Roofing Warranties in Arizona: What's Actually Covered

2026-10-04 · 8 min read

A new roof comes with two kinds of warranty: one from the companies that made the materials and one from the contractor who installed them. They cover very different things, and the fine print matters more in Arizona heat than almost anywhere. Here's what the real warranty documents say, using the products we install as examples.

Two warranties, two different jobs

Every roof replacement involves two separate promises.

The manufacturer's warranty covers defects in the materials: shingles that fail because of how they were made, or underlayment that doesn't hold water because of a manufacturing flaw. The manufacturer writes the terms, and only the manufacturer can change them. IKO's warranty says so directly: your roofer is not IKO's representative, and nothing a roofer says changes IKO's warranty.
The contractor's workmanship warranty covers the installation: flashing, fastening, underlayment laps, valleys, penetrations and how the system was put together. The contractor writes and honors it.

Many roof leaks start at flashings, penetrations and edges, which are installation details rather than material defects. That's why the workmanship warranty, and the company standing behind it, often matter more in practice. Our installations carry a 10-year workmanship warranty (25-year available). Whatever contractor you choose, ask for the workmanship warranty in writing before you sign, and read what it excludes and whether it transfers if you sell.

What a shingle warranty really covers

Take IKO's limited warranty for its Cambridge and Dynasty architectural shingles, which we install, as a real example.

Length. Limited Lifetime for an individual owner of a single-family home, meaning as long as that owner owns the house. For corporations, HOAs, condos and other non-individual owners, it's limited to 40 years.
What's covered. Only manufacturing defects that significantly affect the shingles' ability to shed water. Color variation, fading and weathering of granules aren't covered.
Iron Clad period. During the first 10 years for Cambridge or 15 years for Dynasty, IKO will repair or replace defective shingles, supplying shingles plus a reasonable allowance for installing them. Tear-off, disposal, flashings, metal work, vents and other damage aren't included even then.
After Iron Clad. Coverage becomes prorated: IKO pays a shrinking share of the cost of replacement shingles only. Labor, tear-off and everything else are excluded.
Wind. For the first 15 years, the shingles carry a limited wind warranty against blow-off. On these lines it goes up to 130 mph when installed with IKO's high-wind application (extra nails for Cambridge, IKO starter strip and matching hip and ridge shingles).

The word lifetime doesn't mean the manufacturer pays for a new roof at year 25. It means a long period of shrinking, materials-focused coverage for genuine defects.

Tile underlayment warranties

On a tile roof, the underlayment is the waterproof layer, so its warranty matters more than the tile's. The products we install under tile and shingle carry very different terms.

Fontana Vulca Seal G40. A "No Leak" warranty of 10 years for a single layer or 20 years for a double layer, on slopes of 4:12 or steeper, installed to the tile industry installation manual plus Fontana's upgrades: no staples as underlayment fasteners, an extra 18-inch ply at eaves, rakes, valleys and penetrations, flashing at every penetration including solar mounts, and no closed valleys. It must be registered with Fontana within 30 days of installation. If a defect is confirmed, Fontana pays the reasonable cost to repair or replace the underlayment, including labor, tear-off and disposal.
SwiftGuard synthetic. Its warranty runs as long as the warranty on the tile or other roof covering over it, up to a maximum of 50 years. The remedy is limited to repairing the product, supplying replacement product or refunding its price. You must give written notice within 30 days of discovering a defect.
TRI-BUILT HT SA self-adhered underlayment. 50 years from the sales invoice, no registration required, and it transfers automatically to later owners. Coverage is replacement product or a refund of its price; labor, removal and installation aren't covered.
TRI-BUILT synthetic shingle underlayment. 20 years from installation for the original purchaser, not transferable, material only, and claims must be made within 30 days of discovering the problem.

The pattern: long warranties are often material-only. Fontana's labor-inclusive coverage is the exception, and it comes with strict installation and registration requirements.

What voids or limits a warranty in Arizona

Every warranty lists exclusions. These are the ones that matter most here, drawn from the documents above:

Hail, high wind and acts of God. IKO excludes hail and wind beyond its wind warranty. Fontana excludes hailstorms and winds over 75 mph. Storm damage is an insurance question, not a warranty one.
Poor ventilation. IKO excludes damage from inadequate ventilation and cuts the warranty to 10 years on under-ventilated or unventilated roofs. Fontana and TRI-BUILT also exclude ventilation problems.
Low slope. IKO's full warranty applies at 4:12 and steeper. Between 2:12 and 4:12, it's 12 years, prorated, material only, unless specific low-slope steps are followed above 3:12. Fontana's warranties require 4:12 or steeper.
Improper installation. Every manufacturer requires installation to its instructions. IKO also excludes closed-valley shingle applications and recommends open metal valleys.
Later alterations. Solar arrays, AC equipment, skylights, satellite dishes and other additions after installation can exclude the affected area. IKO lists solar heaters and AC equipment by name.
Foot traffic and broken tile. Damage from walking on the roof, and leaks from broken or missing tile over the underlayment, are excluded.
Long UV exposure before covering. Underlayment left uncovered too long during construction can lose coverage: 6 months for Fontana, 180 days for SwiftGuard and TRI-BUILT HT SA.
Unauthorized repairs. IKO doesn't pay for repairs made without its written authorization in advance.

