Showing posts with label GAF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GAF. Show all posts

Monday, March 4, 2013

Roofing Prices Rising Fast in 2013

Southern Shingles, our close neighbor, and most every building wholesaler have sent us letters announcing 10-12% price increases in most products that should take effect later this month. The wholesalers are simply passing  along the information previously given to them by the manufacturers.

Petroleum is to blame for this. It is the major cost component of shingles two fold. First asphalt is the main ingredient of a typical shingle.  Second, transportation cost greatly impact roofing as the materials are very heavy.

Hurricane Sandy has also had an impact on building materials as the price of OSB decking has increased about 30% since the storm hit. OSB and most lumber products are commodities which can have very sudden and large price swings. Unlike the shingles, I expect these products to fall later in the year. Shingle on the other hand only seem to go up.



Monday, January 31, 2011

Shingle Warranty Wars..Again

January 1 2010 GAF announced that 30 and 40 year products would now carry a (Limited) Lifetime warranty similar to other high end shingle product. With little surprise, Owens Corning and Tamko have matched this with other likely to follow.

Few of these Lifetime products will last beyond 25 years and many far less in the heat of North Texas. While there is value conveyed to the property owner. They need to understand the limits of these warranties.

All Lifetime shingle warranties are of very limited value. After 10 years, these Lifetime shingle warranties cover only the shingle (which can be less than half the job cost) and do so on a prorated basis (50 years). For example, if a roof installed today were to wear out in 20 years, then a Lifetime warranty would only cover around 30% of the replacement cost of the roof (30yr / 50yr times 50% of replacement cost).

To make that Lifetime warranty truly meaningful, a homeowner should strongly consider upgrading to a manufacturers enhanced system warranty. The manufacturer requires the contractor who installs the shingle to use premium accessories and special application methods. When done, these enhanced warranties cover the full replacement of the roof, not just the shingles. Following the example above, the warranty would cover 100% of the job not 30%. Only a shingle manufacturers Certified and / or Preferred Contractors may offer these warranties.

Bert Roofing Inc. is a Certified and / or Preferred Contractor for GAF, Owens Corning, and CertainTeed. We offer a full line of enhanced warranties. Visit us at our website BertRoofing. com