New England · Roof warranties explained
Metal roof warranties, explained
A roof usually carries three warranties: material (from the manufacturer), finish, and workmanship (from the installer). The number of years matters less than who the warrantor is, whether coverage shrinks over time, what's excluded, and how it transfers. On an Interlock® roof, the Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty covers material and finish, and our 10 Year Limited Labor Warranty covers the installation.
Reviewed by Scott Plumptree, Director of Marketing, The Interlock Group · Updated October 7, 2026
Material
Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty
From the manufacturer; original purchaser; transfers once.
Finish
30 Year Alunar® Coating Warranty
On the factory finish.
Workmanship
10 Year Limited Labor Warranty
From our New England company (Form 5335).
A roof usually carries three different warranties
Material
Covers the roofing product itself against defects. Issued by the manufacturer, or sometimes by the contractor reselling it. Read who the warrantor is: a manufacturer's warranty stands even if the contractor stops trading.
Finish (coating)
Covers the paint: usually chalking, fading and peeling, measured against stated limits. It is often a separate document or section with its own term.
Workmanship
Covers the installation: flashing, fastening, details. Only the installer can issue it, and most material warranties exclude workmanship entirely.
Wind and other ratings
Wind coverage, fire ratings and impact ratings usually depend on the roof being installed to the manufacturer's specification. Ask what installation the rating assumes.
What a "50-year" warranty can mean
A number of years on a roofing brochure tells you the longest possible term, not what you'll be paid in year 30. Before you compare warranties, find the answers to these in the warranty document itself, not the sales sheet.
- Is coverage reduced over time (pro-rated)? If so, how much is left at year 10, 20 and 30?
- Does it cover material only, or labor to replace the material too?
- Who is the warrantor, and where is it based?
- Does it transfer when you sell, how many times, and is there a fee or a deadline to register the transfer?
- What is excluded: ice damming, cosmetic dents, coastal or industrial exposure, foot traffic?
- How, and how quickly, must a claim be made?
The warranties on an Interlock® roof in New England
| Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty | 10 Year Limited Labor Warranty | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Interlock Roofing, the manufacturer | Interlock Metal Roofing (New England) Inc., the installer |
| Covers | The aluminum roofing material against manufacturing defects (including splitting, cracking and perforation from hailstones 1.5 inches in diameter or less), and the Alunar® finish against chalking and fading beyond stated limits for 30 years | The workmanship of the installation only; the material has its own warranty |
| How long | For as long as the original purchaser owns the home | Ten (10) years from the Substantial Completion Date, for the purchaser named on the certificate while a named purchaser owns and lives at the property |
| Takes effect | Once the installation contract is paid in full | Once the contract is paid in full |
| Transfer | Once, to the next registered owner, with coverage to 50 years from the substantial completion date; proof of purchase within 60 days of the sale and a $300 transfer fee | Not transferable |
| Report a problem | In writing, within 30 days of the issue becoming known | Within 10 days of discovering a workmanship issue |
| Exclusions to know | Workmanship; severe weather and Acts of God; hail damage other than the stated hail coverage; condensation; ice damming; ice and snow shedding; normal wear including minor scratches and dents | Among others: ice damming; snow and ice shedding; hail; hurricane-force winds; skylights; venting and insulation. Snow guards are not a workmanship warranty issue |
| Claims | guardian@interlockroofing.com | newenglandservice@interlockroofing.com |
Summarized from the Guardian warranty document and the 10 Year Limited Labor Warranty certificate (Form 5335). Read the full documents before you sign.
Roofs covered by these warranties
Recent Interlock® roofs installed across New England by our own company. Tap a roof to see all of its photos.
Questions, answered
What does a 50-year limited roof warranty cover?
It depends entirely on the document. Many 50-year roofing warranties cover the material only, reduce coverage over time, and exclude workmanship. Check whether it is pro-rated, whether labor to replace material is included, who the warrantor is, and how it transfers.
What does the Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty cover?
The aluminum roofing material and its factory finish, for as long as the original purchaser owns the home. It transfers once, to the next registered owner, with coverage to 50 years from substantial completion. Workmanship is excluded, and ice damming is a stated exclusion.
Who stands behind the installation?
Interlock Metal Roofing (New England) Inc. does, with a 10 Year Limited Labor Warranty from the Substantial Completion Date. It covers the workmanship of the installation, is for the purchaser named on the certificate while a named purchaser owns and lives at the property, and is not transferable.
Is a metal roof warranty transferable when I sell?
The Guardian material warranty transfers once, to the next registered owner, with coverage to 50 years from substantial completion. The new owner sends proof of purchase to the manufacturer within 60 days of the sale with a $300 transfer fee. Our 10 Year Limited Labor Warranty does not transfer.
Does any roof warranty cover ice dams?
Ours don't: ice damming is a stated exclusion of both the material warranty and our labor warranty. Ice dams come from heat loss into the attic and from ventilation, which is why we look at both with you before the roof goes on.
How do I make a warranty claim?
Material and finish: in writing to guardian@interlockroofing.com within 30 days of the issue becoming known. Workmanship: newenglandservice@interlockroofing.com or (508) 257-7859, within 10 days of discovering the issue. If you're not sure which applies, call us first.
Sources
- Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty (full document, PDF)
- 10 Year Limited Labor Warranty (Form 5335)
- Both warranties side by side
Product specifications are the manufacturer's (Interlock Roofing). Install counts are from our own job book. Reviewed by Scott Plumptree, October 7, 2026.
Read the warranties with us.
A written price after your roof consultation, at your home or on Zoom. Interlock Metal Roofing (New England) Inc. · 25 Walpole Park S Unit 7, Walpole, MA 02081-2522
