GAF offers one of the best roofing warranties in the industry. Many homeowners choose these products because they want a worry-free option for their homes. However, if you are not careful, you could void that warranty. Roof warranties can help offset the costs of maintenance and repairs. Voiding them means that any repairs could come out of your pocket. A few common missteps may cancel that warranty and cost you a bit of money. Here are some things to avoid with your roof.

Poor Installation

GAF has several types of warranties. While the basic ones don’t need to be installed by a GAF-certified roofer, the System Plus, Silver Pledge, and Gold Pledge warranties require these professionals. Many of these products must be installed in a specific way to avoid any problems. If you hire an inexperienced contractor, there is a higher chance that they could make a mistake. Those mistakes could void the whole warranty. You always want to find a roofer with the experience and certification for an installation. An experienced roofer will ensure that the product is installed correctly and will last many years.

Improper Roof Ventilation

When you need to find a roofing ventilation system, there are many options on the market. These systems pull in air through intake vents installed on the lower part of the roof. Once the outside air is drawn into those vents, it will disperse the air through the higher parts of the roof. If the system is not installed correctly, you could have trapped moisture and heat in your roof decking and attic. That can cause damage to your shingles and affect the structural integrity of your roof. When you use a ventilation system, you will want to have it physically checked by a professional roofer every year.

Hot Roofing

If you use spray foam insulation on the roof’s sheathing, that is known as hot roofing. As a result, your shingles will warm up, and the ventilation can suffer. Those shingles will fade over time, shortening their lifespan. Along with that, causing damage to the shingles may nullify the warranty. Before hot roofing your home, ensure that it will not void any warranties. Also, you may want to check with your local ordinances to make sure there are no restrictions on these projects.

Layering Over a New Roof

Finding the right contractor for your new roof is very important. Some contractors will lay a new roof over the old one. While that might seem like a great way to save labor costs, it could void the warranty. When adding a second layer, the heat expands more slowly, shortening the lifespan of the shingles. Since the new shingles are applied to the old ones, it can create bulges in the roof. All that additional weight might even wear down the structural integrity of your roof, which could lead to a sagging structure.

Contractors who place new shingles over the old ones are just covering up any problems. You want to have the roof fixed before adding any new materials. Professionals will take those extra steps to complete the roof installation to GAF’s recommended standards.

Antennas and Satellite Dishes

Many homeowners have satellite dishes to grab the latest channels for their televisions. However, these dishes can affect your roofing warranty. Satellite dishes and antennas often cause damage to the roof. While those damages might not affect the full warranty, they could cause problems involving aspects of the workmanship warranty. If the antenna or satellite dish is not installed correctly, it could lead to mechanical damage. In that case, you might experience roof leaks and other problems. Always read the fine print of your GAF warranty to ensure any additional installations will not void it.

Skylights

Along with antennas and satellite dishes, skylights can involve major roofing work. These components often require shingle removal and drilling into the surface. As you may have guessed, that could void a GAF warranty. While skylights can bring light into your home, they must be drilled into the roof’s surface, making it more susceptible to leaks and other problems. Once again, you need to talk to an experienced roofing contractor if you want a skylight installed.

Pressure Washing

Finally, you want to keep your roof looking its best. Over time, debris, clutter, and moss can form on your roof. Moss is highly damaging as it can trap moisture against the surface, leading to cracked shingles and water damage. You might want to grab a pressure washer and get to work. However, pressure washing can damage the shingles. With the high velocity of the water, the shingles cannot hold up to that pressure. In turn, it could nullify your GAF warranty. If you are looking for an alternative, you could install metallic zinc strips to stop moss from developing. GAF does offer algae protection in a few of its product lines.

When cleaning your roof, always hire a professional to “soft wash” the surface. With that process, the roofing or cleaning professional uses a gentle solution to remove all dirt and debris from the roof’s surface.

Keep a Valid Warranty

If you want to make sure that you don’t void your GAF warranty, talk to RGB Construction. We know what you can and cannot do with your roof. Our team will work with you to ensure you get the most out of your GAF products. Schedule a consultation by calling 856-264-9093.