Your roofing warranty, explained.
A new roof is a major investment. It is only as good as the warranty behind it. There are two kinds of coverage, and the one most homeowners overlook is the one that matters most. DeHart Roofing is backed by all four tiers — we hold all four top manufacturer certifications. That lets us register the strongest manufacturer warranties in the business — coverage many Stanislaus County roofers simply cannot offer.
STANDARD ROOFER VS DEHART (ALL FOUR TIERS)
| Coverage | Typical roofer | DeHart (backed by all four tiers) |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer material warranty | To basic terms | Up to 50 years |
| Manufacturer-backed labor | Not covered | Up to 25 years (OC Platinum) |
| Top-tier warranties (Platinum Protection, Golden Pledge) | Cannot register | Registered for you |
| First-10-year proration | Often prorated | None (OC Platinum) |
| Workmanship warranty | Varies | Backed by DeHart |
| Warranty registration | Often skipped | Handled by us |
What DeHart's quad-cert stack puts on your roof
Most Stanislaus County homeowners do not realize the warranty they end up with is decided the day they pick a contractor — not the day they pick a shingle. Because DeHart installs under all four top manufacturer certifications (GAF Master Elite and CertainTeed Select ShingleMaster held directly; Owens Corning Platinum Preferred and GAF Gold Elite through parent company Econo Roofing), every roof we install can be registered for the strongest factory-backed coverage each brand offers. Here is what that unlocks for you:
- Owens Corning Platinum Preferred → Platinum Protection Limited Warranty. Up to 50 years on materials. Up to 25 years of labor backed by Owens Corning. And no proration in the first 10 years — non-prorated (pays the full replacement cost with no depreciation deducted) coverage, so you are protected for the full amount. DeHart installs under Owens Corning Platinum Preferred through parent company Econo Roofing.
- GAF Master Elite & GAF Gold Elite → Golden Pledge Limited Warranty. Up to 50 years on materials and up to 25 years of workmanship coverage backed by GAF, plus a post-installation inspection.
- CertainTeed Select ShingleMaster → SureStart PLUS coverage — an extension of SureStart (CertainTeed's startup warranty that covers the first years of the system at full value) — on a CertainTeed Integrity Roof System (a full set of matched roof components installed together).
New to how roof warranties work? Our blog explains the categories and fine print in plain English: learn how roofing warranties work. The page below is about the specific coverage DeHart registers in Stanislaus County.
The warranty programs DeHart registers, side by side
| Program | Materials | Workmanship / labor | Required certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| OC Platinum Protection | Up to 50 years (no proration in the first 10 years) | Up to 25 years, backed by Owens Corning | Owens Corning Platinum Preferred |
| GAF Golden Pledge | Up to 50 years | Up to 25 years, backed by GAF (with a post-install inspection) | GAF Master Elite |
| CertainTeed Integrity (SureStart PLUS) | Up to 50 years | Up to 25 years, backed by CertainTeed | CertainTeed Select ShingleMaster |
All three top-tier programs land in the same range — roughly 50 years on materials and 25 on labor. The right one usually comes down to which shingle line you prefer. Because DeHart installs under all four top certifications, we can register whichever program fits your roof.
How DeHart keeps your warranty valid
A warranty is only as good as the install behind it. The most common reasons coverage gets denied are all install-related — and our crew is built to head off each one on the job here in Stanislaus County:
- Top-tier certified install. We carry all four manufacturer certifications, so the factory honors the coverage we register.
- Ventilation checked and corrected. We verify attic airflow on every replacement so the shingles do not cook from below.
- Full tear-off to the deck. We strip the old roof down to the deck (the wood base under the roof) and inspect it before new material goes on — no layering over an old roof.
- Permits pulled, inspections managed. We handle the proper permit and the city inspections for you.
- Registration done for you. We file your warranty with the manufacturer and hand you the documentation.
That documentation matters most years later — most top-tier programs transfer one time to a buyer if you sell, and we give you exactly what the manufacturer needs to make that transfer.
Two types of roof coverage
Every new roof comes with two types of coverage. Most owners do not know this.
One covers the materials. The other covers the labor and install. Both matter. The gap between them can cost you a lot.
Material coverage
This protects you if the roofing product fails. Think shingles that crack or peel too soon.