Transferring a warranty when you sell

Buyers ask about roof warranties, so it's worth knowing the transfer rules before you list.

IKO shingles. The original owner can transfer the warranty once, during the first 10 years. IKO must receive written notice within 30 days after the sale closes, with the original proof of purchase and a copy of the property transfer documents. The new owner's coverage ends 10 years after the original installation. If you don't transfer it, the warranty ends when you sell.
Fontana G40. Transfers only to the person who buys directly from the original owner, and never extends the original period.
TRI-BUILT HT SA. Transfers automatically to later owners.
TRI-BUILT synthetic shingle underlayment. Not transferable.
Workmanship warranty. Terms vary by contractor, so ask for them in writing.

Keep your contract, invoice, product list and any registration confirmations in one folder. Without proof of purchase, most transfers and claims stall.

Arizona's protections beyond the warranty

Arizona gives homeowners protections that don't depend on any warranty document.

Workmanship standard. Arizona Registrar of Contractors rules require licensed contractors to do all work in a professional and workmanlike manner, following building codes and professional industry standards.
ROC complaints. If work on your home is faulty, you can file a complaint with the ROC. For a reroof or repair, the complaint generally has to be filed within two years after the project is completed. The contractor gets a chance to inspect and correct the work.
Recovery fund. For homeowners harmed by a licensed residential contractor's violations, the state's Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund can pay actual damages up to $30,000 per claimant.

These protections only apply to licensed contractors. Check any roofer's license on the ROC website before you sign. Ours is ROC #358508, class CR-42 for residential and commercial roofing.

Workmanship warranties: what to ask

Because so many leaks come from installation details, compare workmanship warranties as carefully as price. Ask each contractor:

How many years does it last, and is it in writing?
What exactly does it cover: leaks only, or also flashings, fasteners and details that fail without leaking yet?
What does it exclude? Storm damage, other trades' work and later alterations are normal exclusions.
Does it transfer to a buyer, and is there a fee or paperwork?
How do I make a claim, and how quickly do you respond to a leak?
Who registers the manufacturer warranties, and will I get the confirmations?

Ask us the same questions. Our installations carry a 10-year workmanship warranty (25-year available) that transfers to the next owner if you sell, and we give you its written terms to read before you sign.

Keeping your coverage intact

Warranties are easiest to keep when you do a few simple things.

Register on time. Fontana's G40 warranty must be registered within 30 days of installation. Make sure it's done and get the confirmation.
Keep the paperwork. Contract, invoice, product names and colors, installation date and registrations.
Keep ventilation working. Don't let insulation bury the soffit vents, and keep bathroom fans vented outside.
Plan solar and AC work. Before panels or rooftop equipment go on, talk to your roofer about flashing and mounting so the warranty isn't affected. If panels must come off for roof work, we detach and reset them for $150 per panel.
Limit foot traffic. Ask other trades to call you before going on the roof, especially on tile.
Report problems promptly. Several warranties require written notice within 30 days of discovering a defect, and some deny claims if you repair before they inspect.
Maintain it. Annual inspections and records of repairs show the roof was cared for. Our maintenance plans start at $199 a year.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Simply Roofing's workmanship warranty?

Our roof installations carry a 10-year workmanship warranty (25-year available), which covers the quality of the installation rather than defects in the materials. Ask for the written terms, including what's excluded and how transfers work, and read them before you sign. Material defects are covered separately by each manufacturer's own warranty, such as IKO for shingles or Fontana for tile underlayment.

Does a lifetime shingle warranty mean a free replacement?

No. On IKO's Limited Lifetime shingles, for example, full repair or replacement coverage applies only during the Iron Clad period: 10 years for Cambridge and 15 for Dynasty, and even then it excludes tear-off, disposal and flashings. After that, coverage is prorated and covers only part of the cost of replacement shingles. It applies only to manufacturing defects, not wear or storms.

Is my roof warranty transferable if I sell?

It depends on the product. IKO shingle warranties can be transferred once in the first 10 years if IKO gets written notice within 30 days of closing, and the buyer's coverage ends 10 years after installation. Fontana G40 transfers only to the first buyer. TRI-BUILT HT SA transfers automatically. Ask your contractor about the workmanship warranty's transfer terms (ours transfers to the new owner; contact our office when you sell).

Does a roof warranty cover hail or monsoon damage?

Generally no. Manufacturer warranties cover defects in the product, and they exclude hail, storms and other acts of God. IKO offers limited wind coverage against shingle blow-off for the first 15 years, up to the rated wind speed. Storm damage is usually a homeowners insurance question, and your insurer decides coverage under your policy.

Can solar panels void my roof warranty?

They can affect it. IKO's warranty excludes damage after the roof is altered, including equipment such as solar heaters, and Fontana's 20-year G40 warranty requires deck and tile flashing at every penetration, including solar mounts. Plan solar installations with proper flashing and talk to your roofer first. We detach and reset panels during roof work for $150 per panel.

What can I do if a contractor won't honor a workmanship problem?

Put the problem in writing to the contractor first and give them a chance to inspect and fix it. If that fails, you can file a complaint with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, generally within two years after the project was completed. For licensed residential contractors, the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund can pay actual damages up to $30,000 in qualifying cases.