impact the performance of roof tiles. Also, most roof tiles possess innate salt resistant properties reducing the likelihood of this occurring.
• Weathering: a natural occurrence that affects all roof tiles over a long period, as this does not impact the roof’s performance.
• If your roof was repaired by a contractor from a different company in the past.
• Roof tiles that are broken deliberately.
• Roof tiles that are stepped on and broken by non-company personnel.
• Natural Disasters.
• Roof tiles damaged by animals.
• Any factors outside the control of the building company.
• Warranties vary and there are many more reasons for exclusions beyond the list above. Ensure you read your warranty agreement thoroughly and keep a copy saved for your own reference.

Interested in learning more about roof tiles and their benefits or replacing your roofing tiles? Check out our recent downloadable roof tile guides here.