Storm damaged an 18-month-old roof. Warranty, manufacturer or insurance: who should pay

Three kinds of coverage overlap on a young roof: the installer's workmanship warranty, the shingle maker's warranty and the homeowner's insurance policy, which covers sudden damage such as wind. Each one excludes some of what the others cover.

GAF's current shingle warranty shows how this works. On its lifetime shingles, wind coverage lasts 15 years and reaches 110 mph, or 130 mph with "special installation": six nails per shingle, or four on LayerLock shingles, plus GAF starter strips at eaves and rakes. GAF pays to replace blown-off shingles and hand-seal loose ones, not underlayment, metal or flashing. It excludes gusts above the rated speed, debris blown onto the roof and damage caused by improper fastening. Shingles put on in fall or winter may stay unsealed until spring, and blow-offs before sealing are not covered. Owners must notify GAF within 30 days, and telling the contractor does not count.

So the nailing decides a lot. If gusts stayed under the rating and the torn shingles show nailing that breaks the instructions, the installer owes the fix. If they were nailed right, had sealed and still blew off below the rating, that is a defect claim for GAF. If the wind beat the rating, it is an insurance claim. Most insurers' minimum deductible is $500 or $1,000, and wind and hail deductibles are often 1% to 5% of the insured value, according to the Insurance Information Institute as cited by Farmers. A 2% deductible on a $150,000 house is $3,000, the whole quote.

Angi puts the average roof repair at $1,155, with most between $393 and $1,934, and 200 square feet at $700 to $2,400. A $3,000 bid should list squares, ridge cap, flashing and underlayment. Photograph the damage before tarping and keep the torn shingles: GAF may ask for samples.