“Lifetime” Doesn’t Always Mean Your Lifetime.
When you buy a new roof in Peoria, the salesperson will likely hand you a glossy brochure boasting a “Limited Lifetime Warranty.” It sounds comforting. You think, “Great, I never have to pay for this roof again.”
Stop right there. Many homeowners overlook the importance of a roof warranty until it is too late. In the roofing industry, the fine print is designed to protect the manufacturer, not you. If you don’t understand the difference between “material” and “labor” coverage, you could be left with a leaking roof in 5 years and a warranty that pays out zero dollars.
Here is the truth about warranties and the specific clauses you need to look for in 2026.
1. Material vs. Workmanship (The Big Divide)
This is the #1 confusion for homeowners. There are two separate warranties on your roof:
A. The Manufacturer Warranty (Materials)
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What it covers: Defects in the shingle itself (e.g., the granules fall off or the shingle cracks due to a factory error).
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The Catch: Factory defects are incredibly rare. Less than 1% of roof failures are due to bad shingles.
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The Coverage: Usually “Lifetime” (50 years), but heavily prorated after the first 10 years.
B. The Workmanship Warranty (Labor)
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What it covers: The installation of the roof (e.g., the roofer nailed it wrong, didn’t flash the chimney correctly, or installed the vents backward).
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The Catch: This is backed only by the contractor. If the roofer goes out of business next year, this warranty is worthless.
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The Reality: 95% of roof leaks are caused by bad workmanship, not bad materials.
2. The “Proration” Trap
Most standard warranties are “prorated.” According to Investopedia, this means the value drops over time.
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Example: You buy a roof for $15,000. In Year 15, it fails.
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Non-Prorated: They pay to replace the roof (100% coverage).
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Prorated: They might pay you $400 because the “value” of the roof has depreciated.
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The Fix: Always ask for a Non-Prorated period of at least 20-50 years.
3. Transferability = Resale Value
In 2026, homebuyers in Central Illinois are savvy. They demand to see the warranty paperwork.
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The Benefit: A transferable warranty allows you to pass the coverage to the next owner.
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The Rule: Some warranties can only be transferred once, and usually within the first 60 days of the sale. If you miss that window, the warranty dies.
4. The “Wind Rating” Fine Print
In Peoria, we get 60+ mph gusts regularly. Standard warranties cover wind up to 110 mph, but only if installed correctly.
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The Detail: Most manufacturers require 6 nails per shingle (instead of the standard 4) to qualify for the high-wind warranty. If your “cheap” contractor only used 4 nails, your wind warranty is void the moment the storm hits.
5. Why the SNS Warranty is Different
At SNS Roofing, we don’t just rely on the manufacturer to back us up. We stand behind our own work.
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We are Local: We aren’t storm chasers. We have a physical office in the area.
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We are Certified: Because we are certified installers for major brands, we can offer System Warranties that cover both materials and workmanship for up to 25 years—backed by the manufacturer, not just us.
Don’t sign a contract until you read the fine print. Contact SNS Roofing today to learn about our comprehensive, non-prorated warranty options that actually protect your wallet.
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