What warranty should a Calgary roofer give on workmanship?

A reputable Calgary roofer should back their workmanship for at least 5 years, and many of the better contractors offer 10 to 25 years. The manufacturer's material warranty on architectural shingles typically runs 25 to 50 years, but that warranty only pays out if the installation meets the manufacturer's specs, which makes the workmanship warranty the more important document to read carefully.

What a Solid Workmanship Warranty Actually Covers

The workmanship warranty should name the specific defects the contractor will fix at no charge: lifted or blown-off shingles caused by improper nailing, leaks at flashings or valleys that were installed by the crew, and failures at penetrations such as vent boots and skylights. A warranty that says only "defects in workmanship" without listing what that means is hard to enforce. Ask the roofer to walk you through what is and is not covered before you sign.

A few things that commonly fall outside workmanship coverage: damage from a subsequent hailstorm or wind event, ice dam leaks caused by inadequate attic ventilation (which is why fixing ventilation at the same time as the roof matters), and any area the crew did not touch. If the roofer is only replacing part of the roof, the warranty boundary should be spelled out in writing.

Manufacturer warranties have their own conditions. Most require the shingles to be installed by a contractor who meets the manufacturer's installation standards, and some enhanced warranties require a minimum number of nails per shingle, specific underlayment, and proper eave protection extending at least 900 mm up the slope and to a line at least 300 mm inside the inner face of the exterior wall. If the crew skips those steps, the enhanced warranty can be voided even if the basic material warranty stays in place.

The warranty is only as good as the company behind it. A 25-year workmanship warranty from a contractor who folds in two years is worthless. Ask how long the company has operated in Calgary, and check that they hold a valid Alberta prepaid contracting licence through Service Alberta's online lookup before you pay a deposit. A WCB-Alberta clearance letter confirms their workers' compensation account is in good standing.

Under Alberta's Consumer Protection Act, any roofing contract where a deposit is taken or payment is made before the work is complete must be in writing and include the contractor's name and address, a detailed description of the materials and work, the total price, payment terms, and start and completion dates. The warranty terms should be part of that written contract, not a verbal promise made at the door.

One practical step: ask whether the warranty is transferable if you sell the house. Some contractors offer this; it can be a modest selling point and costs the roofer nothing if the work was done right.

When you compare two written quotes side by side, the line most likely to hide extra cost is the decking allowance: confirm exactly how many sheets of sheathing are included, and what the per-sheet price is beyond that number.