A 10-year guarantee appears on every roofing quote. What it actually covers — and what it does not — is rarely explained.
A workmanship guarantee covers defects that arise from the installation itself — not from external events or pre-existing conditions. Specifically, it covers: failure of mortar bedding due to incorrect specification or application; failure of lead work due to incorrect fixing, inadequate thermal movement allowance, or below-specification lead code; tile displacement due to incorrect fixing or inadequate nail/clip specification; membrane failure on flat roofs due to incorrect application, inadequate substrate preparation, or below-specification materials.
Storm damage — sudden and unforeseen wind or impact damage is an insured peril under buildings insurance, not a workmanship defect. Ongoing wear and tear of materials installed correctly — all materials deteriorate over time; the guarantee covers failures attributable to the installation, not the normal ageing of materials. Pre-existing conditions that were present before the work but not identified at survey. Neglect — if recommended maintenance (gutter clearing, periodic surveys) has not been carried out.
Call us on the number on your guarantee document. Describe the problem and provide photos where possible. We will attend within 5–10 working days to inspect (sooner for active leaks). Where the defect is attributable to our workmanship, we remedy it at no charge within the guarantee period. We do not dispute legitimate claims.
Some materials carry their own manufacturer warranties separate from the workmanship guarantee. GRP flat roofing: 25-year manufacturer warranty on the resin system (separate from, and in addition to, our 10-year workmanship guarantee). Velux windows: 10-year window warranty plus 20-year glazing warranty from Velux directly. These are separate warranties — each covers the product or the installation, not both.
For Winchester conservation area and listed building roofing work, the guarantee document is part of the property record. On a property sale, the buyer's solicitor may ask for guarantee documentation as part of the conveyancing. A written guarantee that is transferable to subsequent owners — standard in our documentation — is a material addition to the property record. Call 01962 809171 to request an example guarantee document before committing to any Winchester roofing work.
A guarantee from a company that no longer exists is worthless. Before committing to any significant Winchester roofing work, check: the company is registered at Companies House with an active status, the NFRC membership is current (verifiable at nfrc.co.uk), the company has been trading for more than 3 years, and the guarantee is issued by the trading company not a personal name. A company with a 20-year trading history and current NFRC registration is extremely unlikely to disappear before your guarantee expires.
Ask for the guarantee document in writing before work starts, not after. A contractor who will not show you the guarantee wording before you commit is not a contractor whose guarantee you should trust.
The most common guarantee dispute scenario: a repair is carried out correctly, and 18 months later there is a new leak in a different location. The homeowner assumes the guarantee covers it. The roofer explains (correctly) that the new leak is a separate failure unrelated to the repaired area. This is not a dispute — it is a misunderstanding of what a workmanship guarantee covers.
A workmanship guarantee covers the specific work done, at the specific location, for the specific failure mode identified at survey. It does not cover the general condition of a roof that was not fully re-roofed. For Winchester properties with aging roofs, a full written survey report identifying all developing issues before work starts is the appropriate context for understanding what the guarantee does and does not cover. Call 01962 809171.
Request an example guarantee document before committing to any Winchester work. Call 01962 809171.
We carry out free surveys and provide written condition reports across Winchester and all surrounding Hampshire areas. NFRC registered, fully insured, 10-year written guarantee on all work. Same-week appointments available. No call-out fee on any survey or daytime visit.
Call 01962 809171 or email info@winchesterroofers.co.uk. We respond to all enquiries within one working day.
We carry out free surveys and provide written condition reports across Winchester and all surrounding Hampshire areas. NFRC registered, fully insured, 10-year written guarantee on all work. Same-week appointments available. No call-out fee on any survey or daytime visit.
Call 01962 809171 or email info@winchesterroofers.co.uk. We respond to all enquiries within one working day.
We carry out free surveys and provide written condition reports across Winchester and all surrounding Hampshire areas. NFRC registered, fully insured, 10-year written guarantee on all work. Same-week appointments available. No call-out fee on any survey or daytime visit.
Call 01962 809171 or email info@winchesterroofers.co.uk. We respond to all enquiries within one working day.
Defects arising from the installation — incorrect mortar, below-specification lead, incorrect tile fixing. It does not cover storm damage (insured separately), normal material ageing, or pre-existing conditions.
Yes — the GRP manufacturer warranty (typically 25 years) covers the resin system. Our 10-year workmanship guarantee covers the installation. Both apply to Winchester GRP flat roof work we carry out.
Yes — our guarantee is transferable to subsequent owners. This is standard in our documentation and is a material point for Winchester property sales.
Call the number on your guarantee document. We attend within 5–10 working days (sooner for active leaks). Defects attributable to our workmanship are remedied at no charge.
Ask for the guarantee document in writing before work starts, not after. A verbal guarantee is unenforceable. Confirm the company name on the guarantee matches the Companies House registration and the NFRC membership.
No call-out fee. No obligation. Written condition report.
01962 809171