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Shopping for a new roof? For asphalt shingles in Southeast Louisiana, only two warranties really matter: the manufacturer’s wind warranty and the workmanship warranty. Drake Bergens breaks down which manufacturers actually stand behind their wind warranties in hurricane country — and which ones leave homeowners holding the bag.
The Two Warranties That Matter
When researching shingles, focus on the wind warranty from the manufacturer and the workmanship warranty, which can come from the contractor — or better yet, from the manufacturer through an enhanced warranty program. With an enhanced manufacturer warranty, the manufacturer backs even the workmanship warranty. If your contractor sells the business, closes, or simply doesn’t honor their warranty, you’re not dependent on a small company — you can go straight to the manufacturer, even for workmanship issues.
Only Two Manufacturers Hold Up in Hurricane Country
For hurricane-prone areas, only two manufacturers offer a wind warranty that’s worth the paper it’s written on: GAF and Owens Corning.
- GAF offers an unlimited wind speed warranty with no exclusions for named storms. If your wind seal breaks, shingles lift, tabs tear, or shingles blow off — in a hurricane or a tornado — GAF pays a certified contractor to perform the repair, covering material, labor, tear-off, and disposal. You don’t get a bill.
- Owens Corning covers wind speeds up to 160 mph — enough to cover through roughly Category 4 hurricanes — and likewise pays the full cost of repair, including material, labor, tear-off, and disposal, when you install their full system.
Where Other Manufacturers Fall Short
Other manufacturers — including Atlas Pinnacle Pristine, CertainTeed Landmark and Landmark Pro, IKO Dynasty and Cambridge, and Malarkey Highlander, Vista, and Legacy — have major holes in their wind warranties that can leave you with a bill. Some don’t cover labor at all. Others exclude damage from named storms entirely. These aren’t bad shingles or bad companies — but their wind warranties weren’t written for a region that gets hurricanes.
The details are in each manufacturer’s warranty documentation, but those documents run several pages and are written by attorneys. There’s an easier way to get the truth.
Don’t Take Our Word for It — Call the Warranty Departments
Every manufacturer has a warranty department, and the phone numbers are a quick search away. Ask them directly: “I live in Southeast Louisiana. If a Category 1 or 2 hurricane damages my roof within the wind warranty period, will you pay a contractor to perform the repairs — material, labor, tear-off, and disposal?” With the exception of GAF and Owens Corning, the answer will be no.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
With insurance deductibles for named-storm damage higher than ever, and carriers increasingly opting to patch roofs rather than replace them, a wind warranty that actually pays a contractor to repair storm damage is hugely valuable for Southeast Louisiana homeowners.
Questions About Your Roof or Warranty Options?
Bergens Roofing installs full roofing systems backed by the strongest manufacturer warranties available for our region. Get a free roof quote or reach out to talk through your options.
