10/26/2026
Two roofers can both say "warranty" and mean two very different things.
The material warranty comes from the shingle manufacturer. It covers a defective shingle. Every decent shingle has one, so it rarely tells one roofer apart from another.
The workmanship warranty comes from the roofer. It covers how the roof went on: the nailing, the flashing, the valleys. A nail placed wrong or flashing cut short isn't the shingle's fault, and the manufacturer won't pay for it.
So when you're comparing estimates, ask three things:
• How long does your workmanship warranty run?
• Can I have it in writing?
• Does it transfer if I sell the house?
On shingle roofs, we offer the GAF Golden Pledge Warranty, where GAF itself backs the workmanship, not just us. Put it right next to everyone else's.
We wrote a full guide for Charlottesville and Valley homeowners on comparing roofing companies. Tap Learn more to read it.
