What should a roofing guarantee cover?

1Three different promises with one name

People say "guarantee" for three quite different things. A workmanship guarantee comes from the roofer and covers faults in how the work was done: a ridge that lifts, a flashing that was not dressed properly, a valley that was laid wrongly. A manufacturer's warranty comes from the maker of the tile, slate, membrane or window and covers a defect in the product itself. A third kind is underwritten by an insurer, so a claim can still be paid if the roofer stops trading.

Each is worth having, and each has limits. A roofer's own written guarantee depends on that firm still being there. A manufacturer will not usually pay for labour to put right bad fitting. Ask which of the three you are being offered, because "ten years guaranteed" on its own tells you very little. Our home page sets out how we approach the work before any paperwork is signed.

2Why a tile's life is not a warranty

Marley says its concrete tiles are "expected to last for around 60 years", yet it is explicit that this figure is neither a guarantee nor a warranty. The distinction matters, because the two get confused in sales talk. A typical life is a general expectation shaped by exposure, workmanship and upkeep. A warranty is a defined promise with conditions, a start date and a claim process.

Do not treat a long lifespan figure as cover. Slate is often said to last a century or more, but that does not mean anyone will pay for a repair in year thirty. Equally, a long warranty can come with exclusions for storm damage, lack of maintenance or work by another trader. Read the conditions before you take comfort from the number of years, and ask what the manufacturer needs from you, such as proof of purchase or registration.

3What to have in writing

Ask for the guarantee as a document you can keep, not a line in a conversation. It should include:

• the name and contact details of the firm giving it
• the address and the work covered
• the start date and the length of cover
• what is excluded, such as storm damage, other trades' work and lack of maintenance
• how to make a claim and who attends
• whether you can hand it on to a buyer

If an insurer is involved, ask for its name and a copy of the policy terms, and what happens if the roofer ceases trading. Keep the document with your invoice, your photographs and the quote. When you sell, a buyer's solicitor may well ask to see it, and a clear paper trail makes that conversation short.

4Your rights under the Consumer Rights Act

Whatever the paperwork says, the law gives you protection. Section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 sets a standard of reasonable care and skill for any trader supplying a service to a consumer. Where a roof falls short, section 54 lets you require repeat performance, which in roofing means the work is done again properly at the roofer's cost. A guarantee adds to those rights and cannot take them away.

That is why a guarantee is not the end of your protection, and why a firm with no paperwork is not above the law. If you are in a dispute, put the fault and your request in writing, send photographs, and allow a reasonable chance to put it right. The Citizens Advice consumer helpline can explain next steps. For the cancellation side of the same law, see can you cancel a roofing contract.

5Questions to put to any roofer before you sign

A few plain questions reveal how serious the cover is. Who gives it, and will that be the same firm in ten years? Does it cover leaks that appear at flashings and ridges, or only the tiles? Who attends if a fault appears, and how soon will they come? Are materials covered separately by a manufacturer's warranty, and who registers it?

Compare the answers across quotes, not just the number of years. Our guide to how many roofing quotes to get shows how to line up scope, materials and cover, and roofing services explained describes what each type of job involves. A shorter guarantee that is clear and reachable is worth more than a long one that nobody can enforce. Ask for it before the work starts, not after the final payment, and read it once through with the quote beside you.

If a roofer is reluctant to put any cover in writing, treat that as information. Honest firms are usually glad to say what they stand behind, because it is the simplest way to show confidence in the work.