Most plans run 25–50 years. But there is a catch. After the first 10 years, most plans become prorated (the maker pays a shrinking share each year, and you cover the rest). So you pay more each year if something goes wrong.
Labor coverage
This covers errors in the install job. Bad nail placement. Poor flashing. Wrong vents.
Most roofers offer 1–5 years of labor coverage. After that, install errors become your cost to fix — even if the shingles are still under their plan.
Prorated vs. non-prorated: the fine print that costs you
This is the single most misunderstood line in a roof warranty. It decides how much the manufacturer actually pays when a covered failure happens years down the road.
Prorated. The maker pays a shrinking share of the cost as the roof ages. A material plan might cover 100% for the first decade, then drop a few percentage points every year after. By year 20 the payout may be a small fraction of the replacement cost — and you cover the rest out of pocket.
Non-prorated. The maker pays the full replacement value of the covered materials with no depreciation deducted for the covered window. Top-tier plans typically run non-prorated for the first 10 years, so a failure early on is covered at 100%.
When you read a warranty, look for two numbers: how many years are non-prorated, and what happens to the payout after that. A "50-year warranty" that goes prorated at year 11 protects you very differently from one that stays at full value longer.
How warranty tiers are structured
The shingles cost the same whether the installer is certified or not. What changes is the warranty tier that can be registered. Each manufacturer runs a tiered program:
- Standard / uncertified. Manufacturer covers materials only, on basic prorated terms. No factory-backed labor coverage.
- Mid-tier certification (e.g. GAF Certified, OC Preferred). Stronger material coverage and limited labor coverage. Usually 10 years on labor.
- Top-tier certification (GAF Master Elite, OC Platinum Preferred, CertainTeed Select ShingleMaster). 25 years of factory-backed labor coverage. No proration in the first decade, so the maker pays 100% during that time. And tear-off cost (removing the failed roof) is included if the roof fails.
If an installer is uncertified, the top-tier plan — a GAF Golden Pledge, Owens Corning Platinum Protection, or CertainTeed Integrity Plus — cannot be registered, even on the same shingles. (These are each maker's strongest residential warranty.) That is the structural reason the cert tier matters more than the brand you choose.
How tile, solar, and maintenance affect coverage
Beyond the install itself, a few ordinary events quietly cancel coverage. These are the ones most homeowners trip over:
- Inadequate ventilation. Without proper attic airflow, shingles cook from below and fail early. Manufacturers track this.
- Adding solar panels with an uncertified installer. Holes in the wrong place void the warranty.
- Walking on tile. Cracked tiles from foot traffic are not covered. Service vendors (HVAC, satellite) often cause this.
- Painting or coating shingles. Most manufacturers void the warranty if you alter the surface.
- Hiring an unlicensed installer. A C-39 license is required in California. Without it, the warranty does not transfer.
Common reasons coverage gets denied
Watch out for these. Any one can cancel your coverage:
- Poor attic airflow — the top reason claims get rejected
- Changes to the roof not approved by the maker
- Pressure washing the shingles
- Skipped upkeep — clogged gutters, built-up debris
- Work done by a roofer not certified by the maker
How a warranty claim actually works
If a covered failure occurs, the process generally runs like this, whoever installed the roof:
- A roofer inspects and photographs the failure to document the claim.
- The claim is filed with the manufacturer (Owens Corning, GAF, CertainTeed, etc.).
- The factory ships replacement material once the claim is approved.
- The roof is repaired — and under a top-tier plan with labor coverage, the install labor is included.
The whole process is typically a few weeks. Under a covered, registered plan you generally do not pay out of pocket for the covered portion.
At a glance: coverage types
| Type | Covers | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Maker plan (standard) | Materials only | 25–50 years (cost-share) |
| Labor plan | Install errors | 1–10 years |
| Extended (certified roofer) | Product + labor | Up to 50 years |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of roof warranty does DeHart Roofing offer?
What is the difference between a manufacturer warranty and a workmanship warranty?
Why does the installer's certification affect my warranty?
What is the Owens Corning Platinum Protection Limited Warranty?
What is the GAF Golden Pledge Limited Warranty?
What can void a roof warranty?
Does my roof warranty transfer if I sell my home?
Do I have to pay more for a better warranty?
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Get a roof built to be warrantied.
A free inspection, an honest assessment, and the strongest warranties in Stanislaus County — from a backed by all four tiers roofer that has been here since 1975.
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