We do free roof inspections in Holden Beach and across Brunswick and New Hanover counties, and every inspection comes with photos and notes. If you own a home on the island and aren't sure what your roof warranty covers, call (910) 228-8034 or request a free roof inspection.

Short answer: a new roof usually comes with two warranties. The roofer's workmanship warranty covers the installation, and the shingle maker's warranty covers manufacturing defects. Keep the contract and invoice, read both warranties, and if something goes wrong, report it to the manufacturer the way its warranty says, on time. GAF's current shingle warranty, for example, gives you 30 days after you notice a problem, and it says telling your contractor doesn't count as telling GAF.

Two warranties, two different jobs

CertainTeed puts it plainly: a manufacturer warranty covers defects from the manufacturing process, and a contractor's workmanship warranty covers the installation. Workmanship warranties are most often one or two years, and they generally don't cover abuse, changes made by someone else, poor maintenance or normal wear and tear.

Here's ours: a one-year labor-and-materials warranty on installs plus manufacturer warranties. For shingle roofs we install CertainTeed and GAF 30-year shingles, and each maker's warranty follows its own written terms.

Manufacturer warranties have limits too. GAF's standard warranties don't pay for tear-off or disposal, and they don't cover workmanship. Installation is covered by the roofer's warranty instead.

Why this matters for a Holden Beach second home

Census Bureau estimates for 2020-2024 count about 2,500 housing units in the Town of Holden Beach, and about 1,600 of them are held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use. That's about two in three homes in town.

When you're not there, a small leak can sit for weeks. GAF's 30-day clock starts when you notice a problem, so it helps to have someone who will notice and tell you. Ask your cleaner or property manager to send a photo if they see a new ceiling stain or shingle pieces in the yard. Our roof maintenance guide for beach rentals has a simple twice-a-year schedule.

What to keep in the house file

GAF's standard shingle warranty doesn't need to be registered, but GAF says to keep proof of purchase, such as the contract or invoice. To make a claim, GAF asks for proof of when the shingles went on and that you owned the house at the time. Keep these together, with a copy somewhere other than the beach house:

  • the signed contract and the final invoice
  • the shingle maker, product name and install date
  • both written warranties, the roofer's and the manufacturer's (GAF says the version in effect when your roof went on is the one that applies)
  • permit records, if the job needed a permit
  • photos and notes from each roof inspection

Read the fine print before you need it

GAF's current shingle warranty, for roofs installed after Jan. 1, 2025, is a good example of what to look for:

  • Report on time. Notify GAF within 30 days after you notice a problem. Notice to your contractor isn't notice to GAF.
  • Tell GAF before you repair, if you can. If the shingles are repaired or replaced before GAF is told, or before it finishes its review, the claim may be denied. If repairs can't wait, the warranty says to give GAF reasonable notice.
  • Know the exclusions. Inadequate ventilation, improper fastening, acts of nature like hail or winds over the listed speed, and damage inside or outside the house, including mold, aren't covered.
  • Fall and winter installs. Shingles put on in fall or winter may not seal until the following spring, and a failure to seal before then isn't covered.

CertainTeed's advice works for any roof: read every warranty and ask the contractor or manufacturer about anything that's unclear. Our guide to hiring a roofer in St. James covers comparing warranty terms between estimates.

Who owns the house, and what happens when you sell

Ownership can change what a warranty covers. If your shingles carry a GAF "Lifetime" warranty, that term applies only to a single-family detached home owned by individuals. For other owners, such as a corporation or a condominium or homeowner association, GAF's term is 40 years. If anyone other than individuals owns the house, such as a corporation or an association, check how your manufacturer's warranty treats that.

Selling? GAF's shingle warranty transfers only once, and the new owner has to notify GAF in writing within one year after the sale. If you're on the buying side, read our roof questions to ask before buying a home.

Permits and the paper trail

The Town of Holden Beach's Planning & Inspections page lists the construction, alteration and repair work that North Carolina law requires permits for. It also says work started, or even finished, without the proper permits is subject to violation fees. If you're not sure whether a roof job needs a permit, the Town says to call first, and we handle permits when they're required. Keep the permit record with your warranty papers.

More about the island is in the Holden Beach section of our Brunswick County page. You can also read how our roof inspection works and what goes into a roof replacement.

What a roof warranty means at Holden Beach

The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey (tables B25035 and B25034) estimates that the town's median home was built in 1992, with nearly half built before 1990. If you bought an older beach house, the roof and its warranty may have started with a past owner. Ask the seller for the roof papers and check the maker's transfer rules.

North Carolina's residential building code sets a 150 mph design wind speed for new homes at Holden Beach. Read the wind terms in your own shingle warranty.

Holden Beach is a barrier island with more than eight miles of beach, so if you're weighing metal, ask what the panel and paint warranties say about distance from salt water.

Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with the peak around September 10. A roof check before summer and after strong storms helps you catch problems while there's still time to report them to the maker.

Whether this is your weekend place or your home every day, the roof paperwork is the same. What changes is how quickly you notice a problem.

If you live here year-round

The same survey (tables B25002 and B25003) estimates about 484 occupied homes in town, about 95% of them owner-occupied. You're likely the first to spot a ceiling stain or loose shingles, so write down the date you notice it. After a storm, the Town says to check for leaks, tell your insurer, make temporary repairs, and watch out for "good deals."

Our free roof inspection comes with photos and notes. Call or text (910) 228-8034, Monday to Saturday, 8 to 7.

About Vera's Roofing

  • Family-owned and insured. We're a family-owned roofer serving Brunswick and New Hanover counties, and we carry workers' comp and general liability insurance.
  • Warranty. We offer a one-year labor-and-materials warranty on installs plus manufacturer warranties.
  • Permits and tarping. We handle permits when they're required, and we tarp roofs when a temporary cover is needed.
  • Shingles and metal. We install CertainTeed and GAF 30-year shingles. For metal, we offer 5-V, Multi-Rib and standing seam, painted, 26-gauge minimum.

Questions about roof warranties in Holden Beach

Does my roofer's warranty cover the shingles?

It depends on the warranty. A workmanship warranty covers the installation, and the shingle maker's warranty covers manufacturing defects. We offer a one-year labor-and-materials warranty on installs plus manufacturer warranties.

Do I need to register a shingle warranty?

It depends on the warranty. GAF's standard shingle warranty doesn't need registration, but you should keep proof of purchase, like the contract or invoice. Other GAF warranties have their own registration rules, so read the terms.

Is telling my roofer the same as filing a warranty claim?

Not for the manufacturer's warranty. GAF's current shingle warranty says notice to your contractor is not notice to GAF, and claims must be reported to GAF within 30 days after you notice a problem.

Does a roof warranty transfer when I sell?

It depends on the maker. GAF's shingle warranty transfers one time, and the new owner must notify GAF in writing within one year after the sale. Check your manufacturer's own terms.