GAF ELK System Plus Warranty?

[Tube Audio]

is the gaf elk system plus warranty worth much

a roof proposal said it was $250 , then he said he would throw it in

just wondering if anyone knows anthing about this warranty

[RicodJour]

It covers material defects, which is normally covered by the manufacturer. This is the most interesting part:

How Do I Get Coverage Against Workmanship Errors?

Many roofing contractors provide their own warranty against errors in workmanship, sometimes for as long as ten years or more. Obviously, that coverage is only good for as long as the contractor remains in business. Since roofing is a =93high turnover=94 occupation, the majority of roofing contractors are out of business within five years=97far less than the life of your new roof=97making the warranty worthless and leaving you with nowhere to turn in the event that you have a workmanship problem.

Are There Any Manufacturers Who Will Cover The Contractor=92s Workmanship?

Until relatively recently, there were no manufacturers that provided warranty coverage against errors in the contractors=92 workmanship. Recognizing this obvious need, GAF-Elk introduced the Golden Pledge=AE Ltd. Warranty=97the first manufacturer=92s warranty to cover both material defects and the contractor=92s workmanship (see ltd. warranty for complete coverage and restrictions). Whether or not your contractor remains in business, GAF-Elk will stand behind his workmanship for 20 years! The Golden Pledge=AE Ltd. Warranty is available only through GAF- Elk Master Elite=99 Contractors, who are factory-certified by GAF-Elk. The warranty even includes an inspection by GAF-Elk=92s independent inspectors after your new roof has been completed to insure proper installation. It is the strongest, safest warranty available in roofing today. Your Master Elite Contractor can provide a price for the warranty when he gives you a quote for your new roof.

So your roofer is not offering the warranty that covers his mistakes when he's no longer in business, he's just passing along the manufacturer's warranty on material defects. Considering that the vast majority of roofing problems are installation errors I don't see the Plus warranty offering that much more protection. If it's included free, great.

R

[Art]

Most "sell through warranties" have about a 50% profit margin. If the mfg is providing the warranty and the roofer is selling it for $250 then his cost should be about $125.

Then again, this might not be a "sell through warranty" so it's actual value or cost to the roofer could be next to nothing. In that case you can't expect any negotiating room. Take the warranty and hope you never need it. It's probably not worth much.

What I would do is first ask who is responsible for providing the warranty coverage. If it is the mfg, then I'd ask for $250 discount without the warranty with the aim of reaching an agreement for $100-125 discount with no extended warranty.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[jloomis]