Metal Roofing Weathertightness Warranties

While that’s a frequent question we receive, it’s never an easy one to answer. It really boils down to budget, risk tolerance, and confidence in the installer. Joint warranties are excellent at offering more affordable protection with relatively low risk when reputable long-established contractors complete the installation. While Single Source warranties can be cost-prohibitive for many owners, they provide additional peace of mind to building owners since the panel manufacturer has direct and sole accountability for the weathertightness of the structure.

Yes, in some cases. Suppose the architect or building owner has an existing relationship with the installer and has a high degree of confidence in their ability to install the roofing system properly. In that case, a Joint Warranty may be appropriate and offer considerable cost savings.

We have designed our weathertightness warranty offering to align with demand from architects, building owners and to match the offering of our competitors.

The process depends on the warranty type and time frame.  

• Joint Warranties: If the installation meets the 24 month consecutive leak-free period, there would be no impact on the weathertightness warranty.  Conversely, the weathertightness warranty is null and void if there are leaks in the installation before the 24 month window is met and the contractor went out of business before hitting the 24 month benchmark.
• Single Source Warranties:  Because the responsibility for this warranty rests solely with the manufacturer, the warranty would be unaffected if the installer went out of business

Yes, Single Source Warranties require the following:

• Installers sign a Single Source Agreement.
• McElroy Metal requires both “Certified” & “Qualified” ratings.

Submit your roofing specifications and architectural drawings to wtw@mcelroymetal.com.  After review, we will send you a project-specific pre-approval form that will note the warranty cost, conditions, number of anticipated inspections, special requirements, and exclusions (if applicable). Simply sign and return the pre-approval form to us and include a copy of your shop drawings (unless we are producing them). Then let us know when you’re ready for inspections, return the signed inspection report, pay all invoices and warranty paperwork. NOTE: It is essential that we have reviewed and accepted the shop drawings before installation begins. 

Yes as long as the project doesn’t have a wind rider. Projects with a wind rider require that McElroy Metal complete the shop drawings and engineering.

For projects without a wind rider, contractor or third party produced shop drawings are allowed but require review and approval by McElroy Metal. There is no cost for the review service but it’s important to allow time for the review in your project schedule.

Contact our warranty department a minimum of 3 weeks before the desired inspection. We will make all travel arrangements and notify the contractor of the date/time for the inspection. It is the contractor’s responsibility to provide safe roof access to our inspector. The contractor can expect a customized inspection report within 5-7 days. The report will contain photos and punch list items for repair. It is the contractor’s responsibility to review the report, make any necessary modifications, and then sign and return the report to McElroy Metal. McElroy Metal will not issue the final weathertightness warranty until the contractor returns the signed inspection report to McElroy Metal.

Once the installer signs and returns the Inspection Report certifying the completion of any necessary repairs and we verify that all material invoices have been paid in full, then we email a warranty information form, a copy of the warranty, and an invoice for the warranty to our customer.  It is then our customer’s responsibility to complete the requested documentation and return it to us.  Upon return and confirmation that all inspection and warranty invoices are paid, the warranty is issued. All weathertightness warranties are issued via electronic format to help expedite the project closeout process.

• Joint Warranties: Require signatures of the installer, building owner, and McElroy Metal.
• Single Source Warranties: Require signatures of the building owner and McElroy Metal.

The process depends on the warranty type and time of leak occurrence:  

• Joint Warranties:  
  
  If the 24-month consecutive period has not passed, the installing contractor should be contacted.  At this point in the warranty, it is the contractor’s responsibility to investigate and make any necessary repairs. 
  
  Once the 24-month consecutive period occurs, McElroy Metal should be contacted.  McElroy Metal will then send personnel to the jobsite to determine the issue, make repair recommendations, solicit bids and oversee completion of the repair.
  
  
• Single Source Warranties: 
  
  The owner should contact McElroy Metal as soon as possible. McElroy Metal will then send personnel to the jobsite to determine the issue, make repair recommendations, solicit bids and oversee completion of the repair.

Submit roofing specifications and architectural drawings to wtw@mcelroymetal.com

Inspection fees are billed at the time of inspection and deducted from the total warranty cost if included in the warranty price. Upon project completion and final inspection (if appropriate), any outstanding warranty fee will be invoiced.

Drawing fees vary based upon job size and complexity.  To receive an estimate, send project specifications and architectural drawings to estimates@mcelroymetal.com.

No, penetrations are not included in our weathertightness warranties, regardless of their inclusion in the project plans.  If desired, the optional penetration rider is available. 

McElroy Metal requires a minimum of .063 (preferred .080)  all-welded aluminum or 18 Ga. welded stainless steel material for all curbs, crickets, and diverters for the inclusion of penetrations.

Please visit this link to see a complete list of approved underlayments

Normally, high temp peel and stick underlayments are only required in certain areas or conditions, For example, when installing panels over a solid deck and using architectural details, high temp peel and stick underlayments are necessary for the first three feet from the eave and three feet on each side of the valley.

For the rare occasion where high temp peel and stick underlayment is required over the entire roofing surface, that requirement will be noted on the warranty pre-approval form.

Yes. All pipe penetrations must be centered in the pan of the panel and must be an EPDM long-life material.

Cinch straps at end laps are required on slopes less than 1:12.  For projects with slopes greater than 1:12 and prior approval, it is possible to eliminate cinch straps.

Yes, all exposed fasteners must be either zinc-aluminum capped fasteners or stainless steel.

Yes. However, projects installed over open framing require sealed eaves and valleys instead of architectural details.