---
title: "Commercial Roof Warranties: What You Should Know | NEMA Roofing"
description: "Commercial roof warranties explained: material, system and no-dollar-limit coverage, common exclusions, how to keep a warranty valid and how to file a claim."
url: "https://nemaroofing.com/commercial-roofing/commercial-roofing-warran-what-sho-k/"
updated: "2026-09-29"
---

**Commercial roof warranties come in layers: a manufacturer’s material warranty covers the products, a manufacturer’s system warranty (the strongest is “no dollar limit”) covers the whole roof’s watertightness, labor included, and the contractor’s workmanship warranty covers the installation.** What a warranty is worth depends on who issues it, whether coverage shrinks over time, what it excludes and what maintenance it demands. To review a warranty or a proposal, call NEMA Roofing at [866-631-3366](tel:866-631-3366).

## What types of commercial roof warranty are there?

| Warranty | Issued by | What it covers | Watch for |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Material only | Manufacturer | Defects in the membrane or other products | Labor to remove and reinstall may not be included; exclusions vary widely |
| System (watertightness) | Manufacturer, for a roof built with its components by an approved installer | Keeping the roof system watertight, usually including flashings and penetrations | Inspection and installer requirements; whether it is prorated |
| No dollar limit (NDL) system | Manufacturer | Labor and materials to return the roof to watertight, with no cap on the cost | Available only through a manufacturer-approved contractor; conditions still apply |
| Workmanship | Roofing contractor | Installation errors | Only as good as the contractor’s staying in business |

The U.S. Department of Defense roofing criteria (UFC 3-110-03), which set warranty requirements for military roofs, call the no dollar limit warranty the best standard warranty in the industry: the manufacturer must pay whatever it takes to make the roof watertight again, labor included. They also point out that the manufacturer does not warrant workmanship on an ordinary full system warranty, so if the roofing contractor goes out of business there is no recourse for installation errors, while under a no dollar limit warranty the manufacturer picks up that responsibility.

## What do commercial roof warranties usually exclude?

- **Unusual weather.** Weather exclusions are standard, and some warranties name a wind speed above which damage is not covered. The DoD criteria reject warranties that exclude wind coverage for commonly occurring wind speeds; read the number, not just the word “wind”.
- **Owner neglect.** Neglect is a standard exclusion; keep drains clear and required inspections documented so there is no argument about it.
- **Work by others.** A new penetration, curb or solar mount cut in by another trade, without the manufacturer’s approval, can void coverage for that area or the whole roof.
- **Legal limits.** Wording such as “sole and exclusive remedy” can take away legal options you would otherwise have; the DoD criteria flag it for review.
- **Proration.** A prorated warranty pays less each year, like a tire warranty; the DoD criteria say not to use them. Ask for non-prorated coverage.

## How do you keep a commercial roof warranty valid?

1. **Follow the inspection schedule in the warranty.** Some system warranties require regular inspections on a set schedule, in some cases more than once annually. Keep the reports and photos.
2. **Call the warranty holder before repairs.** The DoD criteria tell building staff to check whether a warranty is in effect and contact the warrantor for the correct course of action before touching the roof.
3. **Route rooftop changes through the manufacturer’s rules.** New equipment, penetrations and solar mounts must follow the warranty’s requirements, ideally installed or flashed by the approved roofing contractor.
4. **Keep the roof clean and report small defects.** Debris and minor defects should be noted and relayed to the warranty provider rather than left for the next storm.
5. **Keep the paperwork.** The warranty certificate, the installer’s name, the system specification and every inspection and repair record belong in the building file.

A maintenance plan built around these steps is the practical side of a warranty; our [preventive commercial roof maintenance guide](https://nemaroofing.com/commercial-roofing/preventive-commercial-roofing-maintenance-in-tarzana-california/) shows what a routine visit covers.

## How do you make a warranty claim?

1. Protect the interior and record the leak: dates, photos inside and on the roof, and what was wet.
2. Read the claim procedure in the warranty: whom to notify, how, and by when.
3. Notify the warranty holder in writing (the manufacturer for a system warranty, the contractor for workmanship).
4. Ask before any repair beyond emergency protection, so an unauthorized fix does not jeopardize coverage.
5. Keep copies of the inspection findings and the repair the warrantor approves.

Sudden storm damage is often an insurance matter rather than a warranty one; our guide to [commercial roofing insurance claims](https://nemaroofing.com/commercial-roofing/adle-commercial-roofing-inance-cls/) explains that process.

## What should you check before you sign?

- Who signs the warranty: the system manufacturer, the contractor, or both, and in whose name it is issued.
- Material only, system, or no dollar limit, and whether it is prorated.
- Which components are included: flashings, edge metal, curbs, penetrations, insulation and cover board.
- The exclusions, especially the wind speed and the definitions of neglect.
- Required maintenance and inspections, and who performs them.
- Whether the warranty can be transferred if you sell the building.
- Whether the contractor is approved by the manufacturer to issue that warranty. Ask for a sample warranty with the proposal.

A warranty does not make a roof last by itself; the system and installation do. See [durable commercial roofing materials and what makes them last](https://nemaroofing.com/commercial-roofing/to0-commercial-roofing-materlity/).

## Which manufacturer programs does NEMA Roofing belong to?

NEMA Roofing is a Polyglass Preferred Contractor, a GAF Master Elite contractor and an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, as listed in each manufacturer’s contractor directory. Polyglass issues its labor-and-material, roofing-system (no dollar limit) and coating warranties through registered contractors, and offers material-only warranties that owners can obtain directly. Which warranty fits your building depends on the system chosen, so ask for the manufacturer’s sample warranty with any proposal, ours included.

From five locations (Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Woodland Hills, Tarzana and Downey), NEMA Roofing installs and services commercial roofs across Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including [San Bernardino County](https://nemaroofing.com/service-areas/san-bernardino-county/). Learn more about our [commercial roofing service](https://nemaroofing.com/our-services/commercial-roofing/), or call [866-631-3366](tel:866-631-3366) to go through a warranty with us.