What do I do once the new roof is on?
What to do once the new roof is on. The first thirty days. A year-by-year maintenance plan. Your warranty in plain words. When to call us back, and when not to.
The first thirty days.
A roof done well is mostly invisible after the crew leaves. These are the few things worth doing in the first month to confirm it is settling in right.
- •Walk the lawn once more, ideally with a magnet sweeper
- •Open the attic during the day, confirm no new daylight
- •Save the manufacturer warranty registration email
- •File the contract, final invoice, and warranty paperwork together
- •After the first hard rain, check the attic and walk the perimeter
- •Confirm gutters are draining away from the foundation
- •Look at the ridge from the ground. Still straight?
- •Confirm the dumpster left, waste pickup is closed out
- •Notice the attic temperature. With new ventilation it should feel different.
- •Watch for single shingles lifting in heavy wind. None should.
- •Tell your homeowners insurance about the new roof. Send the final invoice. Most carriers give a small premium credit.
- •If you financed, confirm the first auto-debit is on the right account
Your warranty, in plain words.
Two warranties cover your new roof. Knowing which one applies when something goes wrong saves you weeks of back and forth.
Manufacturer warranty
- Covers
- Defects in the shingles. Premature granule loss, color failure, manufacturing flaws.
- Filed by
- Your roofer, in your name, within 30 days of completion.
- Length
- 25 to 50 years. A certified installer unlocks the longest tier (Golden Pledge, Platinum, etc.).
- Doesn't cover
- Leaks from flashing, install error, or weather above design ratings.
Workmanship warranty
- Covers
- Anything that goes wrong because of how the roof was put together. Flashing leaks, nail pops, install defects.
- Filed by
- Your roofer. There is no third party.
- Length
- Ours is 10 years. Industry standard is 1 to 5. Ask before you sign.
- Doesn't cover
- Storm damage above design ratings, owner-caused damage, wear from age.
Four things that void your warranty
- Adding a satellite dish, solar panels, or skylights without proper flashing redone
- Pressure-washing the roof. Never do this.
- Inadequate ventilation (finishing the attic, closing soffit vents)
- Letting another roofer patch something without checking with the original installer
When something goes wrong, here is the order
- Call your roofer first. 90% of issues are workmanship, and we fix them at no charge.
- If it turns out to be a manufacturer defect, we file the claim with the manufacturer for you.
- If it is storm damage above design ratings, that is an insurance claim. We help with documentation.
Year by year, for the next 25.
Most of what you read online about “annual roof maintenance plans” is a service designed to sell you a service. Here is what a well-installed roof actually needs. There is less here than you would think.
- •Clean the gutters in November after the leaves fall
- •Walk the perimeter once in spring, look up
- •Trim back branches within 6 feet of the roof
- •Free courtesy roof check from us. Confirms flashing and ventilation.
- •Photograph the roof from each side. Compare to year 1.
- •Second courtesy check
- •If selling soon, this is the year to do it for top value
- •Start budgeting for replacement at $80/month
- •Check for any patchy granule loss
- •Honest inspection. Plan: another 5 years or replace in 1-2?
- •If selling, sell now. After year 22, buyers will negotiate a roof credit.
- •Start chapter two again. Time for a new roof.
That is it. Walk the perimeter once a year. Trim branches. Clean gutters. Anything else is a service plan you do not need.
When to call us back. And when not to.
We get calls from past customers all the time. Most of them cost us nothing and save the customer real money or worry. Some are worth a paid visit. Some are not anything at all. Here is how to tell.
- ✓Any visible leak inside, anywhere, anytime
- ✓A shingle that lifted or came off in wind
- ✓Daylight visible through the roof from the attic
- ✓A ring or stain on a ceiling that was not there before
- ✓Any flashing that looks bent, rusted, or pulled away
- ✓After a hailstorm or wind event above 50 mph
- ×Streaks of black algae on the roof (cosmetic, normal in NC)
- ×A small amount of granule loss in the gutter after rain (year 1 normal)
- ×A fallen branch that did not damage anything
- ×The roof looking darker than expected in heavy rain (normal, dries fast)
- ×A neighbor saying you have hail damage you cannot see
- ×A door-knock roofer offering to inspect for free
That is the whole guide. Six chapters. From the storm that brought you here, to a roof you do not have to think about again for a quarter century. Save this guide. Send it to a neighbor. If you ever need us, we are here.
Tools for after the install.
Three references to keep with the rest of your roof paperwork. Pull them out when something happens. Or never. Either is fine.
First 30 days
A short list of things worth checking in the first month after install. Mostly to confirm the roof is settling in right.
Maintenance timeline
Year by year, for 25 years. Less to do than you would think.
Warranty explainer
Manufacturer vs. workmanship. What each covers, what they do not, how to file a claim.