Lifespan & Warranties

What actually fails first

• Exposed fastener washers, on through-fastened systems — years, not decades
• Sealants at penetrations and transitions, which have a far shorter life than the panel
• Flashings at valleys, sidewalls and chimneys, particularly if they were not the same metal
• Clips and fastener points where thermal movement was not allowed for
• The finish, on an SMP-coated roof in full Central Valley sun

The warranty stack

• Substrate warranty — the steel or aluminium against perforation
• Finish warranty — chalk, fade and film integrity, a separate document with its own term
• Weathertightness warranty — on commercial standing seam, sometimes available and strictly conditional on certified installation
• Contractor workmanship warranty — the installation itself, and worth exactly as much as the company behind it

Maintenance, which is minimal but not zero

• Keep valleys, gutters and the area under overhanging trees clear — trapped debris holds moisture against the panel
• Check sealant at penetrations periodically; it ages faster than the roof
• On exposed-fastener roofs, inspect and re-torque fasteners on a schedule
• Never let an unrelated trade walk the panels without pads and instruction
• Keep dissimilar metals off it — aluminium ladders, steel tools and copper runoff all cause trouble

Common questions